Zirk

Willard Zirk grew up in Muskegon, Michigan, where He began music studies on the piano and French horn.  He studied horn in high school with Donald Roelofs,  Douglas Campbell at Michigan State University and Lynden Mitchell while a member of The U. S. Army Band, Pershing’s Own, and studied with Louis Stout and Lowell Greer at the University of Michigan.  Upon leaving the Army Band in 1980, Willard accepted a horn and music theory position at Eastern Michigan University, where he taught for 41 years.

In 2007 Willard moved from the horn teaching/performing position to teaching music theory, music literature, counterpoint, and music appreciation.  This led to an unexpected interest in composing.  He began writing for brass and found that he enjoys writing for trombone ensembles more than any other ensemble.  In addition, he enjoys writing for voices and instruments.  In his retirement in 2021, he took on the role of choir director in his church and Willard writes and arranges several new compositions each year for the choir.