Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen dies after car crash – CityNews

May 18, 2026

Juno-nominated Indigenous cellist and composer Cris Derksen, 45, has died in a crash in northern Alberta.

AIM Booking Agency, which represents Derksen, said in a statement that Derksen died in a car accident, with friends and family on social media saying it happened after attending the funeral of their father in northern Alberta.

“Thank you, Cris, for sharing your light, your fire, and your music with us. You left an indelible mark on this world, and your song will echo in our hearts forever,” the statement reads.

RCMP Cpl. Matthew Howell says officers responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 44 near Township Road 684 at around 6:30 p.m. on May 15.

Read More: https://calgary.citynews.ca/2026/05/18/indigenous-cellist-composer-cris-derksen-dies-car-crash/