Derik, Riana, and Dalten are siblings, and grew up in Olympia, Washington. Between the three of them, they've been in over 150 musical productions and sing together regularly. Their combined experience, creativity, and professionalism in music, stage productions, audio engineering, marketing, and management make a perfect team to collaboratively produce Derik Nelson's TAKE CHANCES TOUR.
DERIK NELSON
LEAD SINGER/GUITARIST
Derik is a singer, songwriter, and producer, who recently completed nearly 30 dates on his independent West Coast Tour of high schools, and can currently be seen every week as the guitarist on the FOX television show "Glee." His singing voice has been heard on FOX's "Raising Hope" and "New Girl," CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” NBC’s “Go On” and “The Voice,” and his original music has been featured on the WB hit TV series "Felicity," as well as the feature film “Commencement.” As a performer, Derik has had the honor of sharing the stage with a variety of musical greats, including Mary J. Blige, Dionne Warwick, American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez, Lupe Fiasco with Guy Sebastian, and many more. Derik graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Industry, and has written, produced, and recorded six full-length albums to his name, and was an integral part of shaping the curriculum that later became the new Popular Music program at USC, the first program of its kind in the country where a degree in popular music at a major university is possible. In 2008, Derik was awarded the Brian Wilson Music Scholarship for songwriting. He's received millions of views on his YouTube channel, and works as a producer and recording engineer for other artists and musicians, including Rozzi Crane (the first artist to be signed to Adam Levine of MAROON 5's new record label, 222 Records), Christine Donaldson, Aaron Childs, and Raquel Rodriguez. Derik is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA, and is honored to be sharing in the success of the TAKE CHANCES TOUR project with Dalten and Riana, which will kick off again in Fall 2014 with stops at schools in Washington, Oregon, and California to help raise money for their arts and music programs. For more info, go to www.deriknelson.com / @deriknelson
LEAD SINGER/GUITARIST
Derik is a singer, songwriter, and producer, who recently completed nearly 30 dates on his independent West Coast Tour of high schools, and can currently be seen every week as the guitarist on the FOX television show "Glee." His singing voice has been heard on FOX's "Raising Hope" and "New Girl," CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother,” NBC’s “Go On” and “The Voice,” and his original music has been featured on the WB hit TV series "Felicity," as well as the feature film “Commencement.” As a performer, Derik has had the honor of sharing the stage with a variety of musical greats, including Mary J. Blige, Dionne Warwick, American Idol finalist Jessica Sanchez, Lupe Fiasco with Guy Sebastian, and many more. Derik graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Industry, and has written, produced, and recorded six full-length albums to his name, and was an integral part of shaping the curriculum that later became the new Popular Music program at USC, the first program of its kind in the country where a degree in popular music at a major university is possible. In 2008, Derik was awarded the Brian Wilson Music Scholarship for songwriting. He's received millions of views on his YouTube channel, and works as a producer and recording engineer for other artists and musicians, including Rozzi Crane (the first artist to be signed to Adam Levine of MAROON 5's new record label, 222 Records), Christine Donaldson, Aaron Childs, and Raquel Rodriguez. Derik is a proud member of SAG/AFTRA, and is honored to be sharing in the success of the TAKE CHANCES TOUR project with Dalten and Riana, which will kick off again in Fall 2014 with stops at schools in Washington, Oregon, and California to help raise money for their arts and music programs. For more info, go to www.deriknelson.com / @deriknelson
RIANA NELSON
TOUR MANAGEMENT / PR / BOOKING / TICKETING
Riana holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan and has been working full-time booking, marketing, managing, and providing concept & strategy development for Derik Nelson’s TAKE CHANCES TOUR since early 2012, and successfully toured nearly 30 dates in Washington, Oregon, and California in Fall 2013 to help raise money for high school music programs. While her current emphasis is on marketing and management, she recently completed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox as a Casting Associate for Lee Daniels' new hip/hop drama "Empire." Riana has also appeared on-screen in Renee Zellweger's pilot "Cinnamon Girl," FOX’s “Glee,” and behind the scenes on NBC's "Parenthood." She has performed in over 50 musical productions, and was a lead vocalist / guest entertainer for Princess Cruises. Riana has composed the music and lyrics for four musicals, and has directed / musically directed each of the shows for kids 5-7 years old to perform. Riana composed music