Rate My Professor David Kirkwood

Dr. David Kirkwood serves as Associate Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music at Houston Christian University, where he also holds the position of Program Coordinator for Vocal Performance (BM) in the College of Arts and Humanities. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Arts from the University of Southern California, Master of Music in Voice Performance from the Peabody Institute of Music of The Johns Hopkins University, and Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Biola University. Prior to joining Houston Christian University, Kirkwood taught at Biola University within the Torrey Honors College and the Biola Conservatory of Music. His courses include applied voice, lyric diction in English, Italian, French, and German, vocal literature I and II, music appreciation, and advanced studies in music. Kirkwood's academic interests center on bel canto vocal pedagogy, English art song, German Lieder, and performance practice. He maintains an active performance schedule featuring oratorio and solo recitals across the Greater Houston area.

An engaged member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Kirkwood serves as Treasurer for the Greater Houston Chapter and is an alumnus of the NATS Intern Program, where he studied under master teacher Lynn Helding. His influence in the field is evident through the accomplishments of his students, who have excelled in vocal competitions, gained admission to leading graduate programs including Yale University, Indiana University, University of North Texas, Rice University, and DePaul University, and secured professional engagements at prestigious institutions such as the Wiener Staatsoper, Dutch National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Operalia. Kirkwood resides in the Houston area with his wife and three children, and enjoys reading theology, fiction, and classic literature, as well as studying Greek and Latin.