Jacob Carroll joined West Side United Methodist as the Director of Music Ministries in 2022, and is responsible for continuing the tradition of musical excellence at West Side. As Director of Music Ministries, Jacob coordinates all service music, the West Side Choir consisting of volunteer and professional musicians, yearly commission projects, and concert events throughout the year.

Jacob is active as a touring and recording musician, working with ensembles in many diverse styles, ranging from music of the renaissance to contemporary music written today. As a touring musician, he has performed across the United States, and throughout Europe and South America. With the Ann Arbor Grail Singers, he has recorded two full-length albums of renaissance polyphony, Gregorian chant, and contemporary choral music.

In addition to preparing the works of others Jacob maintains an active schedule as a composer, writing works on commission for choral and instrumental ensembles. His music has been performed throughout the United States, by professional, collegiate, and community ensembles. 

Jacob completed the Master of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michigan where he studied with Eugene Rogers. During his time at Michigan, Jacob conducted the Orpheus Singers and the University Choir, preparing choirs for performance with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz and Lincoln Center, and many other world premiere performances of new works.

In 2022, Jacob completed the Bachelor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michigan studying harpsichord performance with Joseph Gascho. During this time he was the assistant conductor for the University of Michigan’s Arts Chorale, the official choir of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, which is a credited all-gender choral ensemble for non-music majors.

On any given day of the week you can find Jacob throughout Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, drinking coffee, eating tasty food, and making friends! Jacob especially loves reading, painting, and playing with Percy, his cat, and his adorable greyhound, Karolynn!