Biography
David Kirk has served on The Shepherd School of Music faculty since 1982.
Mr. Kirk enjoys an international reputation for effective teaching of musicianship and the physical aspects of wind playing. He has presented master classes throughout North America and in Japan. Alumni of the Shepherd School Tuba studio play in the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Baltimore Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic and both Premier & Regional U.S. military bands. During the summer of 2024, Mr. Kirk served on the faculties of the Texas Music Festival, Rafael Mendez Brass Institute and Brevard Music Center.
In addition to his work at the Shepherd School, Mr. Kirk is Principal Tubist of the Houston Symphony. In 2022, he performed the Texas premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Concerto for Tubist and Orchestra with the Houston Symphony conducted by former Music Director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Mr. Kirk studied with Don Harry at Juilliard from 1978-82. His other teachers include Chester Schmitz, Warren Deck, and his Houston Symphony colleagues.
Mr. Kirk appears as a guest performer with ensembles throughout North America. Locally, he is an active recitalist, chamber music collaborator, and conductor. He may be heard on Houston Symphony recordings under conductors Sergiu Comissiona, Newton Wayland, Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Krajewski, Hans Graf and Andrés Orozco-Estrada. His solo playing is featured on Mark Custom Recordings’ The Music of Leroy Osmon, Volume 1.
A unique aspect of the Shepherd School of Music's tuba studies program is its limited class size. In the interest of maximizing playing and performance opportunities, 2-3 students are enrolled each year. Contact David Kirk to determine the current status of studio vacancies.