Mikhail Smigelski (Misha), Music Director at TWCC, was born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.  He is an  operatic bass-baritone, conductor, and multi-instrumentalist.  Director Smigelski brings a knowledge of many genres to our church: opera, oratorio, early music, musical theatre, and contemporary music. As a soloist, Director Smigelski has performed on the world most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall, and has collaborated with established European and American opera, music theater, and concert companies, including the Miami Lyric Opera andThe Cleveland Opera. Mr. Smigelski holds Bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from Rimsky-Korsakov State Conservatory (Saint-Petersburg, Russia), a Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln (Cologne, Germany), a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Sam Houston State University, and is currently finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Texas at Austin.

Misha, as he is affectionately known to the church, the choir, the handbell choir, and the praise team is a gifted and patient instructor, gifted in bringing wonderful music from non-professionals and even from people who consider themselves non-musicians.  He loves welcoming newcomers to the music ministry and helping them to blossom with their own gifts and talents.