New Westminster Organist and Ensemble Director
Westminster welcomes Joseph Trucano as our new Organist and Ensemble Director. Joe holds organ performance degrees from Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) and Eastman School of Music (Rochester, New York), and comes to us most recently from Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minnesota, where he has served as the Director of Music & Worship since 2016. In addition to his organ expertise, Joe is an accomplished cellist and the Founder and Artistic Director of Skål Chamber Collective, a cross-genre chamber music group that performs works from Classical to Pop and Indie Rock. Joe’s long-time work as a church musician has been complemented by five years working as an Associate Producer for MPR’s Pipedreams in close collaboration with Host and Senior Executive Producer Michael Barone. He brings a wealth of knowledge about repertoire and a passion for diverse music that is sure to continue and deepen Westminster’s commitment to arts and worship.
Joe will join Director of Worship and the Arts Amanda Weber and Associate Director of Music Kenneth Vigne in a collaborative music staffing model, using music as a tool to create meaningful worship, build diverse community, and respond in creative ways to the world around us. In addition to serving as the organist for the 10:30 am Sunday worship service, Joe will direct Westminster’s Handbell Choir and the Choristers Choir (grades 4-6). Joe begins this position on August 2, with his first Sunday in worship on August 15.
When he is not playing the organ, you can find Joe running along the Mississippi River, spending time with his dog (Norman) and two cats (Walter & Roy), or getting sushi with his fiancé Tanner. Welcome, Joe!