David 12 years ago following his first Concerto performances with the BBC Philharmonic & Jan Pascal Tortelier during the BBC Young Musician of the Year.


The BBC Young Musician of the Year is recognised around the globe as the most prestigious classical music competition in the world. Having won the brass final in 2000 David was invited to adjudicate this year'92s brass final. If you haven'92t watched it use this link to hear some of Britain'92s finest young brass talent via BBC iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01g9d5n/



David presents bass trombonist Alexander Kelly with his award.


The brain child of Hampshire Music Service '91Heavy Metal'92 was a day event focussing on euphonium and tuba with guest artists David Childs & Oren Marshall. With over 70 young euphonium and tuba players from throughout the county the day proved a great success and culminated in David & Oren performing as soloists with the Hampshire Youth Band.


The Massed Tubas & Euphoniums of Hampshire Music Service with Oren Marshall and his Orenophone!


The Territorial Youth Band is the Salvation Army'92s equivalent of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and consists of the finest young Salvation Army musicians from the UK. They meet for a week long course in the south of England and during their recent course received a master class and short concert performance from Eminence Brass. Besson Musical Instruments supported the event by providing Eminence Brass which featured former TYB member and current Principal Trumpet with the London Symphony Orchestra Philip Cobb.



Eminence Brass: Philip Cobb, David Childs, Richard Marshall & Owen Farr


The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain this year celebrates their 60th anniversary. David was principal euphonium with the band for 9 of the 12 courses he attended. Having since been guest soloist with the band on two occasions, this year he returned as specialist tutor for the week. David commented, '93I owe so much to the NYBB. I will forever cherish my memories as a student of the band and to come back and tutor the euphonium and baritone section was very special for me.'94



Bramwell Tovey leads the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain


This Easter'92s course was particularly special as Artistic Director Bramwell Tovey invited former NYBB members of the the last 60 years to perform with the band during their end of course concerts in Weston & Cadogen Hall London. These included euphonium soloists: NYBB Chairman & David'92s father Robert Childs, Black Dyke legend John Clough, the talented Matthew White, and his predecessor at both the NYBB & Cory David Childs.



David with John Clough


In addition, an Alumni band was formed to give a concert to current NYBB members. The list of players involved included many household names of the brass band movement, but of particular interest to readers of this website will be Lisa Fitzgerald-Lombard (David'92s sister!) and Lorraine Childs (David'92s mother!). Lorraine & Robert Childs met each other as members of the National Youth Brass band of Great Britain, and at the time it is doubtful either imagined they would be returning 35 years later with their two children to be part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations!



David with mum Lorraine, dad & Alumni band director Robert, & sister Lisa!


Having performed both the Horovitz and the Karl Jenkins Euphonium Concertos with the National Youth Wind Orchestra in the past, David once again performed with this fine ensemble as their guest soloist giving the UK premiere of Johan De Meij'92s UFO Concerto for Euphonium & Wind Band under the direction of guest conductor Robert Childs



Robert rehearses the Wind Orchestra at Radley College Oxfordshire.


In concert: St Mary'92s Church Bandbury


After a successful premiere in Banbury the 2nd UK performance of UFO took place in the prestigious Dukes Hall of the Royal Academy of Music London. Reviewer Peter Bale seemed to enjoy it:

'93David Childs returned to present the wind version of Johan de Meij'92s '91UFO Concerto'92. The title has little to do with extra-terrestrials, but the playing in the five-movement work was quite out of this world!'94

Following the afternoon concert there was just enough time for David and wife Joanne to take their son Benjamin to see the Queen at Buckingham Palace before heading home to Wales!