Derek first picked up the violin at the age of nine. He spent his formative years playing in various school and civic youth orchestras throughout the south shore of Long Island. An interest in the design and construction of violin family instruments led him to enroll in the Violin Making School of America in Salt Lake City, Utah, from which he graduated with a degree of Luthier. He then spent several years working in Manhattan for David Gage developing his set-up and repair skills. Seeking relief from the hustle and bustle of New York, Derek moved to Raleigh in 2017, where he has continued to hone his craft. In his off time Derek can be found running the long, punishing single-track trails at Umstead State Park as a means of “relaxing” after a long day at the bench.