About this Artist

DERRICK SKYE

Derrick Skye is an acclaimed Los Angeles-based composer and musician known for his transcultural approach to music, combining Western classical music with musical practices such as West African traditional, Persian classical, Indian classical, and Balkan folk music. Skye's music has been commissioned and/or performed by prestigious ensembles including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, and Los Angeles Master Chorale, among others. The Los Angeles Times has described his music as “something to savor” and “enormous fun to listen to,” while The Times (London) has praised Skye’s compositions as “deliciously head-spinning.” In addition to his work as a composer, Skye is dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding through music. His mission is to create music that transcends cultural boundaries and unites diverse communities. Through his music, Skye demonstrates his belief in the power of music to inspire, connect, and foster dialogue across cultures.

ELLEN GILSON VOTH

Ellen Gilson Voth leads an active and fulfilling career as conductor and composer, educator and keyboard artist.

Currently, Voth is Artistic Director of the Farmington Valley Chorale based in Simsbury, CT, a large symphonic chorale of 80-plus members. Through her engagement with singers, collaborating with guest professionals, and partnerships with arts organizations, her vision and artistic leadership of the Chorale has garnered attention throughout the greater Hartford region and beyond. For the Spring 2023 semester, she is the Visiting Conductor of the Wesleyan University Concert Choir. Voth has also served on the music faculties of Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT; Westfield State University in Westfield, MA; Western New England University in Springfield, MA (also serving as music coordinator); Gordon College in Wenham, MA; and the Ithaca College School of Music in Ithaca, NY. Her teaching and mentoring reflects her passion for and dedication to high standards of artistry, scholarship, and integration among different areas of study.

For seven years, Voth served as Artistic Director of Novi Cantori, a professional chamber choir based in greater Springfield, MA, conducting nearly fifty performances of music from the Renaissance through the present, balancing traditional and innovative programming with new ventures in community outreach. She also served as Chorus Director of the Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus (MA), as Director of the Symphonic Chorale at Gordon College (MA), as Assistant Conductor of the New Haven Chorale (CT), as a conductor with the Connecticut Children’s Chorus, and as choral director at Perkiomen Valley High School in Collegeville, PA. For many summers Voth served on the faculty of the Masterworks Festival in Winona Lake, IN and the Csehy Summer School of Music in Langhorne, PA. Her guest conducting invitations have been regional and national in scope, including the Rhode Island All-State Festival and OAKE National Chamber Choir in recent years.