Jenny Skarke

Since I grew up in a family of singers and instrumentalists, I was always surrounded by music. I started taking voice lessons at age four and began performing on the Pasadena, Texas Rodeo stage shortly after. I have always loved performing, but it never crossed my mind that I would be studying music in college. After being an athletic trainer in high school, I was determined that I would continue my studies in sports medicine. After leading worship in church for the first time, I had a change of heart almost immediately. I knew I loved performing and attending church with my family, but I never thought I could put the two together. After discovering that Baylor had one of the best church music programs in the U.S., I immediately started pursuing that goal. Now, I have a bachelor’s degree in church music from Baylor University and am in my first year of my master's degree in church music. Being given the opportunity to pursue a degree in something I am passionate about is something for which I will be forever grateful.

During my time at Baylor, I have been offered incredible opportunities. One of the required courses for an undergraduate church music major is "The Musician as Educator in the Church." This class alone gave me the opportunity to lead a choral rehearsal, create my own curriculum for a children's music camp, and organize/lead a day-long children's music event. Since I have started my master's degree, I have had the opportunity to serve as the choral director at Austin Avenue Methodist Church and to form budget requests and coordinate events for the Center of Christian Music Studies. I currently serve as the Minister of Music at Bosqueville Baptist Church.

The church music faculty at Baylor strives to make sure that we as students have great experiences that will be beneficial to our future as music ministers. After I graduate with my master's degree, my goal is to work as a full-time music minister. I have a strong passion for multigenerational worship and incorporating different styles of music into worship, and I believe that the knowledge I have gained pertaining to music and the history of the church will help me to achieve that with excellence. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for me as a music minister.

Jenny Skarke is from League City, TX and is studying Church Music with an emphasis in Church Ministry. In addition to studying at Baylor, Jenny enjoys cooking, spending time with her husband, and serving as the Minister of Music at Bosqueville Baptist Church.