Derik J. Wright is a conductor, arranger/composer and music educator, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Georgia. Derik is a Doctoral Conducting Associate for UGA Bands, serving duties with the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and the Redcoat Marching Band.
Prior to UGA, Derik was a Graduate Assistant at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia where he earned the Master of Music in Wind Conducting. Derik serves as an arranger for the “Spartan Legion” Marching Band at Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia where he also earned a Master of Music in composition & theory and a bachelor’s degree in music media. Derik was previously the band director at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia and has maintained activities as an educator and clinician with band programs in Virginia and Maryland.
Derik’s musical career can be attributed to his influential mentors such as Dr. Nicholas E. Williams, Dr. Jack A. Eaddy Jr., Dr. William L. Lake Jr., Dr. Anne Neikirk, Prof. William H. Beathea, Prof. Stephanie K. Sanders, Prof. Paul I. Adams, and Mr. Walter Harley. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, the Society of Composers, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
