David Schwoebel is Minister of Music / Composer in Residence at Derbyshire Baptist Church in Richmond Virginia.  David received a Bachelor of Arts in Voice and Organ Performance from McKendree College in Lebanon, Il and a Master of Church Music with an emphasis in Composition from Southwestern Baptist Theological seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to beginning his ministry at Derbyshire in January 1997, he had served churches in his hometown of Belleville, IL, Montgomery AL, and Atlanta, GA.

As an ordained minister, David administrates and oversees a comprehensive music ministry of nine choral organizations, five handbell choirs, an Orff ensemble, a 28-piece orchestra and brass ensemble. His energetic, hands-on approach to ministry finds him working each week with people of all ages, encouraging and equipping them to discover and develop their varied musical talents and skills.
 
David is currently the Virginia ACDA Music & Worship Chair and serves on the Celebrating Grace Hymnal Committee (releasing Easter 2010) as the Co-Chair of the Handbell Supplemental Music Resource. Possessing a well-rounded philosophy and broad-based practice of church music has afforded him the opportunity to address and challenge church musicians around the country on a variety of topics:

Southern Baptist Church Music Conference, Nashville, TN
National Church Music Conference, Indianapolis, IN
Church Music Explosion, Fort. Lauderdale, FL
Green Lake Baptist Assembly, Green Lake, WI
Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, Aiken, SC
Kentucky ACDA, Louisville, KY
Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, MO
Jubilate!, Baylor University, Waco, TX
Virginia ACDA, Vienna, VA
Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, TN
Massanetta Springs Church Music Conference, Harrisonburg, VA
Church Music Conference, Shreveport, LA

As a nationally acknowledged composer of over 150+ published works with 16 different publishers in multiple mediums including piano, organ, handbells, and instrumental, as well as choral music for all ages, David regularly composes works for congregations, universities and community choruses:

Brentwood, United Methodist Church, Brentwood, TN
First Baptist Church, Easley, SC
Crewe Baptist Church, Crewe, VA
Choristers Guild, Dallas, TX
Hillsboro Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN
First Baptist Church, Radford, VA
First Baptist Church, Wilmington, NC
VA Baptist All-State Choirs, Richmond, VA
A & M United Methodist Church, College Station, TX
Women’s Glee, UNC-Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
First Baptist Church, New Bern, NC
Central Baptist Church, Newnan, GA

Even though he is a music minister of an active congregation, David is continually invited to serve as a choral clinician and adjudicator for both sacred and secular choral workshops, festivals, and various music publishers’ reading sessions:

SC United Methodist Youth Choir Festival, Myrtle Beach, SC
VA Baptist Sr. Adult Choir Festival, Alexandria, VA
Texas Conference Choir Camp, Palestine, TX
VMEA District VIII SSAA Chorus, Newport News, VA
Prince William All-County Middle School Chorus, Woodbridge, VA
Heritage Music Festival, Williamsburg, VA
VMEA District I All-State Adjudicator, Richmond, VA
Manassas Community Chorale, Manassas, VA
VMEA District I Workshop Chorus, Mechanicsville, VA
Henrico All-County Middle School Chorus, Richmond, VA
Local church Composer Weekends in NM, VA, GA, NC, FL, KY, SC, LA, TN, AL, TX, IL, MO
Sacred Choral Showcase, sponsored by JW Pepper, Winston-Salem, NC, Minneapolis, MN and Billings, MT
Gloria Deo! sponsored by Pine Lake Music, Richmond, VA and Sarasota, FL
Celebration, sponsored by Hinshaw Music, Chapel Hill, NC
Music in the Mountains, sponsored by Shawnee Press, East Stroudsburg, PA
Music in the Valley, sponsored by Shawnee Press, Hanover, PA
Spectrum Reading Session, sponsored by Foxes Music, Falls Church, VA
Sacred Choral Showcase, sponsored by Ward-Brodt Music, Madison, WI
Jubilate!, hosted by Baylor University, Waco, TX
 

With an intuitive love for the piano and possessing an awareness of the momentary musical need, David has been called upon to both concertize and accompany:

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship General Assembly, Washington, DC.
VMEA Districts I SSAA Chorus, Mechanicsville, VA
First Baptist Church, Radford, VA
Celebration, sponsored by Hinshaw Music, Chapel Hill, NC
VA Baptist Sr. Adult Choir Festival, Richmond, VA and Newport News, VA
Deep Run High School, Glen Allen, VA

Soli Deo Gloria!, a CD containing 18 of David’s sacred choral selections and piano arrangements, was recorded and released in 2007 with the generous support of Derbyshire Baptist Church. The Latin term Soli Deo Gloria! - Glory to God Alone!, is was what the great composer and church musician, J. S. Bach regularly appended with the initials SDG at the end of his musical scores to signify his deep devotion and desire to serve God through his music. Likewise, David pens the words Soli Deo Gloria! at the end of each of his compositions to acknowledge that his music is a gift from God and strives to use his gift to the glory of God. All CD proceeds go to the Sanctuary Organ Upgrade Fund at Derbyshire.

The MICHELLE hymn tune included in the 1991 Baptist Hymnal is named for David’s wife, Michelle. The BRITTANY, ASHLEY and COURTNEY hymn tunes in the Celebrating Grace Hymnal are named for their three daughters.