Alumni Story

I’m one of these people who can’t sit still, I want to try new things.”

Derek’s high school guidance counselor had him and some classmates meet with a representative from Catawba College to learn more about it. Having grown up around theater, Derek was interested in that, but he was also curious about music business, having tried his hand at songwriting and teaching himself to play guitar. He wasn’t sure which to choose but learned that Catawba offered majors in both. He left the meeting with “a really beautiful brochure” and the sense it was where he wanted to go.

His guidance counselor’s son was attending Catawba for music. Derek contacted him and got a personalized tour of campus from him filled with anecdotes and introductions to other music students. He auditioned for the music program and met some of its faculty, including Dr. David Fish, who would ultimately become a mentor to him. “I knew this was the place for me.”

At Catawba, Derek says, “I never felt like a number. It was like being a part of a family in so many ways. I built lasting relationships with other peers that I still talk to, to this day.”

One outstanding thing to Derek about Catawba’s music program was the support and investment he received from his professors. “All of them seemed to know my goals and knew how my classes tied into supporting them. I remember in my sophomore year, I recorded an album and a handful of my professors and peers threw a CD release party for me.”

Today, Derek continues songwriting and performing, all while exploring new interests. He worked for Apple in Manhattan in sales, then moved up to training. For a time, he decided to leave Apple to try other things. He ventured into writing code but discovered he did not really enjoy it as a job. During the pandemic, he worked in claims adjusting from home but found there was little work-life balance. Apple then offered him an opportunity in Charleston, SC, where he now lives, and he returned to work for them.

Along the way, Derek discovered voice acting. It started as a podcast with a Catawba friend, doing skits using different voices, just for fun. He started researching and found voice actors were very open about how to get started. He studied. During the pandemic, instead of being centered in a couple of major cities, voice acting moved online; voice actors could now work from anywhere. Derek posted demos on several industry websites and got his first job. Derek is able to alter his voice to create distinctive, unique characters - monsters, kids, nerds, fantasy characters, and more. He records evenings or weekends and installed a recording studio in his home since there can be a quick turnaround time, sometimes overnight.

His client list for voice roles has steadily grown and includes commercials and corporate websites. An early $20 recording job unexpectedly opened a door to do voice overs for video games, and he recently won a One Voice Conference Award for his role as the Joker in the game “State of Survival.” He often plays several vocal roles within the same game.

Derek’s voice is very much his own and exudes genuine enthusiasm when he talks about Catawba. He remembers his time at Catawba vividly. “I loved every minute of being at Catawba and I did learn so many things that I use today. I just wish I did even more! Soak it up and take it all in,” he advises students. “Four years seems like a long time but it goes by so fast. Make the most of it and enjoy it!”