Music is an important part of our services and community life. The Unitarians were the first in Keene to use a pipe organ in services. Music programming is overseen by the Music Committee who meet once a month to help plan musical events.
Multigenerational
Choir
The Multigenerational Choir is a new, alternative choir experience. Each appearance of this choir will be a one-time, self-contained, show-up-that morning, open-to-all experience. When it's scheduled, you show up Sunday morning at 9:00 am, rehearse one song, then sing the song as part of a multigenerational service.
This experience is for those of you whose schedules are not compatible with the committed, every-Thursday-night choir rehearsal routine. It is for those whose situations do not allow them to plan or commit to much of anything ahead of time. It is for families who would enjoy singing together. It is for those who enjoy singing but only if the music is simple and the atmosphere is casual. It is also for any current Adult Choir member who would enjoy an additional chance to sing.
Intrigued? Contact Music Director, Mary Beth Taylor, to be put on a reminder notification list, and you will be contacted on the Friday before the Sunday you sing. A reminder will also appear in the green sheet the week before. If you're available and "up for it" that Sunday morning, show up at 9:00 am, ready to sing and have fun. We'll learn a song chosen to be comfortably learned and polished in a brief rehearsal. The ability to read music, or even read words, is NOT required, as we'll learn mainly by rote (repetition).
Contact Mary Beth
Taylor for more information or to be put on the reminder notification list.
Adult Choir
The Adult Choir is a very friendly and accepting group of singers and musicians from a wide range of ages and skill levels who sing a variety of music from classical to contemporary. All who love to sing are welcome to join. We rehearse Thursday nights from 7:30-9:00 pm and sing in two Sunday services each month, usually the second and fourth, and our Christmas Eve service.
The Musicale
The Musicale, co-sponsored by the Music and Religious Education Committees, is an annual event which features a diverse selection of performances from many talented individuals in our community. Singers, instrumentalists, poets, writers, and comedians of all ages are encouraged to participate.
Special Services
Special Services offer musicians of all ages opportunities to contribute their talents. Our Solstice Service has featured participation by our younger brothers and sisters in the RE program as well as the Sacred Circle Dance group. The Youth have a special opportunity to share their musical gifts on Youth Sunday.
Miles Walter and Organist/Accompanist, Vladimir Odinokikh, perform a piano four-hands piece by Rachmaninoff as the postlude for Youth Sunday, 2006. (see image at right)
Music Staff
Two very talented professional musicians comprise our Music Staff. Mary Beth Taylor, Music/Choir Director, has been at KUUC since September 2004. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance and, in addition to her duties at KUUC, is an active solo performer and teacher. Vladimir Odinokikh, Organist/Accompanist, joined the KUUC staff in April, 2006. Vladimir received his professional training in piano and chamber music performance at Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and Moscow’s Gnesin College of Music, and he was Artist-in-Residence at the Conservatorio de las Rosas in Morelios, Mexico. In addition to his private studio, Vladimir teaches at the Brattleboro Music Center, and he continues to be an active performer and accompanist.
