Derrick Ware

Derrick Ware is a second-year Viola Fellow at the New World Symphony. He has performed with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, where he currently serves as Principal Viola, and was a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Additional orchestral experience includes guest appearances with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra and performing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center. Other festival engagements include the Aspen Music Festival and Montecito International Music Festival, while international appearances have brought him to the Pacific Music Festival in Japan; Thüringer Bachwochen, Schleswig-Holstein and Schostakowitsch festivals in Germany; and the Allegra Festival in Bulgaria.

In addition to his performing career, Derrick is a committed educator. While based in Chicago, he taught various students ranging in age from four years old to high school, and he mentored students from Chicago Public Schools through the Chicago Youth in Music program.

Derrick received his master of music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied with Helen Callus, and his bachelor of music degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music under Edward Gazouleas.

Derrick enjoys reading, tennis, drawing and spending time with dogs when he is not playing the viola.