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Derek Powell was appointed to the National Symphony Orchestra in 2020 by Music Director Gianandrea Noseda. Prior to joining the NSO, Derek served in the military as a violinist in the U.S Army Band “Pershing’s Own” where he performed at the White House for State visits and other high profile events. As a military musician, he also regularly performed in service of congressional and military leadership in addition to giving performances to the general public. Derek is a frequent guest artist with the Grammy Award®-nominated contemporary music ensemble Inscape and is a regular performer-educator with Sound Impact, a music collective using music education and engagement to further positive social change. Derek also coaches with the NSO Youth Fellowship program and at the DC Youth Orchestra Program.

Derek earned a Bachelor of Science double major with honors in Neurobiology and Music from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and graduated with his Master of Music degree from Rice University, where he was awarded the Distinguished Fellowship in Violin. Derek continued his studies as a fellow in the New World Symphony, “America’s Orchestral Academy”, in Miami Beach, FL, under the baton of Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas. His primary teachers include David Perry, Kathleen Winkler, Felicia Moye, and Eugene Purdue. In the summer Derek performs with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra and has previously performed with the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra in Switzerland and the Strings Festival Orchestra in Steamboat Springs, CO. Derek lives in D.C. with his wife Allyson Goodman, principal violist of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.