David is a full-time freelance composer of music, conductor, educator, and owner of River Avon productions (www.davidchilds.com). In addition to a busy composing and speaking schedule, David is President and Artistic Director of Vox Humana, a professional choir of 24 singers drawn from all over the country. He also is Adjunct Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of North Texas. David has a Bachelor's degree in composition and musicology from Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand; an MM degree in conducting from the Florida State University, Tallahassee; and a DMA degree from Louisiana State University. Dr. Childs has conducted numerous All-State and honor choir concerts across the United States, New Zealand, and Japan. His compositions are frequently performed in all corners of the world, and he is in great demand as a commissioned composer. In June 2009, he conducted a world premiere of his Requiem mass for chorus, soloists, and chamber orchestra, receiving a standing ovation in Carnegie Hall. In March of 2011 he premiered his new work Festival Te Deum for choir, orchestra and soloists, also in Carnegie Hall. In the Fall of 2016 he formed a new company – River Avon Productions – that is focused on furthering his creative compositional career. David is married to Lesley French Childs, with whom they have two beautiful daughters, Emma and Aubrey.