Fort Wayne Philharmonic Principal Violist Derek Reeves began his musical studies at age 2-1/2. A graduate of Indiana University, he earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance, was awarded a Performer’s Certificate, and served as Concertmaster of four of the school’s five orchestras. He has also served as Associate Concertmaster of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Concertmaster of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Associate Concertmaster of the Evansville Philharmonic and from 1997-1999, Reeves participated in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s fellowship program. Reeves performs as the violist of the Freimann Quartet, and has performed in the great concert halls of the United States, Europe and Japan. He is in demand as a recitalist, recording studio musician, educator and arranger. He also performs classical and latin influenced jazz with the Alicia Pyle Quartet, Celtic-influenced World Rock with the Mimi Burns Band, and he conducts and arranges for the Gold Medal winning Voices of Unity Youth Choir.
A passionate advocate of musical education, Reeves is director of Club O, The Phil’s educational outreach program at the Fort Wayne Boys and Girls Club. He is also an adjunct professor of violin and viola at IPFW, and maintains a private teaching studio. He enjoys running, yoga, biking and vegan cooking. Derek and his wife Patricia have a six-year-old son, Preston. Mr. Reeves performs on a viola made by Mark Womack in 2005.