For musicians and music lovers, the month of December is a feast. And we know that behind any feast is a lot of preparation! Our choir has been working extra hard getting ready for this Sunday’s Community Carol Sing, as well as for our holiday services later this month.
UCM will again be hosting the Community Carol Sing this Sunday, December 14th at 4:30 PM, which this year will be featuring not only the combined choirs of Christ Church, the First Congregational Church of Berlin and UCM, but also some wonderful new (to us!) youthful collaborators: the Teen Trad Band from the Summit School (of which our own Rocco Nicolet is a member!), and the youth choir from the Stowe Community Church. The combined choir has some very special musical treats planned. We will be accompanying Kris Hammer, playing the tenor saxophone, on a gorgeous, haunting piece by Ola Gjeilo called Evening Prayer, and soprano Chaya Lichtig on O Holy Night.
This event takes a little extra planning, to be sure, but is always well worth it. Just thinking about it now fills me with warmth and joy. From the palpable community spirit, to the sonic bath of being in the midst of 150+ people raising their voices together, to the special musical guests and our choirs having the experience of singing in our sanctuary with this large, talented group, and sharing their voices with the larger community, it’s a singular event for the church and our community.
The event is free but we will be accepting donations for the Community Table lunch program. Hope to see you there!
While things definitely quiet down for the music program after the winter holidays, we do have a few things planned I’d like to mention. At the December 28th service, Callum Robechek, home for the holidays, will be presenting some of the music from the album he recorded last summer with friends. And for the January 11th service Caitlin and I are planning a new collaboration between the choir, children and youth.
I continue to feel deeply grateful to be serving this congregation as Music Director. To collaborate with our consistently creative, caring and competent staff; to work with our kind and talented, generous-spirited and hard-working choir; and our dynamic, open-hearted congregation—these are the best gifts I could ask for this holiday season! May your holidays be filled with love, fun, great food, and great music! ~ Donia Prince, Music Director