Faculty

Andrew H. Dabczynski is Professor of Music Education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he is also the director of the BYU "New Horizons Orchestra," a beginning string orchestra for adults and laboratory for string teacher training.

link to BYU School of Music bio page

Gordon B. Childs is assistant director of the BYU New Horizons Orchestra and retired as Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of Wyoming. Dr. Childs has held teaching and administrative positions at the University of Montana, Adams State College and the University of Wyoming, and in the public schools of Milford, Utah; Pocatello, Idaho; and Missoula, Montana. He has also been involved as a performer and conductor in performance groups and civic orchestras in Pocatello, Idaho; Missoula, Montana; Alamosa, Colorado; Laramie, Wyoming; and American Fork, Utah. In addition, he was a founding member and 2nd violin of the Montana String Quartet and was the founder and conductor of the San Luis Valley Youth Orchestra. Most recently he was a visiting Professor of Viola at Brigham Young University and conductor of the American Fork Symphony for nine years, retiring as Conductor Emeritus in 2002. He has also been a private instructor for violin, viola and viola d'amore.

Dr. Childs received a B.A. in Music Education (1950) and an M.A. in Musicology (1953) from Brigham Young University. He later completed his Ed.D in Music Administration from the University of Montana (1975). As a performer, Dr. Childs has played the violin, viola and viola d'Amore in recitals and concertos with orchestras in 17 states, Mexico, Germany and Poland. He hosted the 1st and 9th International Viola d'Amore Congress at the University of Wyoming and Utah Valley State College, and has edited, arranged and published music for the Viola d'Amore in the United States and England. He has been a member of All-State and All-City Orchestras in Nebraska, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, Colorado, South Dakota, and Utah. He has also been a guest conductor/clinician at Brigham Young University, Weber State University, University of Montana, Colorado State University, University of Wyoming, Adams State College and the Billings, Montana, public schools. Dr. Childs has held offices in the Idaho Music Educators Association, the American String Teachers Association, the American Musicological Society, the Colorado Music Administrators Association, the Colorado Student Music Educators Association, the Wyoming Music Educators Association and the San Luis Valley, Wyoming State and Utah Arts Councils.

Dr. Childs and his wife Elaine -- a prize-winning painter in oils -- live in Orem, Utah. They have two children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  Dr. Childs and his wife are co-chairs of the Hafen-Dallin Art Guild of the Springville Museum of Art and co-treasurers of the Utah County Art Board. Dr. Childs is a follower of Messiah Yeshua, and is retired as Wasatch Branch Priest in Utah after serving for 46 years as Priest of branches in Colorado and Wyoming.