Derek Dreier is a highly committed percussionist, currently serving as Assistant Principal Percussion of the Omaha Symphony since 2017. In 2023, Derek stepped into the role of Acting Principal Percussion, a period that also saw the symphony earn its first Grammy nomination. In addition to his role with the Omaha Symphony, Derek actively performs with other orchestras, including the Kansas City Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, and Des Moines Symphony.

An advocate for musical interconnectedness, Derek embraces a diverse range of musical traditions, with particular emphasis on West African, Afro-Cuban, Afro-Brazilian, jazz, and classical music.

Derek has participated in music festivals, including the Castleton Music Festival with Director Lorin Maazel and the Indiana University Summer Music Festival. Additionally, he has traveled extensively, studying music in Berlin, Amsterdam and Havana, further enriching his understanding of global musical traditions.

Derek’s teachers include influential figures such as James Dreier (drum set and Latin percussion specialist), Dane Richeson (versatile percussionist and former professor at Lawrence University), John Tafoya (former principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra), Michael Spiro (premiere Afro-Cuban percussion specialist), and Will Hudgins (percussionist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra).

Derek can be heard on albums with the Omaha Symphony, including the Grammy-nominated Sculptures, OMAGAH! Guster with the Omaha Symphony, and Beethoven 9. He also performed on The Jana Nyberg Group’s Fever and Witnesses by the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble, which won a Downbeat Award for Outstanding Performance.

In addition to performing, Derek is a dedicated educator with over two decades of teaching experience. He currently teaches at Creighton University and the Omaha Conservatory. Previously, he held teaching positions at Indiana University and Augustana College. Since 2004, when he began teaching at Lawrence University’s Academy of Music, Derek has worked with students of all ages in a variety of percussion disciplines, offering lessons, master classes, and workshops.

Beyond music, Derek is a dedicated athlete, having completed five marathons, including Boston and Chicago. He maintains a single-digit USGA handicap and, having grown up in Iowa City, is a passionate supporter of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

What to expect in lessons with Derek:

• Musical
• Technical
• Creative
• Encompassing