for the New Composers Holiday Concert at Lincoln Center in New York City in 2010, where she also performed. She co-musically directed one of the most popular co-ed a cappella groups while at The University of Michigan: "Amazin' Blue." Her debut full length 11 track album, titled "More Like Me," can be purchased on iTunes, and her voice can be heard on several of Derik’s albums. Riana is skilled in photography, graphic design & illustration, and loves to travel. Riana has worked for Disney in Beijing, China and continued designing and editing Disney English curriculum for children in Glendale, CA in 2012. Riana is a Les Mills International Certified group fitness instructor, and has shared her passion for yoga & pilates as she taught at two gyms in Olympia, WA before relocating to Los Angeles in 2010. For more info, go to www.riananelson.com / @riananelson
TOUR MANAGEMENT / PR / BOOKING / TICKETING
Riana holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan and has been working full-time booking, marketing, managing, and providing concept & strategy development for Derik Nelson’s TAKE CHANCES TOUR since early 2012, and successfully toured nearly 30 dates in Washington, Oregon, and California in Fall 2013 to help raise money for high school music programs. While her current emphasis is on marketing and management, she recently completed a contract with Twentieth Century Fox as a Casting Associate for Lee Daniels' new hip/hop drama "Empire." Riana has also appeared on-screen in Renee Zellweger's pilot "Cinnamon Girl," FOX’s “Glee,” and behind the scenes on NBC's "Parenthood." She has performed in over 50 musical productions, and was a lead vocalist / guest entertainer for Princess Cruises. Riana has composed the music and lyrics for four musicals, and has directed / musically directed each of the shows for kids 5-7 years old to perform. Riana composed music for the New Composers Holiday Concert at Lincoln Center in New York City in 2010, where she also performed. She co-musically directed one of the most popular co-ed a cappella groups while at The University of Michigan: "Amazin' Blue." Her debut full length 11 track album, titled "More Like Me," can be purchased on iTunes, and her voice can be heard on several of Derik’s albums. Riana is skilled in photography, graphic design & illustration, and loves to travel. Riana has worked for Disney in Beijing, China and continued designing and editing Disney English curriculum for children in Glendale, CA in 2012. Riana is a Les Mills International Certified group fitness instructor, and has shared her passion for yoga & pilates as she taught at two gyms in Olympia, WA before relocating to Los Angeles in 2010. For more info, go to www.riananelson.com / @riananelson
DALTEN NELSON
VIDEO DESIGN / SHOW PRODUCTION
From the age of 4, Dalten has been involved in musical theatre and plays, most notably as the role of Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables”, Bat Boy in “Bat Boy: The Musical”, and was nominated for Best Actor in the State of Washington by the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle, Washington for the role of Bobby Strong in “Urinetown”. Dalten has appeared on several episodes of the FOX TV show, “Glee,” and attended Arizona State University to study acting, but has decided to postpone his degree program to pursue a career in filming and editing, based out of Los Angeles. Dalten has designed, filmed, and edited over 75 independent video productions appearing as part of Derik Nelson’s 2013 TAKE CHANCES TOUR set design & stage presentation. He's resumed his role as video/tech engineer for Derik’s 2014 Tour, and developed over 150 separate innovative multi-screen videos to use as part of the concert experience, syncing video, audio, and lights across five flat screens. His focus on the tech side of things doesn’t prevent him from singing on many of Derik’s albums, and performing and collaborating with both his brother and sister regularly!
VIDEO DESIGN / SHOW PRODUCTION
From the age of 4, Dalten has been involved in musical theatre and plays, most notably as the role of Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables”, Bat Boy in “Bat Boy: The Musical”, and was nominated for Best Actor in the State of Washington by the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle, Washington for the role of Bobby Strong in “Urinetown”. Dalten has appeared on several episodes of the FOX TV show, “Glee,” and attended Arizona State University to study acting, but has decided to postpone his degree program to pursue a career in filming and editing, based out of Los Angeles. Dalten has designed, filmed, and edited over 75 independent video productions appearing as part of Derik Nelson’s 2013 TAKE CHANCES TOUR set design & stage presentation. He's resumed his role as video/tech engineer for Derik’s 2014 Tour, and developed over 150 separate innovative multi-screen videos to use as part of the concert experience, syncing video, audio, and lights across five flat screens. His focus on the tech side of things doesn’t prevent him from singing on many of Derik’s albums, and performing and collaborating with both his brother and sister regularly!