Music is a pillar of our community at UU Middleboro. We strive to build a musical community, whether that’s congregational or choral singing, sharing a musical offering, or participating in a musical workshop or activity. We invite our members to explore a variety of musical styles, to focus on excellence rather than perfection, to support Sunday Morning worship, and to carry our ministry out into the world. For more information, please contact Susan Hotchkiss at music@uumiddleboro.org.
Springtime Gala & Tapas Galore
April Music Musings
In 2011 our church music community started something called “Caring Choir,” designed to bring the uplifting gift of music to members and friends who are homebound. A Caring Choir is made up of singers from any of our choirs – Chalice, Ensemble, Alumni, Family, and Song Circle. A Caring Choir may range in size from a few singers to a larger group, depending on the individual request and how large a space is available. We bring familiar and comforting music from our two hymnals: Singing the Living Tradition and Singing the Journey. Sometimes we can accommodate additional requests. Christmas Carols can be worked into a lovely program, as well as songs from the folk-music resource Rise Up Singing.
Who can request a Caring Choir visit? If you are homebound, or have a family member who is homebound, you may reach out to the minister, pastoral care team, music committee, or music director to explore if this would work for you. We will find out what your situation is and what kind of music you love, and then we will put together a group of singers who will gather respectfully at your home or care center to bring kindness and cheer. Programs usually last about 30-45 minutes. The usual times for a Caring Choir visit are Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, Saturday morning or afternoon, and Sunday afternoon. For more information or to request a visit from a Caring Choir, please contact Music Director Susan Hotchkiss at landhotchkiss@gmail.com.
REMINDERS: April is a busy month with TWO concerts. On Saturday, April 6, we are hosting Jazz Music Night at 7:30, featuring former UU Middleboro music director Jeannie Gagné, joined by Stan Strickland, Bruce Gertz, and Alberto Netto. This world-class show is partially funded by Lakeville and Middleboro Cultural Councils. Tickets are $25 online and $30 at the door.
The second concert is on April 27 for our Springtime Gala and Tapas Galore. This fundraiser event features delightful home-grown talent PLUS a culinary treat. You will find details in the newsletter and on our website. Tickets will go on sale after the Jazz Night concert on April 6.
Happy Spring! Joyful Singing!
Susan Hotchkiss, Director of Music, and Bet Giddings, Music Committee Chair
Upcoming Music events
More about Music at UU Middleboro
The Music Committee
The Music Committee is a part of First UU Society of Middleboro, operating under its mission and focused on helping to support our church’s music ministry and music director. It is our intent to help enrich the goals of the Society, including spiritual and personal growth of congregants and outreach to the community at large. We strive to help build a program of inclusivity as well as excellence. We wish to promote diversity, creativity, fun, fellowship, and community through music.
(Statement of Purpose, revised May 2023)
Members of the Music Committee:
Dody Adkins-Perry
Katie Allen
Cindy Benard
Valerie Fontaine
Bet Giddings
Nicola Wilbar
Our Music Makers: Singers and Instrumentalists
The Chalice Choir is open to all and sings every other Sunday, making room for other solos and ensembles to share their musical offerings on alternate Sundays. Tuesday evenings are set aside for choir rehearsal from 7:00-8:30. Sunday morning is set aside for musicians to prepare for worship.
As needed, we form Caring Choirs to visit members and friends who are shut in and would like to hear or sing music from our UU hymnals and songbooks. Larger Caring Choirs participate in programs for nursing homes, shelters, and community events. December caroling is always a popular activity.
We support music in children’s Religious Education by sending choir members into Sunday morning classes and creating a Family Choir for special services during the year.
We have many fine instrumentalists in our congregation who share their gifts in worship as well as for fundraising activities. Instruments include guitar, ukulele, mandolin, flute, recorder, crumhorn, trumpet, percussion, double bass, and hammered dulcimer. We are open to more!
Our Instruments
Installed in the chancel, we have an historic Woodberry & Harris tracker organ, circa 1890. The original manual pump was replaced with a motor when Middleboro Main Street was wired for electricity. There are two manuals (Swell and Great) plus a 27-note pedal board, and the mechanism is fully mechanical. The organ was most recently refurbished by Andover Organ Company in 2014 and is listed in the Organ Historical Society Database.
In the spring of 2019, the church purchased a new Mason & Hamlin baby grand piano. This piano was hand-made in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and produces state-of-the-art depth and quality of sound.
