our Church's Music Program

Our Choir

As we begin to prepare for another exciting year with the Adult Choir, Director of Music Gary Packwood personally invites YOU, yes YOU, to become a part of the choral music here at UUCB. There are no audition requirements necessary; all you need is a love for singing!!! Our goal is to increase in quantity and quality ! So if you've ever sung in the shower or hummed along with you car radio -- then now is the time to “Come And Join The Chorus!” We rehearse on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 PM in the church sanctuary. If there are persons who would like to contribute their musical talents (instrumentalists, dancers, etc….) by providing special music on a given Sunday, please do not hesitate to contact him at dir_music@uucbham.org.

In May 2006, Gary Packwood traveled with several members of the choir for a wonderful whirlwind singing tour in France. Listen to our choir (you may need to download Quicktime or other player):

Schubert’s Mass in G major “Credo”

Victor Johnson’s “Doe Decamps”

Our Music Committee

The Music Committee, now chaired by James Wood, works to support our music professionals, Gary Packwood and Cynthia Jones, and assists the Worship Partners with music for services. But there are many facets to helping maintain a great music program! Want to help? Let James Wood know. You can write him at chair_music@uucbham.org.

You may have noticed . . . we recently acquired 27 new hymnals. Thanks go to Cecelia and John Latham, Sally Cunning and the Music Committee. Actually, you helped too, if you participated in the Music fund raiser last spring. So . . . thanks again! More hymnals are a phone call away. If you would like to honor someone by purchasing a hymnal, please call James Wood or write him at chair_music@uucbham.org. The price of each hymnal is $28.00.

UUCB Choir Members Serenade Fair Haven Residents

Nine members of the UUCB choir made a joyful noise for a group of Fair Haven Retirement Center residents on October 28th. Chris Soniat led a brief rehearsal and guided us musically, while Janice Williams accompanied us on her recorder as we sang a selection of our favorite hymns.

We opened with a round, "Come, Come, Whoever You Are." No one seemed to mind that many of our songs, while traditional in melody, featured UU-friendly lyrics familiar only to Helen McCandliss, a Fair Haven resident and long-time member of our church. "Go Now In Peace" was to be the final number, but when the residents demanded an encore we responded with all verses of "Amazing Grace." We invited them to join in, which they did with enthusiastiasm.

The group did some Christmas caroling and sang at Greenbriar at the Altamont in January. We'll plan another outing soon and we welcome others to join us, whether or not you're a member of the choir. If you'd like to participate, please contact Debra Burrell.

Contact Music Director Gary Packwood if you'd like to be part of our choir.

Free Concert:
On Saturday, August 23rd at 7:00 p.m., a chamber music recital will be presented at the church, featuring pianist Cynthia Jones and string players from the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Two great works of chamber music literature, the Ravel Piano Trio and the Schumann Piano Quartet, will be featured. Symphony members Sarah Nordlund (violin), Rene Reder (viola), and Wei Liu (cello) will join our own pianist Cynthia Jones in this performance. Come out and treat yourself to an evening of great music. Admission is free and all are invited!

Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
A member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association

Location: 4300 Hampton Heights Drive · Birmingham, Alabama · 35209 · U.S.A
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 19786 · Birmingham, AL 35219
Phone: (205) 945-8109 · Fax: (205) 945-8111
E-mail: office@uucbham.org

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