Welcome our New Director of Music Ministries!

Welcome Brian De Young, Mount Calvary's new Director of Music Ministries!

Brian De Young is eagerly anticipating joining the Mount Calvary community in April! Brian brings 15 years of experience leading congregational music programs, most recently at Olivet Congregational Church in St. Paul. He is also the chapel musician and organ professor at Augsburg University, work he plans to continue after coming to Mount Calvary.

Brian is a musician of broad skills and interests ranging from Renaissance and Baroque to tango and new classical music. An active chamber musician, he has performed with members of numerous orchestras around the country, particularly in the Midwest. He has also directed many musical theatre productions, most notably for several summers in the art colony of Saugatuck, Michigan. Also a skilled bass-baritone, Brian has sung with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, Minnesota Renaissance Choir, and the Italian Baroque ensemble Consortium Carissimi.

Brian, his spouse Alena, and girls Nina (6) and Elisabeth (2) live in South Minneapolis where Nina attends kindergarten at Lyndale Elementary School. Alena works in communications and marketing for the YWCA of Minneapolis downtown where Elisabeth also attends child care. They are all excited to meet their new church community!

Why Mount Calvary? Brian writes, "I sense an eagerness at Mount Calvary for worship that is both fresh and timeless. There is so much musical richness in this congregation from decades of strong leadership, and I'm excited to carry this forward into the next chapter. As a midsized congregation that is large enough to have robust programs and small enough for people to be known personally, this is a place where everyone can participate fully at any skill level. It is my hope that the music ministry of Mount Calvary will be a source of belonging and flourishing for all."

Brian will be at his current congregation, Olivet Congregational Church, through Easter and then will join Mount Calvary mid-April.

We're excited to have him! Welcome, Brian!