Music Events and Programs - Calgary Unitarians

Music plays an important role at Calgary Unitarians — even during a pandemic! Music Director Jane Perry leads three church choirs and, aided by a volunteer team, organizes other musical events throughout the year. Our church is also home to community choirs, a ukulele ensemble, and more! At present, we have shifted all our music activities to the online environment. Read on for details!

Eager to sing or play an instrument? Read on to check out the opportunities!

Do you want to attend a music event? Check out our Upcoming Music Events and Rehearsals

Calgary Unitarian Choirs

UUphonia

UUphonia is our church’s mixed-voice, non-auditioned choir. Our repertoire is a wonderfully eclectic selection of secular and spiritual choral music. During the pandemic, our weekly online sessions take the form of a sing-along, with a focus on songs to calm, nourish, and inspire. We also love to have fun with our singing; through the magic of video and virtual-choir technology, UUphonia presented an online Winter Holiday Epic Online Sing-Along in December 2020 and, in April 2021, a one-hour online Cabaret — highlights of the church year! We value caring community, musical outreach, and laughing as we learn. No audition necessary. All are welcome!

Rehearsal dates during the pandemic: Thursday evenings on Zoom, September through early June. 7:15 pm for social time and singing from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.

Contact: Music Director Jane Perry at music@calgaryunitarians.ca

ChorVida

Chor Vida is our church’s auditioned chamber choir, designed for experienced choral singers who sight-read well. The ensemble rehearses on an as-needed basis, and our singing projects are dotted throughout the church year. Repertoire runs from Renaissance motets to 19th-century choral anthems to pop and jazz arrangements. During the pandemic, our musical activities have been limited to virtual-choir videos. We hope that we can rehearse safely in person again soon. Auditions are on hold at present.

Rehearsal dates: variable, September through June.

Contact: Music Director Jane Perry at music@calgaryunitarians.ca

Coffee Choir

This is a choir for everyone, where everyone gets to sing the tune! During the pandemic, we have become a weekly online sing-along group, in which the singers choose the theme for the following week’s sing-along and make song suggestions. We cover a lot of ground with our selections: from ‘50s pop to jazz, from Broadway to folk music, and from Top 40 artists to local singer-songwriters. This is a non-performing choir — we sing simply for the fun of it. All are welcome!

Rehearsal dates during the pandemic: Tuesday afternoons on Zoom, September through early June. 1:30 pm for social time and singing from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.

Contact: Music Director Jane Perry at music@calgaryunitarians.ca

Community Choirs

Two community choirs rent rehearsal space at our church. To read more about our resident choirs, check out their websites:
One Voice Chorus https://www.onevoicechorus.ca/
Vocal Latitudes https://www.vocalatitudes.org/

Other Music-Making Opportunities

Ukuleteers

If you have always wanted to play the ukulele, or if you already play and would like to be part of a ukulele band, then consider joining our Ukuleteers! This ensemble is directed by Brandis Purcell.

Rehearsal dates: First Friday evening of each month from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Please contact Brandis Purcell for schedule information. Note: Ukuleteers have put their rehearsals on hold to date during the pandemic.

Contact: Brandis Purcell at brandis.purcell@shaw.ca

Instrumentalists and Vocal Soloists

We strive to create places and spaces for people to share their musical talents at Calgary Unitarians! If you play an instrument, or if you have experience in singing solos, please contact Music Director Jane Perry to talk about possible performance opportunities within the church community. music@calgaryunitarians.ca

My Song is a Prayer

This song was used as the anthem for the Canadian Unitarian Council’s Annual Conference in Calgary, 2013. The song was composed by Greg O’Neill, a member at Calgary Unitarians, and arranged by Calgary Unitarians Music Director Jane Perry. Please sing this, share this, and enjoy this piece with your home congregation. And please let Jane know when you sing it! Enjoy!