Staff Sergeant Derek Akers
Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Derek Akers, a native of Sulphur, OK, performs on French Horn for the United States Air Force (USAF) Band of the West. He holds both a doctorate and master’s degree from Texas Tech University and a bachelor’s degree from East Central University. As an accomplished musician and teacher, SSgt Akers has performed in numerous professional orchestras and ensembles, including The New Mexico Philharmonic, The Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, The Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, Moonlight Musicals Inc., Ballet Lubbock, and he was a member of the New Mexico Wind Quintet. He’s also been a featured artist at the Napa Valley and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festivals. He has shared the stage with numerous world re-known artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, and Susan Graham among many others.
As a teacher, SSgt Akers has held faculty positions at Eastern New Mexico University, Lubbock Christian University, and as a teaching assistant in the Texas Tech University School of Music. SSgt Akers has also privately taught many of the top high school and middle school horn students within the state of Texas. He was an active adjudicator for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State and All-Region and routinely judged competitions for the International Horn Society.
SSgt Akers has won numerous performance awards, including the 2012 and 2016 solo competitions and orchestral mock audition at the International Horn Society’s Mid-South Horn Workshop. He was also the winner of the Texas Tech University Concerto Competition in 2015.
His primary horn teacher was Christopher M. Smith, former associate principal horn of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and current professor of horn at Texas Tech University.
On his days off he enjoys spending time with his wife and 2 daughters, gardening, and watching college football.
EDUCATION/PME
2011 Bachelor of Science, Instrumental Music, East Central University, Ada, OK
2013 Master of Music, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2016 Doctor of Musical Arts, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2022 Airman Leadership School, Langley AFB, Virginia
ASSIGNMENTS
- Jun 2018 – Aug 2023, USAF Heritage of America Band, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA
- Aug 2023 – Present, USAF Band of the West, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, TX
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air and Space Commendation Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
BMT Honor Graduate
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman 1st Class 24 Apr 2018
Senior Airman 24 Aug 2020
Staff Sergeant 01 June 2022
