Meet Andy Pokel

Spirit Garage, we have successfully conducted a search for a new Music and Creative Director!

Andy Pokel has accepted a part-time position (25 hours) as Music & Creative Director at Spirit Garage. Andy is one of those people who plays a whole bunch of instruments, sometimes all at once, thinks creatively all the time, writes new music, and does all that while raising two little ones.

Andy will start at Spirit Garage on June 10th! Look for news soon about opportunities to meet and connect with him, but for sure he’ll be making music at church on June 16th.

Here’s a little more about Andy:

Andy Pokel (poke-ELL) grew up in Neenah, WI, and studied K-12 Vocal Music Education at St. Olaf College. After graduating, Andy toured with Missoula Children’s Theater for two years, then began his career in education. For a decade, Andy taught music, theater, and special education. More recently Andy has worked as a church musician at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and Woodlake Lutheran.

Andy is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Luther Seminary, where he also serves as Musician in Residence, and is working towards ordination in the ELCA as a deacon. Andy loves the way that music connects us—to our own emotions, to one another, and to God. Composing, recording, and performing music are central parts of Andy’s call to serve in the church. 

Andy’s musical influences include Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, Conor O’berst, Iron and Wine, but he also used to play in a punk band in high school, and these days there’s a lot of kids’ music in his frequently-played list.

Andy’s wife, Elise, is lead pastor at Transfiguration Lutheran Church, an RIC congregation in Bloomington, MN. They collaborate on church music under the name Foundry Hymnal, and their music can be found on most streaming platforms. They are proud parents of two mischievous, marvelous children.

Thanks to your search crew: Katherine Fictorie, Wade Barry and Rachel Barth.