Director of Music Ministries at First Congregational Church since November of 2002, Tracy Jacob Shirk is a graduate of West Texas A&M University in Canyon where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music in voice and conducting working with Royal Brantley, Robert Hansen, Hugh Sanders and René Clausen. A native of the Houston area, he is currently on the faculty of Lone Star College-North Harris and sings at Temple Beth Israel. For many years he directed barbershop choruses and has sung lead in several championship barbershop quartets. As a tenor, Mr. Shirk has sung operatic and musical theater roles, and solos in major works, oratorios and recitals throughout the Southwest with such organizations as Da Camera of Houston, the Amarillo Opera, Houston Masterworks Chorus, the Victoria Bach Festival, Cantare Houston and the five-time Grammy® nominated choral ensemble Conspirare.