Choir

“CUUC has been my spiritual home for more than 40 years. I’ve sung in the choir ever since it was first organized. Preparing a piece of music with my fellow singers under Lisa Meyer’s inspired direction and performing each Sunday are both deeply satisfying.”

~ Liz L.

The volunteer choir of the Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation (CUUC) at White Plains is an integral part of the Sunday worship service.  Musical selections grow out of a dialogue among the Music Director, the Minister, the worship team, and the Choir Director.  

Our Choir Director, Lisa Meyer, came to CUUC in 2001 from the Department of Music at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.  Guided by her professionalism and musicianship, the Choir has performed liturgical, classical, neoclassical, folk, and popular works.  The mode of performance is as varied as the genres which, along with a cappella works, include collaborations with flute, violin, harp, percussion, chamber orchestra, and of course, piano.

Becoming a CUUC Choir Member

The CUUC Choir consists of volunteers with a variety of musical experience and backgrounds.  Anyone of high school age and up is welcome to participate.  Reading music is not a requirement.   Many members do not have any formal musical training, but have some previous experience performing choral music.  The main requirements are the ability to match pitch and great enthusiasm.  Practice recordings are often supplied on-line to assist in the music learning process for both services and concerts.  Those interested in joining may:

• Contact Choir Director, Lisa Meyer at choir@cucwp.org for more information.
• Attend any Tuesday night choir rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.  It is recommended that you contact the choir director in advance to ensure the rehearsal is taking place and that you will be attending.
• Speak with the Choir Director or any Choir member after the 10:00 a.m. Sunday service to find out more information and/or to ask about participation.

Choir Responsibilities

• Two Sunday services per month between September and June.  Services take place at 10:00 a.m. with an 8:45 a.m. warm-up/rehearsal that morning.
• One Tuesday night rehearsal per week (between September and June) from 7:30 to 9:15 p.m.
• Annual Christmas Eve service.
• Up to two concerts outside of Sunday Service – one in December and one in the spring with a dress rehearsal for each.

Benefits of Becoming a CUUC Choir Member

Learning music is like learning another language.  Choir members continually benefit from knowledge gained during rehearsals while learning and applying that knowledge to the repertoire performed.  During each rehearsal the focus is on the technical and psychological aspects of producing a beautiful, healthy sound and shaping that sound to be musically and emotionally interesting to singers and listeners.  With the support of a piano accompanist, each rehearsal focuses on:

• Breath support to promote healthy singing and good pitch;
• Blending voices for a unified and pleasing sound;
• Unified vowel production for good tone and pitch;
• Learning to listen to other singers and sections to improve balance and pitch;
• Learning to work as a Team;
• Learning principles of good musicianship (i.e., shaping a melody, word and syllable emphasis, dynamics, phrasing for emotion and meaning).

We Hope You’ll Join Us!