Cris Derksen
Genre-defying Indigenous cellist and composer.
Juno-nominated Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen is internationally renowned for her genre-defying music that bridges the traditional and contemporary.
Hailing from northern Alberta, Derksen comes from a lineage of Cree chiefs on her father’s side and strong Mennonite homesteaders on her mother’s.
Derksen’s music weaves her classical training and Indigenous heritage together with modern electronic elements. Her sound began to take shape in 2006 performing with Tanya Tagaq using multi-effect guitar pedals to make her cello more expressive and innovative.
Derksen's genre-defying, brilliant fourth album The Visit "has a raw and unfettered beauty," raves Rootsworld, adding "Cris Derksen is more than a singular talent; she’s a person with a vision for her music."
Her previous album, Orchestral Powwow, blends rich symphonic elements with powwow music, a project she performed with top orchestras across Canada.
Renowned for riveting performances which have taken her around the world, Derksen’s show at BlueShore at CapU features a quartet of multi-instrumentalists and an Indigenous hoop dancer.
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