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Music

Music is not background at Plymouth — it is central to worship, central to community, and central to who we are. For more than 165 years, Plymouth has cultivated a musical life of extraordinary depth, rooted in the belief that the arts are one of many paths to the sacred.

Choir and orchestra performing on a church stage beneath a large stained-glass window

Youth Music Programs

Young Voices

Ages 3–5, exploring early musical concepts through movement and song

Fire Tree Singers

Grades K–6, building ensemble and music fundamentals

Youth Choir

Grades 7–12, performing monthly in worship

Adult Music Programs

Chapel Singers

Non-auditioned adult ensemble, contemporary and jazz traditions

Adult Choir

Auditioned 50-voice ensemble, singing for the 11 AM service

Adult Handbells

Perform in worship services fall, winter, and spring.

Summer Choir

Open to all, no audition, joining Philip Brunelle in the choir loft on Sundays in June.

Our Pipe Organ

From Plymouth’s founding in 1857, each of its sanctuaries has housed a pipe organ built by some of America’s finest builders, including Hook & Hastings and Aeolian-Skinner. The present Holtkamp organ, installed in 1981, is widely regarded as one of the finest instruments in Minnesota — equally suited for hymn playing, choral accompaniment, and solo repertoire.

Interior of a church altar with stained-glass windows and carved wooden decoration
Empty church sanctuary with wooden pews, organ pipes, and a large stained-glass window above the altar.
Smiling man in glasses and a blue sweater standing indoors against a wood-paneled background

Philip Brunelle

Organist/Choir Master

Philip Brunelle has served as Plymouth’s Organist-Choirmaster for nearly 58 years, making him one of the longest-tenured church musicians in the country. He is only the third person to hold this role at Plymouth since 1900.


Philip is a globally recognized conductor, organist, and champion of choral music. He is the founder and artistic director of VocalEssence, the Twin Cities’ internationally acclaimed choral organization, which calls Plymouth home — rehearsing, officing, and performing in our building.


His work spans commissions, world premieres, and collaborations with composers and ensembles across the globe. He is a beloved presence on Minnesota Public Radio and a defining voice in the cultural life of the Twin Cities.


At Plymouth, Philip leads the 11 AM service and the Plymouth Adult Choir, and has shaped the musical identity of this congregation for generations.

Musical Moments with Philip Brunelle

Music Staff

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Marie Scholtz

Assistant Music Director

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Laura Caviani

Jazz Trio Director

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Meredith

Handbell Choir Director

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Mary Laymon

Chapel Singers Director

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Ann Tandy - Trieber

Music Librarian

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Sonja Thompson

Assistant Music Director

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Christopher Bates

Jazz Trio Musician

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Jim Bohn

Bass Soloist

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Dan Dressen

Tenor Soloist

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Lisa Drew

Alto Soloist

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Maria Jette

Soprano Soloist

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Kathryn Rupp

Soprano Soloist

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David Schmalenberger

Jazz Trio Musician

Music Program Calendar - Adult & Youth

September 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun

31

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2pm Labor Day - BUILDING CLOSED

8

9

11:30pm Chapel Singers

11:30pm Plymouth Choir

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

11pm Fire Tree Singers (K - 5)

11:30pm Plymouth Choir

11:30pm Chapel Singers

11:45pm Creative Quarterly I: Theatre of the Spirit

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17

18

19

20

2:15pm Handbell Rehearsal

21

22

23

11pm Fire Tree Singers (K - 5)

11:30pm Plymouth Choir

11:30pm Chapel Singers

11:45pm Creative Quarterly I: Theatre of the Spirit

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24

25

26

27

2:15pm Handbell Rehearsal

28

29

30

11pm Fire Tree Singers (K - 5)

11:30pm Plymouth Choir

11:30pm Chapel Singers

11:45pm Creative Quarterly I: Theatre of the Spirit

Show all

1

2

3

4

2:15pm Handbell Rehearsal