Mike Childress

Composer

Mike Childress is in his eleventh year of teaching band.  He earned his BM at the Texas State School of Music in 2012 and was a finalist in the Texas State School of Music Composition Competition.  Since then, he has taught middle school and high school bands in Floresville ISD and Comal ISD.  He is currently the Director of Bands at Smithson Valley High School in Spring Branch, Texas.  The Smithson Valley Program is a highly competitive 5A Band.

Alongside studying and teaching music, Mike has had extensive experience with performance and design in the marching arts.  He marched in the Drum Corps International circuit with the Crossmen in 2008, and the Bluecoats in 2010 on trumpet.  Following Drum Corps, he began designing marching band drill, individual marching techniques, and arranging music.  His first full composition “Apollo’s Eternal Sunrise” was commissioned in 2020 and premiered in May of 2021.  

Mike lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife Amber, who is also a band director, their son Nolan, and their giant puppy, Cora.