Christopher Micah Childers

Christopher Childers was born at home on October 27, 1973 in Lubbock, Texas. He passed on December 27, 2024 after a 3-year struggle with Frontotemporal Dementia. He is survived by his two children, Cameron and Madison of Pearland, Texas, his mother Mary Hill Collins & stepfather Bobby Gene Collins of Lubbock, sister Sharon Mack & husband Mark of Houston, sister Heidi Jones & husband Jay of Buda,Texas, and step-mother Suthamath (Oud) Childers, also of Buda, Texas. Chris was preceded in death by his father Jimmie Don Childers.

A private Memorial Service will be held for the family at a later date. Cremation will be under the services of Resthaven Funeral Home.

Dr. Childers attended Coronado High School and Texas Tech University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance. He received his Master’s Degree and Doctorate at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. He also played for celebrated pianists in France such as Phillippe Entremont and Gaby Casadesus at the Conservatoire d’Americain, as well as for Wolfgang Manz in Hanover Germany. His Doctoral recitals included performances with several acclaimed Moores School faculty-artists, including Laszlo Varga, the former principal cellist of the New York Philharmonic; Grammy nominee mezzo-soprano, Katherine Ciesinski, and violinist Andrzej Grabiec. Chris was a 6th Generation Pupil of Beethoven.

Chris won first prize in the 1994-1995 International Sorantin Young Artist Competition out of a field of 50 musicians, as well as first prize in the 1992 Texas Music Teachers’ Association Piano Concerto Competition and second prize in the same organization’s Organ Competition in 1990.

He performed as a soloist with the San Angelo Symphony Orchestra, Big Spring Symphony Orchestra and the Lubbock Youth Symphony Orchestra, and had several piano and organ performances broadcast on public television and radio. One of his greatest musical accomplishments was recording the Rachmaninoff Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra in 2020.

Chris was recognized in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and will be remembered by the hundreds of students he taught in Pearland, Texas. His students received the highest scores in the National Guild Auditions, Gold Cup Festival, and Texas Federated Music Club’s State Competition, winning the State Competition at various levels over 160 times in the past decade.

Chris met and married Shanta Sivasingam in 2000. Their two children Cameron & Madison were Chris’ pride and joy. He greatly enjoyed adventures with his children whether traveling abroad or attending camp creating lasting memories that will be cherished forever.

Chris’ religion was also very important to him. He was a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston and a member of Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist in Houston. He served as a church organist from the age of 12 at various churches in Lubbock, Germany, and Houston, including at Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist from December 1999 to August 2023. He also served as a Chaplain for the Rosharon and Huntsville Prisons and volunteered with his children at the Houston Food Bank.

Chris’ music can be found on YouTube at: DrChildersPianoTV, Chris Childers Rachmaninoff, Dr Childers Students, and McDowellPianoConcertoLYSOfromCopyV2 (where Chris, age 18, walks on stage at the 34 minute mark).

Memorials in Chris’s name may be sent to either church listed above. He was a sweet and loving friend, musician, and teacher and will be missed by all.