Music at First Universalist is an important part of our religious life. In addition to our choir, there are performances, on piano or organ, by our choir director. All through the year, but especially in the summer, we enjoy an amazing variety of music furnished by church members–a recorder quartet, piano, guitar and vocal solos and duets. From September to May, we host weekly Eastman at Washington Square noontime concerts. We also enjoy guest performances by talented Eastman-Rochester students and the occasional professional musician or group. The choir always welcomes new members. Come rejoice with us.

Our Choir

The choir’s selections range from early to late classical, contemporary, and folk.

Choir practice starts at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. All who like to sing are welcome to join.

Examples of music performed by our choir are the Renaissance music by Palestrina, the Ave Verum Corpus by Byrd and Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.

An Easter Sunday tradition has our choir joined by members and friends in the congregation in singing the Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah by Handel.

Choir Sunday, held in early December, features several special works and constitutes that Sunday’s sermon.

Please watch this video of our choir performing a musical version of our Affirmation of Faith:

Eastman at Washington Square

Lunchtime concerts presented by the Eastman School of Music take place every Thursday during the school year at the First Universalist Church, beginning at 12:15 p.m. and ending at approximately 12:45 p.m. Brown bag lunches are welcome during the performances. Admission is free.

The complete schedule and more can be found at the Eastman Community Music School website.

Our Music Committee

The Music Committee, which is a part of our Worship Ministry,  works with choir director to plan a variety of music for the church year. Among other things, the committee is involved in planning our annual Choir Sunday, which is held in December and features a several special works that constitute that Sunday’s sermon.