Derek was born in Glasgow and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Durham University and London Opera Centre.

He joined Welsh National Opera's music staff in 1977, conducting a wide repertoire from Handel and Mozart to Maxwell Davis and Stravinsky.

He has been a guest coach for the Welsh College of Music and Drama, Birmingham Conservatoire, the National Opera Studio and the RSAMD.

As accompanist he has appeared in all the major British Concert Venues, and he also works as an arranger and composer. He joined Scottish Opera as Head of Music in 1977, since when he has conducted Rigoletto, Samson, The Magic Flute, La Boheme, The Marriage of Figaro, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Ines de Castro, Cosi fan tutte, Madama Butterfly and Scottish Opera's touring production of La Boheme. This season he has conducted Magic Flute.