OUR STORY
Faith, Music & Purpose
Joyful Noise Studio & Production LLC was created to record and produce artists who have dedicated themselves to making music that glorifies God.
Meet Derek
Derek is the proud creator and owner of Joyful Noise Studio & Production LLC. Derek, along with his wife Syrena, has had the vision to bring together Gospel artists to honor God in praise and in song.
Derek graduated with his bachelor’s degree in music performance and education at Eastern Illinois University. At Eastern, he joined the music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the distinguished fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. After graduation, Derek moved to Toledo, Ohio, where he became the music instructor at Libbey High School, directing band and choir and coaching football. He also directed the award-winning Toledo All City Gospel Choir and musicals at the high-school and All-City levels.
After a stint in Toledo, Derek moved to New York, where he pursued a career in musical theater and toured nationally in several Broadway productions, including Ain’t Misbehavin’, Little Shop of Horrors, and Big River.
A Lifetime in Music & Education
Derek has written and produced several Gospel plays that have been performed throughout the country. A recording artist in his own right under the name Deke, he has performed with Gospel greats including Rance Allen, John P. Kee, Ricky Dillard, Donald Lawrence, and the late Douglas Miller. For his portrayal of Jim in the Broadway musical Big River, Derek earned a prestigious Jefferson Award nomination for outstanding performance in a musical.
As a Broadway performer, he has shared the stage with Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald, Felicia Fields, and Jennifer Hudson. After returning to Illinois, Derek received his master’s degree in administrative leadership. For the last 15 years, he has worked in education as an administrator and music teacher. Currently, Derek is pursuing his doctorate degree in Worship Studies at Liberty University.
