Recognized by the Yale Institute of Sacred Music as a conductor “of exceptional promise and achievement,” Amanda Weber is passionate about uniting music, art and community through her work as a conductor, teacher, performer, artist and social activist.
Weber currently serves as Director of Worship and the Arts at Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Minneapolis, where she oversees a wealth of arts programming.
Weber’s role in this position is as eclectic as her skills – conducting a wide array of repertoire, curating the Westminster Performing Arts Series, serving as lead vocalist in Westminster’s Bluegrass Band, developing an Artist-in-Residence program, and collaborating in worship planning.
Her work explores the intersections of art, spirituality, and justice and their impact on community. Her publications related to these topics include a recent article in CrossAccent (Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, 2020) and contributions to Hear My Voice: A Prison Prayerbook (Augsburg Fortress, 2019).
With a deep love for teaching, Weber has served as adjunct professor for Concordia University (St. Paul, MN, 2019 and 2021) and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (2019). She co-facilitated a Social Justice and Music January-term course at St. Olaf College (2017) and was a Vocal Instructor for theology students at Yale Divinity School (2015). Weber also taught high school at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts in Hartford, CT (2013-2015).
Weber is the Founder and Artistic Director of Voices of Hope, an organization that builds choral singing communities in correctional facilities in the state of Minnesota. Weber’s doctoral dissertation, which focused on this work, was awarded the Julius Herford Dissertation Prize in 2018.
She has presented on the topic of incarceration and choral singing at numerous conferences and was also invited to speak for a TEDx Minneapolis Salon in 2016. Weber’s research has been published in the Choral Journal (American Choral Directors Association, 2021) and, soon, a chapter in the Oxford Handbook of Community Singing (projected release, 2023).
Weber’s interest in using music as a tool for social justice grew through her work at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, DC, where she founded Bethany’s Women of Praise, a choir for homeless women. Weber led this group from 2008-2011 and received recognition from Chorus America, the American Choral Directors Association, Yale University, and Al Jazeera English.
Weber received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota in 2018, a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting at the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music in 2013, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Art at Luther College in 2008.
Beyond her identity as a professional musician, Amanda finds deep joy in her family. She resides in South Minneapolis with her partner Zeb and soon-to-be 2-year-old, Jacob. They love to travel, cook (eat), spend time outdoors, dance, and rest.
Last updated 8/29/22.
amanda kate weber 