DIRECTOR of music ministries

Darin joined the staff of Watauga First as Director of Music and Worship in 2014. He has served as Director of Music and Worship, Hand-Bell Director, Children's Choir Director, Praise Team Leader, Soloist, Cantor, Musical Director, Special Events Leader  and a plethora of other various positions in church both musically and non since the late 80's when in High School as a Soloist at the oldest Catholic Church in Fort Worth. 

He has served in Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, and Presbyterian (both PCUSA and Cumberland) Churches throughout the Metroplex.  
Darin had performed vocally and conducted throughout Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, California, Florida, Colorado, and New York. 

 
He received his Associates of Arts from Tarrant County College as well as his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas in Arlington. He is currently pursuing the possibilities of a Law Degree. In his spare time, he spends time with his pre-teen son Jacob, works on his 80 Year old house in the Historic West Meadowbrook Area of Fort Worth, and the restoration of his 1973 Buick Riviera.

He invites you to become a part of the Music Ministry of Watauga First. We will be saving you a seat! 

Native of Sichuan, China, pianist Xiaomeng (Nicole) Ai started playing the piano at the age of 5, under tutelage of Professor Mingzhu Li. Nicole’s passion for the piano brought her to the Sichuan Conservatory of Music where she received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Her prowess on the piano began early in her education, and throughout her life, she always kept close to the piano. 

During the past years, Nicole has been named the prize winner of the 2007 Hong Kong, Bach, Liszt Piano Competition, and also received 3rd prize in the youth group of the 2007 Hong Kong (Aisa) Bach, Liszt Piano Competition; as well as in 2011, the Bach group of the 16th Hong Kong Piano Open Competition. In the early stages of her musical career from 1998 till 2013, she studied at Sichuan Conservatory of Music with renowned pianists and educators Xiaoling Li, Bin Yu and Yan Wang. After she graduated, she attended Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University – Bloomington, and obtained her Master of Music degree, Performance Diploma in Piano Performance with Edmund Battersby and Evelyne Brancart. 

Nicole moved to Denton, Texas four years ago, and she is currently pursuing her Doctoral of Musical Arts studies with regent professor Adam Wodnicki and her second Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano with Steven Harlos and Elvia Puccinelli at the University of North Texas. She is awarded The Teaching Assistantship and Graduate scholarship.