Derek Lynch

Derek Lynch was born in Alice Springs on 26 October 1986 and is a proud Yankunytjatjara and central Arrente man who grew up in small town camp in Alice Springs call Old Timers camp. He moved to Finke Aputula community at age three to live with mum sister where he did his schooling. In 1999 Derek went on to Yirara College in Alice Springs where he found his passion for singing and the performing arts. In 2000 he auditioned for the Spirit Of Australia CD for the 40th Anniversary of Qantas Airline and got picked from N.T to go to Sydney to record the CD with other young and talented performers from around Australia at the Sony BMG record studios. After recording this CD, Derek went on to record more albums with the Yirara choir at CAAMA radio in Alice Springs.

In 2003 he moved to Adelaide to complete his year 11 and 12 at Woodville High with the Wiltja Program. In 2005 he joined the Carclew Youth Arts Indigenous Arts and Culture Team and went to the APY Lands for the DVFM project. His role on this project was community liaison, assistance with language interpreting, and workshop assistant in dance, music and video.

In 2006-2007 Derek enrolled at the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) at the University of Adelaide. During his time at CASM Derek performed in several venues including Carclew's Blak Nite 07/08 and 09 at Tandanya.

THEATRE

2010 - "Nyuntu Ngali" - Windmill Productions and Sydney Theatre Company
2009 - "Nyuntu Ngali" - Windmill Productions, Directed by Scott Rankin. View photos and further information here
2009 - "Minnow and Medica" - dancer and actor performing with Natasha Wanganeen in a story about the consequences of wrong skin marriages.
2008 - "Kurrurru Indigenous Youth Theatre - lead actor and dancer in the play "Of the Future". Provided cultural leadership and interpreting to scriptwriters.
2001 - 2003 - Yirara College - drama performances at Yirara Theatre Group.

MUSIC & DANCE

2009 - International Dreaming Festival - performed traditional dance
2009 - Iwantja Band - Derek assisted the formation of this band by mentoring young Yankunytjattjara men from Indulkana Aboriginal Community.  The Iwantja Band performed in Victoria Square at the Public Sector week in November to launch the "Before Going Shopping" initiative for the Office of Business and Consumer Affairs."
2009 - Inma Rikini - Alice Springs - performer and teacher of traditional Inma.
2007 & 2008 - "Blaknite" - Indigenous youth talent showcase produced by Carclew Youth Arts and showcasing young artists from Aboriginal Communities across South Australia - Assistant Project Officer and Performer.
2005 - Carclew Youth Arts - APY Lands Project working towards celebrating healthy communities - music tutor, choreographer, interpreter, teacher.
2004 - Kurrurru Indigenous Youth Arts - performer, interpreter, cultural consultant in Kurrurru Dance Ensemble.
2000 - Spirit of Australia - 40th Anniversary of Qantas - vocalist recording with Sony in Sydney.
2000 - Bush Band - Yirara College - initiated formation of the band and performed as the lead vocalist.
1999 - Yirara Gospel Choir - performed as vocalist and recorded two Gospel albums for CAAMA.
1995 - ABC Television - performed teh Emu Dance at the opening of the Aputula Inma Dance Ground, Finke NT.
1994 - Aputula Women's Centre - lead dancer in Nut Bush City Limits dance item in opening of the centre.

OTHER

2009 - APY Traditional Inma Partnership - with Pitjanjtajatjara man Tapaya Edwards conducted workshops at Pukatja, Amata, Fregon and Indulkana.
2008 - South Australian Young Achievers Award - finalist in Indigenous Category.
2008 and 2009 - Carclew Youth Arts - Traineeship in Arts Administration.
 

Nyuntu Ngali
Image: Tony Lewis