The Music Program

Marvelous Music at UUCB

The long tradition of an outstanding Music Program at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley continues under the leadership of Dr. Bryan Baker, Director of Music; Chris Nordwall, Organist, and Michèle Voillequé, Youth and Children’s Choir Director. Groups in the Music Program are the Chancel Choir (Luminescence), the Youth & Children’s Choir, the Folk Ensemble and the Eclectic Songsters.

The Music Program sponsors a series of Music Events throughout the church year. Choral, vocal and instrumental concerts are supported by outstanding facilities at UUCB. The church’s extraordinary wealth of keyboard instruments includes two first-rate pianos, a nine-foot Yamaha grand and a Chickering baby grand, a fine harpsichord, and an Aeolian Skinner organ. The sound of these instruments, and all music, is enriched by the excellent acoustics of the 500-seat sanctuary. The Social Hall has a small stage where plays, musicals and ala-carte performances are often held, and the Atrium has a lively sound for more intimate gatherings.

Photo Credit: © Valerie Kippen
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Luminescence, the 45-voice Chancel Choir, sings a varied and ambitious repertoire in services, meeting Thursday nights and most Sunday mornings from September through May. Each December we host a Messiah Sing-Along, and each year we present a musical or concert.

Bryan Baker, Artistic Director and Conductor of the renowned Masterworks Chorale (San Mateo) and Assistant Conductor of the San Francisco Choral Society, leads us with a mix of humor and high standards in rehearsals, services and performances.

Our Composer-in-Residence for 2005 is Herb Bielawa, a well-known composer, who regularly provides original compositions for both the adult and children’s choirs.

The congregation includes many excellent musicians and composers, whose abilities often add to Sunday services.

Call the church, 510-525-0302 x 309, for more information on UUCB’s music program.

The UUCB Youth and Children’s Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 5-5:45 p.m. and is open to the community. Come join our joy-filled musical community!

The Gamelan Music Ensemble is directed by Daniel Schmidt, and meets on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per class. New members may join at any time or drop in to try it out.

The Eclectic Songsters sing a variety of folk and popular songs around the piano on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. For more information, contact Mark Woodbury at (510) 653-3209.

The Folk Ensemble, led by Sandy Gordon (415) 381-5250, welcomes all to sing and play spiritual folk music in the Atrium following the service each Sunday.