bbc music magazine rising star
Hailed as “bold, clear-headed and original” (BBC Music Magazine), prize-winning British composer Derri Joseph Lewis is making a name for himself as a unique voice in choral music and stage-works. He is a 2025 Royal Philharmonic Society Composer.
With a vivid and playful approach to timbre and rhythm, Derri’s work often explores themes of belonging, hope, lived experiences, and LGBTQIA+ identity. Accolades for his music include a prestigious 2022 Ivor Novello nomination for Something Exciting.
2024 highlights included performances across the UK and beyond by some of the world’s leading musicians in amazing places. Siglo de Oro gave the UK premiere of O Nata Lux at the Wigmore Hall, Stanford University Chamber Chorale took Something Exciting on tour across the US and Hawai’i, and Corvus Consort brought Rorate Caeli Desuper to the world renowned Three Choirs Festival in Worcester. The leading LGBT+ group The Fourth Choir will record Psalm 46 for their upcoming debut disc, and the Calton Consort gave the premiere performance of Softly in Edinburgh. Derri’s 9 Songs for Barts were performed by Harriet Burns, Jerome Knox, and Ian Tindale at the Ludlow English Song Weekend.
In 2024, Derri's work is supported by a grant from Arts Council England.
"music of gently searing intensity"
Tom Service — BBC Radio 3 New Music Show
Deeply passionate about vocal and choral music, Derri’s distinctive musical style has been championed by leading singers and youth, university, and chapel choirs, including the National Youth Choir (Something Exciting, Softly, Locus Iste), Choir of King's College London (Gobaith), and mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston (A Moment).
His vocal works have been heard as part of Oxford International Song Festival's 20th anniversary programme, streamed from the VOCES8 Centre, and featured at Ludlow English Song Weekend. Derri's music is available on NMC Recordings and Delphian Records, and is published by Stainer & Bell.
"...a moving and enchanting work... a composition of clarity..."
Mike Smith - Arts Scene in Wales
Equally at home writing for instruments, Derri has collaborated with prestigious ensembles such as Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Liberalia) and BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Summit Blue), for which he was awarded the Welsh Music Guild's Paul Mealor Prize.
Derri’s work …BREATHE… for solo guitar, written for Tom McKinney, was featured in Psappha Ensemble’s 30th Anniversary season.
His music has been performed by the choirs of Stanford University, University of Bristol, Somerville College University of Oxford and King's College London. Derri's work has been heard at St David's Cathedral, Clifton Cathedral Bristol, and the National Centre for Early Music York.
"I love the authenticity of Derri’s choral compositions. He shows a true heart and sincerity, as well as a well-developed understanding of the human voice and what it is capable of producing."
Ben Parry - Artistic Director & Principal Conductor, National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (2012-2023)
Derri’s music-making process is intensely collaborative. The choral piece Something Exciting — a work about coming out as LGBTQ+ — was written in partnership with the singers of the National Youth Choir, weaving the musicians’ stories and ideas into the fabric of the piece.
A winner of the National Centre for Early Music’s Young Composer Award, Derri graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with BMus first class honours with a study-abroad term at Zürich University of the Arts (ZHdK). He graduated in 2022 from King's College London with an MA double distinction.
PERFORMANCE DIARY
2024
20.10.2024: O nata lux - Siglo de Oro and Patrick Allies - Wigmore Hall, London
18.9.2024: O nata lux - Siglo de Oro and Patrick Allies - Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Olympia WA USA
16.9.2024: O nata lux - Siglo de Oro and Patrick Allies - St James' Cathedral, Seattle WA USA
14.9.2024: O nata lux - Siglo de Oro and Patrick Allies - Christchurch Cathedral, Victoria BC Canada
13.9.2024: O nata lux - Siglo de Oro and Patrick Allies - St James' Anglican Church, Vancouver BC Canada
8.6.2024: Softly - Calton Consort and Rory Wilson - Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh
14.04.2023: 9 Songs for Barts - Harriet Burns, Jerome Knox and Ian Tindale - Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Ludlow English Song Weekend
6.4.2024: Psalm 46 - The Fourth Choir and Jamie Powe - St Gabriel's Pimlico, London
30.3.2024: Something Exciting - Stanford Chamber Chorale and Stephen Sano - Hale Halawai, Kailua-Kona Hawai'i
29.3.2024: Something Exciting - Stanford Chamber Chorale and Stephen Sano - Kahilu Theater, Waimea Hawai'i
24.3.2024: Something Exciting - Stanford Chamber Chorale and Stephen Sano - Kawaiah'o Church, Honolulu Hawai'i
24.3.2024: Psalm 46 - The Fourth Choir and Jamie Powe - Fitzrovia Chapel, London
3.3.2024: Something Exciting - Stanford Chamber Chorale and Stephen Sano - Bing Concert Hall, Stanford University, California United States
16.2.2024: Something Exciting - KANTOS Chamber Choir and Ellie Slorach - Islington Mill, Salford
15.2.2024: Something Exciting - KANTOS Chamber Choir and Ellie Slorach - Old Woollen, Leeds
13.2.2024: Gobaith - Choir of King's College London and Joseph Fort - Chapel of King's College London
24.1.2024: Gobaith - Choir of King's College London and Joseph Fort - Chapel of King's College London
2023
15.1.2023: Eleven Pipers Piping - Clothworkers Consort of Leeds and Bryan White - Leeds University Chapel
24.10.2023: 3 Welsh Calendar Songs - Jeremy Huw Williams and Timothy Todd Simmons - Dixon Annex Recital Hall, New Orleans USA
13.09.2023: Rorate Caeli Desuper - Corvus Consort, Music on the Edge and Freddie Crowley - Holy Trinity Church Drewsteignton, Whiddon Autumn Festival
10.09.2023: Behold, O God - Choir of St Magnus the Martyr and Edward Walters - St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge
28.08.2023: Gobaith - National Youth Choir of Wales and Tim Rhys Evans - St David's Cathedral
25.08.2023: Gobaith - National Youth Choir of Wales and Tim Rhys Evans - Prichard Jones Hall, Bangor
14.06.2023: 9 Songs for Barts - Claire Ward, Jerome Knox and Alexander Soares - Great Hall, Bart's Hospital
04.06.2023: Something Exciting - Somerville Choir and Will Dawes - Somerville College, University of Oxford
16.03.2023: Something Exciting - University of Bristol Singers and Elinor Cooper - St George's Bristol