Director of Music / Organist
Aaron David Miller is a renowned organ improviser having won numerous international awards and given concerts across the country. Dr. Miller’s performances have been heard on Pipe Dreams and numerous television programs. His orchestra works have been performed by such ensembles as the Seattle Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Zurich Symphony, and numerous new music ensembles. His organ, choral and orchestra compositions are published by Augsburg Fortress, Paraclete Publishing, Morningstar Publications, and Oxford University Press. Dr. Miller was the featured artist at the National AGO convention held in Houston, TX of 2016. In addition to many performance prizes, Dr. Miller was recipient of the 2004 Hellenikon Idyllion Prize for Composition, Athens, Greece.
Choir Director
Dr. Matthew Culloton is the Choir Director at House of Hope and the Founding Artistic Director of The Singers, a 40-voice professional choir based in the Twin Cities. He holds degrees from Concordia College (B.M) and the University of Minnesota (M.M. & D.M.A.). Dr. Culloton is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Saint Thomas and conducted the University of Minnesota Women’s Chorus from 2008–2011. In 2004, he received the MN ACDA Outstanding Young Choral Conductor of the Year Award. In 2003, he received the VocalEssence/ACDA of Minnesota Creative Programming Award. As a composer, Dr. Culloton has been commissioned to compose for the Dale Warland Singers, Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, and the MMEA All-State Choir. He is editor of the “Christmas with The Singers Choral Series” published by MorningStar Music Publishers and co-editor of the “Matthew and Michael Culloton Choral Series” with Santa Barbara Publishing Company.
Choir School Director
Sofia Ardalan, Director, House of Hope Choir School, oversees the five ensembles of the Choir School program, and conducts three of the choirs. She has lead the Choir School in performances of several large choral works including Vivaldi’s Gloria, Galuppi’s Dixit Dominusand Cantata BWV 4 by JS Bach. A former chorister herself, Ms. Ardalan is dedicated to the idea that all children can, and should sing.
Music Associate and Carillonneur
Tim Short joined the House of Hope staff as Music Associate in 2018. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mount Union University, and a Master of Music degree in organ performance from Drake University where he was a Graduate Fellow. A longtime musician and educator, he assists with the Choir School program and directs three handbell ensembles. With an interest in the use of handbells for the enrichment of worship, he is a coach in the art of handbell ringing which began at the House of Hope in 1979. In November 2023 he was named the eighth carillonneur to the congregation continuing the century-long legacy of carillon music from the 49 tower bells for this faith community and its neighborhood. He also coordinates the annual July Summer Carillon Recital Series which bring national and international players to the Twin Cities for a series of public events at both the House of Hope and Central Lutheran Church (Minneapolis).
Carillonneur Emeritus
Dave Johnson was appointed carillonneur in 1993 and served as our carillonneur for 30 years, retiring in 2023. He is active in The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and has performed recitals throughout the United States. He was an elected member of The Guild’s board of directors from 1999 to 2005, was again elected in 2010, has served on various committees, was its recording secretary for ten years, and in June 2010 was elected its president. Dave received his B.A. from Hamline University, M.A. from Stanford University and Ph.D. in American Intellectual History from the University of Kansas. He is the author of two histories of Hamline, a 150th anniversary history of House of Hope and a 50th anniversary history of Presbyterian Homes and Services of Minnesota. He taught history at Kansas Wesleyan University, the University of Kansas and Pacific Lutheran University.
