Mike Childress received his Bachelor's of Music Education Degree from Texas State in 2012. He studied with Greg Bolin and Ricky Hall as his introduction to composition alongside his degree and certification to teach K-12 music, with a focus in band. In 2011, he was a finalist in the TX State Composition Contest.

Mike was always an avid fan of the marching arts and performed at the DCI World Championships on trumpet with the Crossmen and Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008 & 2010 respectively. Performing high quality designs and arrangements with such high achieving ensembles fueled Mike's interest in composing, arranging, and drill design.

Mike has been a band director for fourteen years, teaching as assistant director at Floresville Middle School for three years, Floresville High School for three years, and currently teaching at Smithson Valley High School the last eight years - five of which he has been Director of Bands. The Smithson Valley Ranger Band has qualified for State Marching Contest three consecutive years under Mike's direction, and has flourished in Concert performance, Solo & Ensemble, and the Texas All-State audition process. The advancement of his program has brought years where all three concert ensembles performed collegiate level music, providing ample experience to study and embrace many compositional techniques.

Throughout Mike's teaching experience, many moments came to light requiring urgent alterations to his program's marching band productions, prompting him to arrange and redesign drill to create a better experience for his students. At first, it was small changes, then entire movements, and eventually entire shows, and even pieces of Wind Ensemble literature commissioned to the highest bidder to fund his own programs. Mike's compositions are energetic and usually tell a story. While not required, Mike enjoys creating electronic parts and accompaniments to his pieces and will even incorporate visual suggestions to create an immersive musical experience.