Composer Feature: Derek Martinez


Derek Martinez is a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School. His main instrument is violin and he has been performing since 2015. He has been composing for 5 years, with other compositions such as Yaa Sàvì performed by the Seattle Symphony and Horn Trio written for the Lakewold Gardens Music from Home concert series. He’d like to thank his mother for supporting him in his musical endeavors. 

Here’s what he has to say about his composition, simply titled ‘Piano Concerto’

Melancholy, power, joy, and introspection. All of these feelings are found in the piano concerto, with keys and chords that shift just as quickly as the moods do. This piece is meant to convey the mercurial temperaments we have as humans, but rather than rejecting such a volatile nature, we may learn to embrace our full spectrum of emotions by finding its beauty in music.

Hear Derek’s composition and several other talented musicians on Friday, June 17th, at the Spring Concerto Festival! It will be performed by Dr. Oksana Ezhokina, Chair of Piano Studies at Pacific Lutheran University. The festival continues with several other brilliant performers on Saturday, June 18th, and Sunday, June 19th.