Hello UUCC members and friends,
As we finally feel winter loosening its grip and welcome the return of spring, I hope you are all staying well and safe this April. Many thanks to Karin Tooley, our Chancel Choir, YoUUth Choir, and Women’s Ensemble, guest harpist Jody Guinn, and everyone else who has played a part in providing music for our services over the past few weeks. This month, there will be more special music from our talented youth and adult choir members, as well as featured solo instrumentalists and singers from within the congregation and elsewhere.
I also want to let you know about three upcoming musical events – two of them virtual, and one in person:
Our UU Zoom Hymn Sing that had to be postponed has been rescheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 10th. Here’s how it works: I’ll lead hymns from my home and all of you are invited to sing along, either by yourself or with other members of your household. To avoid the dreaded Zoom audio lag, all participants (except for me) will be muted during hymn singing, so it’ll sound like you and I are singing a duet, but still feel like all of us are making music together. Best of all, we can sing without any concerns about the virus – it’s a fun way to share some of our favorite music with each other! I’ll also let you in on some interesting tidbits about the music as we go along and take requests from the members and friends who are participating. Join me for an hour of music and fellowship! Here’s the Zoom link – I hope to see you there! https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89309133529
Many of you know that I direct a community choir called Good Company: A Vocal Ensemble and that several members and friends of UUCC also sing with Good Company, including Barbara Bradley, Amy Collins, Anne and Steve Sanford, Pam Schenk, and Holly Walker. Good Company will be hosting an online 25th Anniversary Event on Sunday, April 25th at 4:00 p.m., celebrating the past, present, and future of the ensemble. The cabaret will feature music from individual members of the group along with virtual choir performances from the full ensemble, including Morten Lauridsen’s “Sure on This Shining Night” with current and alumni members, as well as the world premiere of Joan Szymko’s “Reaching Back from Here”, a new work commissioned for this occasion and dedicated to Good Company’s founding director, Karen Weaver. An online reception will follow. The Zoom link for the event is not available yet, but I will share it in upcoming eblast articles, or you can go to https://www.good-co.org/ on the day of the event and the Zoom link will be posted on that site. I’ve also arranged for a ‘large room’ on Zoom, allowing up to 500 people to attend, so I don’t expect anyone to have a problem “getting in” to the Zoom room as was the case with Good Company’s previous Zoom cabaret in November. I hope to see you there!
Save the date! UUCC will once again play host to an outdoor concert featuring Moises Borges and his Brazilian Jazz Band along with the Mo’ Mojo Band. The event will be in our parking lot at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 29th (rain date is Sunday, May 30th) Come and sing and dance along to some wonderful music – you can stay inside your car or bring a lawn chair and enjoy the spring weather. Either way, all audience members will be expected to follow county and state recommendations for safe outdoor gatherings. Don’t miss your chance to join some old and new friends and enjoy a concert in the great outdoors!
I hope you all have a healthy and happy April and I look forward to seeing you soon!
In peace,
Mike
Michael Carney
Music Director, UU Congregation of Cleveland