Dave Ragland is a four-time EMMY nominated composer, vocalist, pianist, and conductor. Hailed as “über-talented” by The Nashville Scene, Dave received an EMMY nomination for composition and music direction for Frist Art Museum’s “NICK CAVE FEAT. NASHVILLE”. Dave Ragland received a second EMMY nomination for "I'm Troubled" - a musical collaboration with Nashville Ballet’s Gerald Watson and violinist Chandler Custer. Dave was nominated for Best Director of a Musical by First Night Honors for Wildcard Productions’ run of "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill". Dave Ragland arranged "Lift Every Voice and Sing" for GRAMMY-nominated opera singer Lawrence Brownlee for "Concert for Inauguration Day" presented by Washington National Opera. In Nashville Opera's first ever commission, Dave collaborated with librettist Mary McCallum to create "ONE VOTE WON" - an opera commemorating the centennial of Women's Suffrage. Dave, in collaboration with Inversion Vocal Ensemble, shackled feet DANCE, and Diaspora Orchestra, debuted his opera “STEAL AWAY” as Artist-in-Residence for OZ Arts. Additional compositional credits include Nashville Symphony, Nashville Ballet, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, chatterbird, Intersection Contemporary Ensemble, and GRAMMY-nominated ALIAS Chamber Ensemble. For the past three seasons, Dave has served as Chorusmaster for Nashville Symphony's "Let Freedom Sing". Dave Ragland is the 2020 GRADY-RAYAM Negro Spirituals Foundation Composer-in Residence. Dave is a member of the inaugural cohort of composers for the National Teachers of Singing (NATS) Mentoring Program. Dave is the Artistic Director of Inversion Vocal Ensemble, a regionally touring vocal collective that has performed with Brandi Carlile, GRAMMY-nominee Ruby Amanfu, Marcus Hummon, and Levi Hummon. Inversion has also shared the stage with Rivers Rutherford, The Fairfield Four, and Tanya Tucker. Previous engagements with Inversion include The National Civil Rights Museum, The National Museum of African-American Music, The Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee Arts Academy, Cheekwood, Nashville Symphony’s Free Day of Music and Let Freedom Sing in 2019. Dave was a Composer Mentor for 91Classical's inaugural Student Composer Fellowship. Previous performance experience includes William Warfield, Louise Mandrell, and the Kennedy Center Honors with Jennifer Hudson. Dave is currently serves on the board of American Choral Directors Association, Tennessee Chapter. Dave is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.