Music
A Church of Music
Music is an integral part of our weekly worship. Each week a variety of music is offered at the 10:00am livestreamed service.
Music This Month
I got my first job as a church choir director in 1980 and have led such groups for most of the intervening 42 years, but I can still be surprised! Sometimes the surprises are of the “oy vey” variety—but we’ll leave the discussion of those “surprises” for another day. What’s left me delightedly agog recently is the development of our Sanctuary Choir into an ensemble that can sing with a professional orchestra.
Our choir, together with Albuquerque’s Coro Lux, will join forces with the New Mexico Philharmonic in Beethoven’s magnificent Ninth Symphony which, of course, includes the choral finale known as “Ode to Joy.” We’ll begin rehearsing the piece early in the new year. And in early February we’ll coordinate joint rehearsals with Coro Lux, blending the two ensembles into one festival choir of about 75, before commencing rehearsals with the Philharmonic under their music director, Roberto Minczuk. I hope you’ll consider attending this uplifting concert!
Director of Music
Brad Ellingboe
As People of faith, we’re called to “make a joyful noise,” and we try our best to do just that at United. Reach out to our music staff, and join in!
If you play an instrument, whatever your age, then please let Music Director Brad Ellingboe know (unitedchurch.brad@gmail.com). Music at United is played not only on the Steinway Piano in the Sanctuary, but also on drums, violins, guitars, trumpets, and lots of other instruments, too.
Future Events
"FebFest23" IS COMING!
Saturday/Sunday - February 4/5
For the past several years United and Coro Lux have collaborated in an annual event called FebFest. This year’s will be the biggest and best one yet! Our special guest is Dr. André Thomas, composer, conductor, current president of the American Choral Directors Association, and Associate Artist/Guest Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. The event is open to all interested singers with rehearsals and workshops taking place on Saturday, February 4, 2023. The festival choir’s work will culminate in a free concert at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis at 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 5, at which a free-will offering will be taken to benefit Habitat for Humanity. Those interested in participating as singers should go to abqcorolux.org/tickets/ to register. The cost for singers is $75, which includes sheet music and lunch on Saturday, plus all the workshops and rehearsals.
Future Events
United's Sanctuary Choir with the New Mexico Philharmonic
Saturday, February 11, 2023 6:00pm
Our Sanctuary Choir, together with Albuquerque’s Coro Lux, will join forces with the New Mexico Philharmonic in Beethoven’s magnificent Ninth Symphony, including the choral finale known as “Ode to Joy.” The concert is one night only, in Popejoy Hall on the UNM campus, on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 6:00 pm. For more info and to buy tickets go to nmphil.org/event/the-greatest -beethovens-9th-february-11-2023/