UUFES music comes in many styles. On any given Sunday, you’ll hear our Music Director Shana Aisenberg play various instruments: piano, violin, mandolin, guitar, ukulele and percussion. Shana incorporates diverse styles into worship music such as Appalachian, Celtic, Klezmer, blues, gospel and jazz.
Our congregational singing is joyful and moving. We love singing traditional UU hymns and meditative chants, as well as songs from outside conventional church music sources. Shana is inclusive of everyone’s musical gifts and regularly invites musicians in our congregation to contribute a song or piece or to play along for worship music.
Our most recent incarnation of the UUFES Choir started in August 2016, and we currently sing at one Sunday service a month—usually one or two anthems. The choir’s repertoire has included rounds, chants, hymns from the sacred harp tradition and some modern composed songs. Songs generally have two to four parts. Choir size varies each month, depending on people’s availability—currently 6-10 people. As we grow, we hope to incorporate more four-part pieces, with two or more people singing each part, and expand to singing in more services.
We welcome ALL voices to join us! No previous musical or choral experience is required, and it isn’t necessary to be able to read musical notation. Shana sends out both sheet music and links to youtube videos ahead of rehearsals, so you can learn songs by ear or with written music. We rehearse two Sundays a month at 9 a.m. Even if you can’t attend every rehearsal, join us whenever you can. All you need is a desire to sing, to “make a joyful noise” !
