Iris DERKE

About Iris

From NYC to Patagonia: Stories of a Grit & Determination

Welcome to Iris’ Adventures, a collection of stories, perspective and lessons learned about grit, grime and determination from the streets of NYC to the exquisite vistas of Patagonia, Chile, and Mongolia among many far flung destinations. The added tool of living a life that is sober and whole hearted resonates throughout this journey. Thank you for reading!

More about Iris:

Iris Derke

Co-Founder & General Director, DCINY | Entrepreneur | Concert Producer | Musician & Artist | Speaker | Writer | Runner & Back of the Pack Journeyer

Iris Derke is Co-Founder and General Director of DCINY, a concert production company that has presented large-scale performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and other prestigious venues worldwide since 2008. Under her leadership, DCINY has brought together tens of thousands of talented artists from across the globe and earned recognition eight times on Inc Magazine’s 5000 list of “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.”

As a creative collaborator, Iris has worked extensively with renowned composers including Eric Whitacre, Sir Karl Jenkins, Heather Sorenson, and Christopher Tin, presenting numerous world and American premieres. She served as Executive Producer on the CD Messiah Refreshed! featuring the Royal Philharmonic at Abbey Road Studios, and in addition to multiple special projects, including bringing Eric Whitacre’s Paradise Lost to concert stages in New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas.

Musical Artist

An accomplished flautist, Iris has performed internationally with orchestras including the TURKSOY Symphony in Turkey, the Polish National Symphony, the Croatian Chamber Orchestra, and DCINY’s own Distinguished Concert Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Her performances have been praised for their “attentive and loving… celestial music and heart-rendering sequences.” Notable recent appearances include premieres of works written specifically for her, including Dinos Constantinides’ Flute and Harp Concerto at Lincoln Center and Matej Meštrović’s Flautando in Zagreb.

Industry Leadership

Iris is a sought-after speaker on arts leadership and entrepreneurship, presenting at conferences including the Association of British Choral Directors in Glasgow and the National Student Leadership Conference (sponsored by Inc. Magazine) at Columbia University. Her insights have been featured in Inc. Magazine, Business Insider, and other media outlets. She proudly serves on theChorus America board.

Life Beyond the Stage

When not producing concerts or performing, Iris pursues her passion for adventure as a PADI-certified Rescue Scuba Diver and ultra-endurance athlete. She has participated in multiple 155-mile, 7-day self-supported Racing the Planet desert races across Patagonia, Mongolia, Chile’s Atacama Desert, and Finland’s Arctic Circle, while maintaining her annual tradition of running the NYC Marathon. Her philosophy? Life’s greatest rewards come from embracing both artistic excellence and personal adventure with equal enthusiasm and unending optimism.

Originally from Santa Monica, California, Ms. Derke received her education at UCLA, The Royal College of Music in London (UK), Manhattan School of Music and at Columbia University’s School of Business. Ms. Derke currently relishes her NYC residency status with her family, jazz educator and musician Rob Derke, and daughter Gabriella.

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