Born in Paris and growing up in Nice, France, Dominic Derasse studied trumpet with Gaston Cagnon and solfege and theory at the Nice Conservatory of Music. During that time, he played with “Nice La Belle,” a local folkloric group, and at age 13, he traveled across Europe with the group, even performing at the 1972 Munich Olympics. At 15, he played his first professional job with the Nice Opera performing in the stage band for “La Boheme”. After graduating from high school, Derasse spent the summer of 1976 studying at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute: Young Artists’ Orchestra with conductors including Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Klaus Tennstedt. Upon his return to France, Derasse fulfilled his national duties in the military service. While in the service, he studied with Roger Delmotte at the Versailles Conservatory before entering the Paris National Conservatory of Music. While at the Paris Conservatory, he became very active professionall, free-lancing in recording sessions, shows, symphony orchestras and operas. He graduated from the Paris Conservatory with First Prize in 1979.
In 1979 following a tour of South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Mauritius Island with a brass quintet, Derasse received a full scholarship from the “Commission Franco-Americaine” in Paris that fall and went to Boston to study jazz at Berklee College of Music and with Carmine Caruso in New York City.
Upon returning to France, Derasse became very much in demand in France, touring with two French pop stars and winning orchestral auditions with the Nice Orchestra and the “Orchestre Colonne” in Paris. He also played in Broadway tours and studio sessions in France and began to teach at the Vernon and Vaulx le Penil music conservatories.
In August 1985, Derasse won the position of principal trumpet with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in South Carolina and remained there until May 1987 when he made his permanent move to New York City. Since moving to New York, Derasse has become one of the most sought-after trumpet players and educators in the area. In addition to his position as principal trumpet with the now defunct Eos Orchestra, his versatility has allowed him to perform with a wide variety of musical organizations and on numerous musical recordings.
Derasse has performed as a classical soloist and has presented master classes and lectures in Europe, the U.S., Japan, Africa and South America. He has played on more than 60 motion picture soundtracks, including the Oscar winning score to “Frida,” and has recorded commercials for more than 100 different companies and performed numerous themes for television. He was the Founder, President & Executive Director of the New York FILMharmonic Orchestra, dedicated to the live performance of music written for film and television. He served as President of the NY Chapter and Vice-President of the International RMA (Recording Musician’s Association) from 1999 – 2001. Derasse is a volunteer firefighter in his community. |
