Music at the Community Church
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Overview of Music at the Community Church
The Community Church of Chapel Hill, Unitarian Universalist has a vibrant and dynamic music program, led by Music Director Glenn Mehrbach. We concentrate on serving the church community not only by providing great music for Sunday services and church events, but by offering opportunities for musicians of all kinds within the congregation, from full-time professionals to music-loving amateurs, to share their musical talents within the community. With 4 choirs to accommodate members of all ages and experience, a biennial Broadway musical production, annual Music Galas, a Children's Holiday Pageant (with original music), a periodic "Praise Band," a cadre of talented classical musicians, terrific vocal soloists, and various sub-groups within the church, like the UUkes and Luminescence, you'll have a hard time not hearing or creating great music at the church. Special Music Every Sunday there are opportunities for Special Music in the service. Performers for this music are drawn from the congregation, ‘borrowed’ from other congregations, or hired from outside the church community, at the discretion of the music director, and depending on the needs of each service. Performers of special music are usually asked to provide 10-15 minutes of "Gathering Music" which can be pretty much anything that will help the congregation settle in for the service and and two pieces for the service. Any variation of the above, though, is welcome. If you are interested in providing Special Music for services, please contact the music director, Glenn Mehrbach ([email protected]) for more information. Within These Walls: Music from the Community Church On a weekend in early June, 2017, singers and instrumentalists from the church gathered in the sanctuary to record our first CD, entitled "Within These Walls: Music from the Community Church. Selections on the CD represent all the choirs of the church along with soloists, musical groups and much more. You can find out more about the CD and purchase it HERE. Music Director Glenn Mehrbach is the music director at the Community Church, having served in the position since the fall of 2004. Glenn not only programs and directs the choirs, but also is in charge of the church musical and annual Children's Holiday Pageant. He be thrilled to answer any questions you might have about the music program, and do what he can to get you involved. Glenn can be reached via email at [email protected]. Follow the links to your right to find pages dedicated to the myriad of musical offerings we have a the Community Church. In the meantime, here's a brief summary of each group. |
Community Church Choir
The Community Church Choir is the flagship choir of the church, and is open to all adults, regardless of previous vocal training. The music is generally in the SATB style (soprano, alto, tenor and bass, i.e. four part harmony), so some familiarity with reading music is helpful, but not necessary.
Community Church Singers
The Community Church Singers is open to all adults, regardless of previous vocal training. It was formed to fill the need for those congregation members who love to sing, but either don’t feel ready for the commitment of a weekly rehearsal and performance schedule, or feel unqualified to learn and sing relatively difficult SATB (4-part harmony) material sung by the Community Church Choir.
Children's Choir
The Children’s Choir at the Community Church, with a few exceptions, is made up of children from Elementary School through Middle School, and the general make-up of the group is between the ages of 7-11. We sing at all Multi-Generational services throughout the year.
Youth Music Ensemble
The Youth Music Ensemble at the Community Church is made up of Middle School and High School youth. There is a concentration on contemporary music, with the choir members asked to contribute ideas for songs and arrangements. Instrumentalists as well as singers are encouraged to be a part of the group, which is reflected in the name.
UUkes
The UUkes was started by members of the Community Church of Chapel Hill (Unitarian Universalist) who wanted to play ukulele together. Since then, membership has expanded beyond church members, but we maintain our affiliation with the church and perform at services and other church events, including the annual music gala.
Opportunities for Instrumentalists
We are blessed to have a wide range of instrumental musicians, as well as vocalists, in the church community, ranging from long-time professional musicians to passionate amateurs. An effort is made to include them in Sunday services whenever possible and appropriate.
Music Team
The Music Team envisions a music program that assists all members and friends of the church in experiencing deepened personal connections. We support the idea that music enlarges worship and enriches congregational life.
Music Galas
Each year in the spring the Music Team produces our annual "Music Gala.” The event not only allows members of the church to showcase their musical talents around an ever-changing theme, but the gala is used as a fundraiser to support various needs of the church and music program, as well as the community at large.
Musicals
In 2007 we began the tradition of producing a Broadway musical every other year, on the weekend before Thanksgiving. In every case, except for a few professional musicians hired to play in the pit orchestra, the entire cast and crew was drawn from members of the Community Church. Auditions are usually held in May, materials given out in June, and rehearsals begin in mid-August.
Children's Holiday Pageants
Every second Sunday in December the children and youth of the church put on the "Children's Holiday Pageant." These have grown into 25-30 minute narrative performances, with original dialogue and songs written by music director Glenn Mehrbach. It's a great way for children who might not be interested in the commitment of a choir or the church musical to "get their feet wet" as a performer.
Choir Sundays
Every May and December the Community Church Choir takes over a service to present a larger musical work, often with a chamber orchestra. Past Choir Sundays have included music from Bach to Bernstein to UU composer Jason Shelton, and everything in between.
The Community Church Choir is the flagship choir of the church, and is open to all adults, regardless of previous vocal training. The music is generally in the SATB style (soprano, alto, tenor and bass, i.e. four part harmony), so some familiarity with reading music is helpful, but not necessary.
Community Church Singers
The Community Church Singers is open to all adults, regardless of previous vocal training. It was formed to fill the need for those congregation members who love to sing, but either don’t feel ready for the commitment of a weekly rehearsal and performance schedule, or feel unqualified to learn and sing relatively difficult SATB (4-part harmony) material sung by the Community Church Choir.
Children's Choir
The Children’s Choir at the Community Church, with a few exceptions, is made up of children from Elementary School through Middle School, and the general make-up of the group is between the ages of 7-11. We sing at all Multi-Generational services throughout the year.
Youth Music Ensemble
The Youth Music Ensemble at the Community Church is made up of Middle School and High School youth. There is a concentration on contemporary music, with the choir members asked to contribute ideas for songs and arrangements. Instrumentalists as well as singers are encouraged to be a part of the group, which is reflected in the name.
UUkes
The UUkes was started by members of the Community Church of Chapel Hill (Unitarian Universalist) who wanted to play ukulele together. Since then, membership has expanded beyond church members, but we maintain our affiliation with the church and perform at services and other church events, including the annual music gala.
Opportunities for Instrumentalists
We are blessed to have a wide range of instrumental musicians, as well as vocalists, in the church community, ranging from long-time professional musicians to passionate amateurs. An effort is made to include them in Sunday services whenever possible and appropriate.
Music Team
The Music Team envisions a music program that assists all members and friends of the church in experiencing deepened personal connections. We support the idea that music enlarges worship and enriches congregational life.
Music Galas
Each year in the spring the Music Team produces our annual "Music Gala.” The event not only allows members of the church to showcase their musical talents around an ever-changing theme, but the gala is used as a fundraiser to support various needs of the church and music program, as well as the community at large.
Musicals
In 2007 we began the tradition of producing a Broadway musical every other year, on the weekend before Thanksgiving. In every case, except for a few professional musicians hired to play in the pit orchestra, the entire cast and crew was drawn from members of the Community Church. Auditions are usually held in May, materials given out in June, and rehearsals begin in mid-August.
Children's Holiday Pageants
Every second Sunday in December the children and youth of the church put on the "Children's Holiday Pageant." These have grown into 25-30 minute narrative performances, with original dialogue and songs written by music director Glenn Mehrbach. It's a great way for children who might not be interested in the commitment of a choir or the church musical to "get their feet wet" as a performer.
Choir Sundays
Every May and December the Community Church Choir takes over a service to present a larger musical work, often with a chamber orchestra. Past Choir Sundays have included music from Bach to Bernstein to UU composer Jason Shelton, and everything in between.