Derek Handley

Background

About Derek Handley

Derek Handley began his cello studies with renowned cellist Hans Jorgen Jensen, Professor of Cello at Northwestern University. At age sixteen, he began studies with Richard Hirschl, protégé of Leonard Rose and member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. As a youth, Derek also participated in the Midwest Young Aritsts chamber and orchestra programs. Derek went on to study at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he received his BM in Performance, studying under the late Eleanore Schoenfeld. Derek also received his MM in Performance from Northwestern University, where he studied with Hans Jensen. Derek has also studied with esteemed cellist and pedagogue, Gerhard Mantel. On two different occasions, Derek has gone on tour to China, and he has also participated in the Banff International Music Festival as well as the Aberdeen International Festival. He has had the great pleasure of performing with artists such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Harrell, jazz saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and renowned fiddler Marc O’Connor. Derek has also played under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen, Sergiu Commissiona, and Victor Yampolsky. In March of 2012, Derek had the honor of soloing with the Northwestern University Baroque Music Ensemble. Derek is currently Section Cello in the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Section Cello in the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and Principal Cello in the Oistrach Symphony Orchestra. He is a substitute cellist for the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Grant Park Orchestra in addition to several orchestras in the Chicago area. Derek has also taught at Evanston Township and Maine South high schools, as well as community music schools in the Chicagoland area. As an administrator, Derek was Program Coordinator at Midwest Young Artists for 4 years, and has held two positions as a church administrator.