Derek Woods

Derek Woods (born August 10, 1982, in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a Canadian composer, living and working in Berlin, Germany.

Biography Woods was taking private clarinet and piano lessons in his home city before entering the McGill University in Montreal. He graduated in 2004, being awarded Bachelor of Arts diploma in composition with highest honors. In 2004 he moved to Hanover, Germany, where he was studying at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover under Johannes Schöllhorn. He graduated in 2008 and now resides in Berlin.

Performances Up to date, Woods' works were performed in various concerts, competitions and festivals in Canada, US, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Estonia and other countries. His works were commissioned by Bratislava International Festival, Zydeco Festival, Royal Opera of Wallonia, among others.

In addition to large-scale instrumental compositions Woods has written pieces for clarinet, tuba and piano solo, songs for high and low voices, and music for children. He chooses traditional genres, moderate stylistics and tonal harmonic language.

List of works

Stage works 2009 "Gibsland Love Story", Op.38, commissioned by Zydeco Festival, Opelousas 2013 "The Hoax", Op.42, commissioned by Royal Opera of Wallonia 2017 "Mac the Knife", Op.47, commissioned by the Madhatters Ballet Company

Orchestra 2002 "Symphony No.1", dedicated to Sergei Prokofiev, for chamber orchestra 2003 "Scherzo", Op.11 for chamber orchestra 2003 "Concertino", Op.14 for clarinet and chamber orchestra 2004 "Night in the Zoo", Op.16 for symphony orchestra 2005 "Clarinet Concerto", Op.25 for clarinet and symphony orchestra 2006 "Hanover Symphony", Op.26 for symphony orchestra 2006 "Konzertstück", Op.27 for bass clarinet and symphony orchestra 2006–2007 "Songs of Chippewa", Op.31 for symphony orchestra. 3rd Prize at the International Composers Competition in Sion, Switzerland, 2008 2018 "Concerto Gross'o", Op.48 for symphony orchestra

Chamber Ensemble 1997 "Variations on the Theme from the Motion Picture "Forrest Gump" for clarinet and piano 1997 "Clowns" for clarinet and piano 1998 "Andante" for Violin, Clarinet and Piano, later used as 2nd movement for Trio Op.5 1999 "Variations on the Theme of Paganini", Op.1 for clarinet and piano. Winning piece of the "Young Composers Competition", Montreal, Quebec, 2000 2000 "Sonata", Op.2 for clarinet and piano 2000 "Into the Woods!", Op.3 for clarinet, oboe, horn and piano 2001 "Canadian Suite", Op.4 for violin and piano 1999–2001 "Trio", Op.5 for violin, clarinet and piano 2002 "Whazaan", Op.9 for clarinet, bassoon and tuba 2003 "Tubee or not Tubee", Op.15 for two tubas 2004 "Rusty", Op.18 for trombone and tuba 2004–2005 "Suite", Op.20 for brass quintet 2005 "Variations on a German National Anthem", Op.23 for cello and piano 2006 "Fairy Tale", Op.28 for mandolin and piano 2007 "Homeland Fantasy", Op.29 for violin, clarinet and piano. 3rd Prize winner at the Bratislava International Festival, Slovakia, 2009 2008 "Schützenfest-Suite", Op.33 for brass quintet 2008 "D.O.P.E.", Op.34 for clarinet and piano 2008 "Farewell to Friends", Op.36 for clarinet, cello and piano 2009 "Motzstraße Sketches", Op.37 for flute and piano 2010 "On Death of the Beloved Mother", Op.41 for clarinet and piano 2011 "Two Pomo Dances", Op.43 for clarinet quartet, commissioned by Lagniappe Dulcimer Fete, Port Allen, Louisiana 2011 "To the Fallen", Op.44 for clarinet and piano, commissioned by Macdara O Seireadain and Gintaras Janusevicius 2013 "Cafe Kröpke", for bayan and chamber ensemble, commissioned by Plathner's Eleven Festival, Hanover

Voice and piano or another instrument 2002 "No More Britney", Op.10 for soprano and piano 2003 "Body and Soul", Op.12 for soprano, clarinet and piano 2004 "Monday", Op.19 for low voice and piano 2005 "I Hate Pink Carpets", Op.22 for voice, clarinet and piano 2005 "Three Sonnets", Op.24 on sonnets by William Shakespeare for soprano and piano 2010 "Where is Maddie?", Op.40 for high soprano, piccolo flute and toy piano 2013 "Anna Blume", for soprano and bayan, commissioned by Plathner's Eleven Festival, Hanover

Instrument Solo 1996 "Variations" for piano 1997 "Serenade" for piano 1998–1999 "Piano Sonata No.1" for piano 2001 "Piano Sonata No.2", Op.6 for piano 2001 "Numb Fingers", Op.7 for piano 2002–2003 "Etudes for Clarinet Solo", Op.13 for clarinet 2004 "Piano Sonata No.3", Op.17 for piano 2005 "Lullaby to the Moon", Op.21 for piano 2007 "Elegy for Bill Masterton", Op.30 for tuba 2007 "I is Black", Op.32 for piano left hand 2010 "Madis' Exam Piece", Op.39 for tuba, commissioned by Madis Vilgats 2013 "To the Fallen", Op.44b for piano solo, commissioned by Gintaras Janusevicius 2014 "Dreamcatcher", Op.45 for piano, commissioned by Gintaras Janusevicius 2015 "Piano Sonata No.4", Op.46 for piano