Meet our Artistic Director

David Edmonds

David Edmonds, D.M.A, is honored to serve as Dolce Canto’s third artistic director since the organization’s founding in 2001.

Dr. Edmonds currently holds the position of Director of Choral Studies at the University of New Mexico where, for the last seven years, he has directed the UNM Concert Choir and University Chorus and has taught undergraduate and graduate conducting and choral repertoire. Recent UNM choir highlights have included Mahler's Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection") with the New Mexico Philharmonic, the world-premiere of Kile Smith's Where the Mind Is Without Fear, and the presentation of A Concert of Healing, in which the UNM choirs and UNM Symphony Orchestra gave the world-premiere performance of Andrea Clearfield's Singing Into Presence. In addition to his role at UNM, Dr. Edmonds recently completed a one-year tenure as the Interim Artistic Director of the New Mexico Symphonic Chorus, guiding the ensemble in their preparations for four choral/orchestral masterworks performances during their 2023-2024 season.

Before coming to UNM, Edmonds led the choral music program at the University of Montana. During his six years there, the UM Chamber Chorale was invited to perform at both ACDA and NAfME regional conferences. An advocate for music education students and pre-service music teachers, Edmonds also served for six years as ACDA National Repertoire & Resources Chair for Student Activities, working on the R&R team to create programming and initiatives supporting the ACDA student membership nation-wide. After teaching high school choral music for six years in Iowa and Texas Dr. Edmonds obtained advanced degrees in conducting from the University of North Texas (D.M.A., ’12) and Westminster Choir College (M.M., ’10). His original compositions and arrangements are published by Alliance, Colla Voce, and MorningStar Music Publishers.

He lives in New Mexico with his incredible wife and their two (often) well-behaved daughters.

“I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to return to Montana and to work with the many wonderful people who make Missoula a vibrant artistic community. I have long been an admirer of the exceptional artistic work achieved by the singers of Dolce Canto and am extremely excited about the possibilities of working with such an outstanding music organization.”

- David Edmonds, Artistic Director