Maren is a choral director, cellist, vocalist, composer, and ethnomusicologist with interests in congregational music, contemplative practices, ritual, and community formation. She has served in music ministry at ecumenical churches and seminaries in Montana, Washington, California, and Arizona, and she has a passion for diversity, community, collaboration, and innovation in church music and arts. Maren works as Director of Worship and Music at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman, and as co-founder and Director for The Center for the Arts. She also serves as Interim Director of the Bozeman Symphonic Choir, President of the Board for the Kaj Seifert Foundation for Aspiring Young Artists, and performs with Roots in the Sky Chamber Choir, Opus Treble Ensemble, Hemispheres instrumental duo, and with John Hermanson.

John is an award-winning songwriter and composer of the acclaimed acoustic duo Storyhill, indie bands The Hopefuls and Alva Star, as well as independent and commercial music spanning orchestral, world, pop, and rock genres. John has served Lutheran communities in Minnesota, Washington, and Montana, and his sacred music is in regular rotation at centers of Lutheran liturgy like Holden Village, Christikon, and House of Mercy. Rooted in prophetic and mystical traditions, John's sacred songs raise ancient yet urgent questions about radical love and mutual responsibility. 

John works at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman as the Director of Sound and Technology, and as co-founder and permanent Artist-in-Residence of The Center for the Arts. He is serving as Christikon’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence in summer 2025, a partnership between The Center and Christikon Camp.