Derek is a sound designer, composer, and audio engineer based in North Carolina. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Derek holds an M.F.A. in sound design from Ohio University and a B.A. in music from Elizabeth City State University. His debut at Portland Center Stage was his work as composer for the world premiere production of Redwood in 2019. Derek and his wife, Jessica, co-founded a multimedia company called Life by Design Media & Production, and they are currently producing a series of podcasts, commercials, and photography for clients in North Carolina. Derek is invested in using sound and music to encapsulate emotional context and subtexts, thus creating a voice for the stories being told. lifebydesignmediapro.com