Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen dies after car crash

Juno-nominated Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen, 45, has died in a crash in northern Alberta.

AIM Booking Agency, which represents Derksen, said in a statement that Derksen died in a car accident, with friends and family on social media saying it happened after attending the funeral of their father in northern Alberta.

“Thank you, Cris, for sharing your light, your fire, and your music with us. You left an indelible mark on this world, and your song will echo in our hearts forever,” the statement reads.

RCMP Cpl. Matthew Howell says officers responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 44 near Township Road 684 at around 6:30 p.m. on May 15.

“The initial call stated that a northbound SUV crossed the centre line and collided with a southbound SUV,” he told 660 NewsRadio.

“The passenger of the southbound SUV was declared deceased on scene.”

Derksen’s wife, Bobby (Rebecca) Benson, is in hospital in critical, life-threatening condition, while the driver in the northbound vehicle is also in serious condition.

Howell says witnesses say the northbound vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed, but say there’s no evidence to suggest drugs or alcohol were involved.

“Condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased, and we hope that the drivers also recover from their injuries,” he said.

The National Arts Centre website says Derksen hailed from northern Alberta and that their music weaved “classical background and Indigenous ancestry with new school electronics to create genre-defying music.”

“Cris’s artistry, generosity, and commitment to storytelling through music leave a lasting legacy. Our thoughts are with their family, collaborators, and all those who were touched by their work,” a statement on Derksen’s passing reads.

Derksen, from Tallcree First Nation in Treaty 8, told the Penticton Herald in an interview earlier this month that they were living in Ontario.

Kathleen Allan, artistic director of the Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto and Chorus Niagara, says she recently worked with Derksen, and their death has left many devastated.

Allan says Derken’s music challenged audiences to listen more deeply to one another, and to take meaningful action to create change beyond the concert stage.

Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity released a statement expressing remorse over Derksen’s passing.

“Cris was an extraordinary artist and a vital creative voice whose work resonated with power, generosity, and purpose. Through music and storytelling, they created space for connection, dialogue, and reflection, leaving an enduring impact on audiences and collaborators alike,” the statement reads.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to Cris’s family, friends, and the many communities they touched. Cris’s presence will be dearly missed.”

Derksen founded the Indigenous Classical Gathering, which became the Indigenous Classical Music Residency, along with being a frequent collaborator for the arts centre in Alberta.

Derksen also performed with orchestras around the country, including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Montreal’s Orchestre Métropolitain.

With files from The Canadian Press