ABOUT

Cris Derksen, a Juno-nominated Indigenous cellist and composer, is internationally renowned for her genre-defying music that bridges the traditional and contemporary. Hailing from Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta, Derksen comes from a lineage of chiefs from the NorthTall Cree Reserve on her father’s side and strong Mennonite homesteaders on her mother’s. Her work intricately weaves together her classical training and Indigenous heritage with modern electronic elements.

 

Derksen’s unique sound began to take shape in 2006 when she started performing with Tanya Tagaq, using multi-effect guitar pedals to make the cello more relatable and innovative. Her debut album, "The Cusp," remains a staple on national radio and is frequently licensed for television and film. A staple of the Canadian Folk Fest circuit since 2007, she has performed with her quartet and various indie rock bands. In 2016, she released "Orchestral Powwow," blending symphonic elements with powwow music, a project performed with symphonies and arts festivals across Canada, marking her return to classical roots.

 

As a soloist-composer, Derksen has performed with 15 different symphonies and chamber orchestras across Canada. They have been commissioned by prestigious ensembles such as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Thunder Bay Symphony, and Orchestre Métropolitain. In 2022, she was the composer for the Canadian Pavilion at the World Expo in Dubai, as well as in 2025 the World Expo in Osaka. Her work on the podcast "Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's" by Connie Walker and Gimlet Media earned both a Pulitzer Prize and a Peabody Award. In 2024 Derksen had there Carnegie Hall Debut performing with Orchestre Metropolitan and Yannick Nézet-Séguin with there piece Controlled Burn  Commissioned By Yannick. She has worked with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and in 2026 Cris wrote a 75 Minute Ballet Cikilaxwm: Controlled Burn for Ballet Kelowna with Indigenous Choreographer Cameron Fraser-Monroe. 

 

Derksen is also a dedicated advocate for diversity in classical music. She founded the Indigenous Classical Gathering at the Banff Centre for the Arts, serves as the Artistic Advisor for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and chairs the Equity Committee for Orchestras Canada. Through these roles, she strives to make classical music more reflective of Canada’s diverse population, opening doors for BIPOC composers and performers.

 

Derksen’s performances take her across the globe, with recent concerts in Japan, Norway, Chile, Hong Kong, Australia, Mongolia, and throughout Europe. Derksen also tours whole lotta Canada, the place she calls home, continuously enriching its cultural landscape with her innovative and heartfelt music.