Composer

Biography

David N. Childs, b. 1969 at Nelson, New Zealand, has a Bachelor’s degree in composition and musicology from Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand; a Master of Music degree in conducting from the Florida State University, Tallahassee; and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Louisiana State University.

Dr. Childs serves as Associate Professor of Choral Studies at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, where he was granted tenure in 2008. He has been music director for the Vanderbilt Opera Theater program, having conducted performances of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Menotti’s Amelia Goes to the Ball, Fantasticks, Kirke Mechem’s Tartuffe, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, and Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.

He has received conducting instruction from Dr. Kenneth Fulton, Dr. André Thomas, and Professor Rodney Eichenberger. He has received additional instruction from Helmuth Rilling as a master class conductor at the Oregon Bach Festival.

Dr. Childs is an active clinician and adjudicator in the United States, working at the grade school, college, and community levels. He has conducted All-State and honor choirs in Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, Louisiana, Oregon, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

His compositions frequently appear at state festivals and workshops, and at ACDA state, regional, and national conventions. They are performed in many parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, the Americas and Australasia. He has received commissions from around the world, including Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa. Future commissions include the 2009 ACDA High School National Honor Choir. Dr. Childs currently has over 50 choral works in print.