Hello! My name is Derry McDermott. I’m a composer from Ireland. I’ve also produced, arranged, and taught music over the years.

Super brief background:

I was trained at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, graduated with a joint honours degree in Mathematics and Music from Trinity College Dublin, and over the years I’ve played in orchestras, bands, choirs, and Irish trad sessions. I’m a member of the Screen Composers Guild Ireland and was shortlisted for the London Philharmonic Orchestra Young Composers programme. I was recently awarded the George Moore Scholarship to study at USC Thornton.

Some other fun facts:
• I used to work at KPMG (very different, I know!)
• I have been a type 1 diabetic for seven years. Living with this condition has influenced how I view accessibility in all aspects of life and has particularly influenced my desire to create engaging and understandable compositions.
• I am going to miss Ireland terribly.

How I compose & approach visual stories:

• I am inclined towards hybrid scores, mixing orchestral, acoustic, electroacoustic, and electronic techniques to create unique sonic worlds.

• I’m conscious about crafting scores that resonate on first listen, knowing that’s often the only chance a score gets, but still imbued with depth and substance.

• I strive to create scores that are accessible and engaging, blending orchestral and modern elements to break down barriers, serve the story, and connect with audiences from all backgrounds. In particular, I aim to reinvigorate the image of orchestral music in film to appeal to a modern audience with modern tastes and sentiments.

You can find some more of my music on Soundcloud: Listen on SoundCloud →