Derek
was born in the Bahamas where storytelling was a vital part
of the tradition. He studied music at Berklee College of Music
in Boston Massachusetts and for the past 30 years
he has performed with the International music group Voice
of the Turtle, a group specializing in music of the
Sephardic Jews, the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. The group
has 12 recordings of this music.
He has also performed as a solo classical guitarist, flutist and singer.
Derek is the recipient of a Massachusetts Artist Foundation Fellowship for Storytelling. He has received other grants for his folk research work and funding from the Mass. Foundation for the Humanities for his compelling program "Reflecting Stories", about AIDS.
Derek was recently one of four national storytellers invited to be a part of the first National Book Festival sponsored by the White House and First Lady Laura Bush.
Derek presents a variety of workshops for students, educators and storytellers and has been adjunct faculty at Lesley College in Cambridge Mass. and at Framingham State College for many years.
Derek performs in many settings from schools and libraries to Museums, Corporate functions and community settings. He has appeared as a keynote speaker and workshop leader in these venues and in the Medical field using stories to look at diversity, healing, cross-cultural understanding and conflict resolution.
Programs vary and can include Caribbean songs, folk songs of America, Sephardic music, medieval music, folktales, myths and legends of Africa, the Caribbean, America and includes original tales and personal stories.
Derek’s programs use a variety of instruments including conch shell, mbira, guitar, drum, medieval bagpipe, flute and voice.
Derek’s programs are interactive involving the audience.
His most recent work is a short film about home called "Mr. Nassau Bahamas."
Work style
Derek uses folktales from the Caribbean and Africa and combines them with personal stories of his native Bahamas to entertain and educate. His work is filled with textures and colors employing musical instruments and voice.
For bookings please email me:derek@derekburrows.com
or call 617.275.4244
He has also performed as a solo classical guitarist, flutist and singer.
Derek is the recipient of a Massachusetts Artist Foundation Fellowship for Storytelling. He has received other grants for his folk research work and funding from the Mass. Foundation for the Humanities for his compelling program "Reflecting Stories", about AIDS.
Derek was recently one of four national storytellers invited to be a part of the first National Book Festival sponsored by the White House and First Lady Laura Bush.
Derek presents a variety of workshops for students, educators and storytellers and has been adjunct faculty at Lesley College in Cambridge Mass. and at Framingham State College for many years.
Derek performs in many settings from schools and libraries to Museums, Corporate functions and community settings. He has appeared as a keynote speaker and workshop leader in these venues and in the Medical field using stories to look at diversity, healing, cross-cultural understanding and conflict resolution.
Programs vary and can include Caribbean songs, folk songs of America, Sephardic music, medieval music, folktales, myths and legends of Africa, the Caribbean, America and includes original tales and personal stories.
Derek’s programs use a variety of instruments including conch shell, mbira, guitar, drum, medieval bagpipe, flute and voice.
Derek’s programs are interactive involving the audience.
Derek has three storytelling tapes available:
"Once Upon a Time", 'Stories from the Bahamas'. "Afro-Caribbean Animal Folktales", and "Folktales of African Animals"His most recent work is a short film about home called "Mr. Nassau Bahamas."
Work style
Derek uses folktales from the Caribbean and Africa and combines them with personal stories of his native Bahamas to entertain and educate. His work is filled with textures and colors employing musical instruments and voice.
For bookings please email me:derek@derekburrows.com
or call 617.275.4244