"Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances."

~Maya Angelou

A Musical congregation

Building on a rich musical tradition, the Sanctuary Choir enjoys singing together and sharing a wide variety of musical offerings with the congregation. SAPUCC has a Handbell Choir that enchants, professional musicians from our own congregation who inspire, and frequent guest singers and instrumentalists from the wider community who enrich our worship.

We are a musical congregation. I invite all of you in the pews (and on Zoom!) to add your voices, and to experience the deep healing and transformative power of song.

~John Habermann, Choir Director

Sanctuary Choir

The Sanctuary Choir sings in worship 3 to 4 Sundays per month, and at special services such as Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Christmas Eve.

The Sanctuary Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings, September through May.

handbell choir

SAPUCC has three octaves of beautiful Schulmerich handbells as well as a three octave set of Petit & Fritzen handbells. Mike Smith directs the Handbell Choir, and the bells play in worship 3 to 4 times per year. The rehearsal schedule is variable; see calendar for details.

Meet the Team

  • A smiling man with light skin, blue eyes, short brown hair, wearing a blue button-up shirt, standing against a dark grey background.

    John Habermann

    CHOIR DIRECTOR

    John loves serving SAPUCC, a warm, welcoming community that values music-making. He also works as a choir teacher for grades 7-12 at Mounds Park Academy. John graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, received his Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education from Boston University. His research interests include choir leaders who model vulnerability and inclusive practices in choral contexts. 

    A resident of Northeast Minneapolis, John enjoys reading fiction, running, and spending time with his orange tabby, Oscar. 

  • A smiling woman with wavy blonde hair wearing a black and white patterned top, standing against a plain white background.

    Emily Rudquist

    ORGANIST/PIANIST

    Emily began playing for worship at her home church in Deer River, Minnesota, and has since served congregations across Minnesota, Oklahoma, and New Jersey. Alongside her work in church music, she teaches piano at the MacPhail Center for Music. She earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College. Following graduate school, Emily spent two years in New Jersey teaching and studying piano pedagogy at The New School for Music Study.

    In her spare time, she enjoys reading, doing puzzles, hiking, and playing cards with friends and family.

  • A smiling older man with gray hair, glasses, and a beard, wearing a checkered shirt, standing inside a building with stained glass windows in the background.

    Mike Smith

    HANDBELL DIRECTOR

    Mike has led the Handbell Choir since 1993.  He became interested in handbells after performing pieces for choir, handbells, and orchestra in several churches in the Twin Cities. 

    As a professional double bassist, he was a long-time member of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra.  He has also performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, and many other ensembles. 

    Mike is from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and has a Bachelor of Music Degree from East Carolina University, and a Master of Music Degree from The Ohio State University.  His day job is as a luthier, repairing and restoring string instruments and bows.  Mike is also a Scout Leader here with Troop 17.

A man playing a double bass on stage during a musical performance, surrounded by singers holding sheet music.
A man leading a choir rehearsal with women and men sitting on the stage holding gourd percussion instruments in a concert hall.
A decorative wooden dagger with turquoise accents and leather strap, resting on a patterned fabric surface.
Woman singing on stage in a church or concert hall, with a grand piano and large pipe organ in the background.
A woman playing the piano with three women standing and laughing nearby in a room with wood floors and organ pipes in the background.
A man playing a steel tongue drum inside a church or chapel with wooden pews and a candlestick on a table.
Two musicians playing instruments; a man playing a mandolin and a woman playing a violin during a performance.