ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

The Texas Master Chorale boasts outstanding professionals in artistic direction. With reputations for excellence as well as extensive records of accomplishment, Brad Bouley (Artistic Director) and Luke Kirkwood (Accompanist) attract and retain talented singers and musicians, many of whom are active or retired professional musicians.

BRAD BOULEY
Founder and Artistic Director

Brad Bouley is founder and Artistic Director of the Texas Master Chorale, now in its 37th season. Texas Master Chorale performs primarily major choral/orchestral music, including Messiah by Handel, Lord Nelson Mass by Haydn, Magnificat and Christ Lag in Todesbanden by Bach, Gloria’s by Rutter, Poulenc, and Vivaldi, Ein Deutches Requiem by Brahms, Requiems by Fauré, Duruflé, and Mozart, Vesperae solennes de confessore by Mozart, and Mass in C Major by Beethoven, Te Deium by Dan Forrest, Requiem by Karl Jenkings to name a few. The Chorale performed Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass at the Texas Choral Directors Convention in 2000 and has been invited back this summer to perform the Mozart C Minor Mass with guest conductor Roger Melone.

The Texas Master Chorale under the direction of Mr. Bouley has performed in Lincoln Center, New York, and in Germany, Austria, France, Ireland and Italy, with a performance at High Mass in St. Peter’s Bascilica, Rome. Mr. Bouley retired in 2015 as Director of Fine Arts for the Tomball Independent School District, having previously served as the Director of Choirs at Tomball High School for twenty years. He also serves as the Executive Secretary for Region IX UIL Music and taught conducting each summer at the Conductor’s Institute at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. 

Mr. Bouley holds degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Sam Houston State University in Music Education and Conducting. He is active throughout the state as a choral adjudicator and clinician and is in demand for school staff development workshops in conducting for vocal and instrumental directors. Mr. Bouley is past Region Chairman of TMEA Region 9 and past Area Chairman for TMEA Area D. He was the recipient of the Texas Choral Excellence Award from the Texas Choir Directors Association in 2018, Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding High School Teachers in 1993, the Tomball ISD Outstanding Teacher Award in 1992, and the Tomball Rotary International award for Community Service in 1998. Mr. Bouley is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, ACDA, TCDA, TMEA, and TMAA. Brad and his wife Evelyn have two children, Nicole, a choral director at Spillane Middle School in the Cypress Fairbanks ISD, and Noel, an opera singer performing throughout Europe and the United States. Noel lives in Berlin with his wife Davia, also an opera singer, and their son Emerson.

LUKE KIRKWOOD
Accompanist

Luke Kirkwood, Accompanist, is a native Houstonian and has worked as a professional pianist since 2004.  After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Sam Houston State University, he worked as a choir and drumline director for eight years in Cy-Fair ISD and Cypress Christian School in Cypress, Texas. Through his teaching career, Luke and his wife, Blythe, actively built a roster of local musicians and successfully launched their music booking service in January 2018. This new business, Kirkwood Music Services, LLC, has played an integral part in booking quality accompanists and professional musicians for over 400 events for schools and private clients since launch.

Luke is an active musician playing for choir concerts, solo & ensemble contests, and UIL Concert and Sightreading Contests. He also enjoys playing for musical theatre productions both at the educational and professional level. He has served as rehearsal pianist, music director, conductor, contractor, and/or keyboardist for 125 local theatre productions including shows with Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), Broadway Across America, AD Players, HITS Theatre, and Stages Theatre. Outside of his music career, Luke also works as a Life Insurance Agent and Benefits Consultant for AFLAC Insurance. Luke is married to Blythe Kirkwood, and has two little boys, Carter (11) and Micah (8). He enjoys playing baseball with his sons and traveling with the family.  

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