Submitted
Join siblings Derik and Riana Nelson for an intimate acoustic performance full of velvety family harmonies that takes audiences behind the music like never before. Hear the personal stories that have inspired Derik’s wide stylistic range of award-winning original songs, and learn about the sibling’s musical heros with beautiful reimagined renditions of songs by artists like the Eagles, Sting, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and more.
Oakley High School Auditorium, 118 W. 7th Street, Oakley, is venue for the Sunday, April 21 Western Plains Arts Association program starting at 3 p.m. CDT. Admission is by WPAA season ticket of $20 adults, and $10 students at the door. This program is made possible with numerous area sponsors including generous grants from the Logan County Community Foundation through the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation and the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
Derik is a singer, songwriter, producer and educator from Olympia, Wash. He writes, records and produces his own music as a self-taught multi-instrumentalists and audio engineer. He has garnered over 4 million views on YouTube, performed throughout the country and regularly contucts educational music workshops. Derik appeared regularly as lead guitarist on televison’s “Glee. His original songs can be heard on several programs, and his singing voice has been featured on ABC’s “Modern Family,” FOX’s “Raising Hope” and “New Girl,” CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” and NBC’s “Go On” and “The Voice,” and more.
Derik holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry from the University of Southern California, where he helped to shape the curriculum that has now become the Popular Music Degree program—a program that only 3% of applying singer-songwriters are accepted into—which honored Derik with a department award recognizing his contributions.
Other awards Derik has received include the Brian Wilson Music Scholarship for songwriting, the award for Best Male Artist in the 12th Annual International Acoustic Music Awards, and first place in the Indie International Songwriting Competition for his original song, “The Way It’s Gonna Go.”
Derik was invited by the USC President’s Office to write the music and lyrics for the USC Graduating Class of 2011’s commencement anthem. His song, “Take Chances,” was featured at commencement, and was the catalyst for his first independent tour across 40 locations on the West Coast to raise money for high school arts & music programs. For several years, Derik and his two siblings, Riana and Dalten, toured as a trio, Derik Nelson & Family. The trio represents the United States as Cultural Ambassadors through the United States Department of
State traveling to Moldova, Albania, Ukraine, Egypt, and Eritrea. The trio also regularly performs the national anthem for NFL and NBA teams in Washington and Oregon.
Website: deriknelson.com.
Living in northwest Montana, Riana also works as a mentor and a “calm coach,” She helps young women and brides to feel more like themselves, and motivated without the overwhelm. As and artist and teacher, she helps people of all ages connect back to whimsy, nature, and the deep appreciation of the preciousness of life through her art and imagination. Riana loves helping people feel like their most calm, confident, and grounded versions of themselves.