Joel Stoppenhagen is a native of rural Ossian, Indiana. He began studying the organ at the age of 11, and since then has pursued excellence in repertoire- and service-playing. Recognized as a rising figure in the world of organ music, he was recently featured in The Diapason’s “20 Under 30” Class of 2023. He was also awarded the Ronald G. Reidenbach Prize in Church Music from Valparaiso University.

Joel graduated summa cum laude from Valparaiso University in 2023, receiving a Bachelor of Music Education degree. During his time at Valparaiso University, he studied organ with Dr. Sunghee Kim and Dr. Stephen Schnurr and held leadership roles in the University’s AGO chapter. His final term of undergraduate was done at Westfield House, the Lutheran House of Theological Studies in Cambridge, UK. While in Cambridge, he continued his organ studies with Mr. Benjamin Sheen of Jesus College.

Joel’s research interests include Lutheran church music of the 17th and 18th centuries. During his undergraduate, he also researched the life and works of the late Philip K. Gehring, and in his work uncovered a transcription of a Jean Langlais improvisation on “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” which was later published in CrossAccent, the journal of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians. His other publications include sheet music reviews for The Diapason and a score preface for publisher Musikproduktion Höflich. Joel has presented at Lutheran church music conferences on topics related to youth engagement in traditional church music.