Music is an integral part of spiritual life at BUC. It enhances our worship, providing opportunities to share and receive the talents of many. Music is as present as the spoken word during a typical service, and aims to interweave with the themes of the day’s worship, tying everything together.
The Chalice Choir is made up of adults representing a range of ages and musical backgrounds. Some have sung in choirs their entire lives, and others can barely read music. This enthusiastic group rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm, preparing a wide range of styles for services twice a month or more. The BUC choir also provides music for special services, including memorials for choir members and congregants. They have toured throughout the UK and parts of Europe. Each December, the choir presents a large choral work with a chamber orchestra to a packed congregation. During the spring, they host a service called Choir Sunday, where members share heartfelt reflections and readings. To learn how to join this fun group, email Co-Director of Music Ministry Abha Dearing.
Our Sanctuary houses a lovely Steinway piano. Our pianist performs a wide variety of piano solos, from contrapuntal work by Bach to jazz and everything in between. For the past several years, BUC has hired Doctoral candidates in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan. Read more about Mira Walker, our current pianist, here.
BUC has a house band called the Sound Messengers, made up of local professional musicians and congregants. The band can be heard providing contemporary music for a 21st-century worship service. They have performed everything from funk to folk music. The band frequently has guests sit in on services. They have provided entertainment for fundraising events and they play for services about twice a month.
Our Music Committee is a festive group of congregants providing support to our music staff. They have joined our Religious Education classes on occasion to discuss our UU values through hymnody and other music-related topics, and have helped with our SoundBites concert series.
Our church is fortunate to have several musical congregants. These fine folx can be heard cantoring on Sundays or playing their instruments during the Co-Directors’ time away during the summers. Many have created fellowship by forming trios and quartets.
Budget permitting, BUC hosts local musicians who bring a variety of styles and personalities to our worship service. Don’t be surprised if you see local music celebrities playing on Sunday mornings at BUC.
We highly encourage our talented congregants to be involved, both instrumentally and vocally, with Sunday’s music. Anyone wishing to participate is encouraged to contact Co-Director of Music Ministry Steven Dearing.
