First Parish Bedford UU

Welcome to the music program for First Parish in Bedford!

Music is a vital part of the outreach and fellowship of First Parish. Striving for a multi-cultural and richly-textured experience, the music program consists of four choirs of all ages and abilities, various guest instrumentalists, and a music committee which helps with internal administration of the program as well as bringing in outside groups for approximately four concerts a year.

New participants for all choirs are always welcome.  Repertoire for all choral groups includes diverse selections from the traditions of classical, jazz, contemporary and world music. The Music Committee is also looking for volunteers.  If you would like to be a committee member, you do not need to be a musician (although musicians are welcome); the only qualifications you need is the time to attend one short meeting every 6-8 weeks and to have a passion for being supportive of the music program overall.

– Brad Conner, Music Director

   Read more about Brad...

 The last in our SPRING 2013 CONCERT SERIES:

Join us on Saturday, June 1 at 7PM in the air conditioned Common Room, for An Evening of Jazz, featuring our own Dean, Alice, and Buffie Groves; Bob and Fran Tyler with Linda Conrad; plus special guests, Fretless!

Suggested donation: $10 adults, $5 seniors and students.  Refreshments available.  Net proceeds to benefit Bedford Habitat for Humanity.

Program:  The program opens with Fretless, an a cappella quartet known for lush harmonies and an eclectic mix of styles, singing favorites such as “Java Jive,” and “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.” Groves3 will treat the audience to some traditional jazz favorites such as their close-harmony arrangements of “Stars Fell On Alabama,” and “Old Cape Cod.” The incomparable Alice Groves will sing “Do You Know What It Means (To Miss New Orleans)” and other favorites. The Tyler family will perform their close-harmony arrangement of “Take The A Train,” along with other jazz hits, and there are bound to be some surprises!

Performers:  Fretless debuted in June 1999.  Their members are Elizabeth Walsh, soprano; Suzanne Jubenville, alto; Grant Hicks, baritone; and David Getty, tenor. The Groves family have performed all their lives. Alice is a consummate song stylist.  Dean has been composing, playing, and arranging music for over 40 years.  Buffie is a multi talented folksinger who is half of Fishken & Groves, a hugely popular fixture of the local folk scene.  The Tyler family, likewise, are well known musicians. Bob and Fran Tyler have been creating music for 61 years around Boston and New England as well as in Florida, New York, and Oregon. Their daughter, Linda, is a singer and flute player who often performs with Bob and Fran. 

It is sure to be a cool evening—don’t miss it!

 Music Sunday 2010

Shakespeare

Finale

Adult Choir (Bradford Conner, director)

Open to all after talking with the director. Sings in Sunday services about twice a month, usually in the later service. Currently has about 35 active members.

Rehearses Thursdays 7:30 to 9:00 PM.

Senior Youth Choir Janet Welby, director (jwelby@uubedford.org)

For 6^th to 12^th graders. This group practices advanced singing skills and advanced repertoire. Often in 3 or more parts, the music comes from the full range of classical traditions and a wide variety of genres. There are opportunities to participate in community events and sing with other church choral groups that includes the adult choir. They sing approximately once a month and may also participate in the spring musical.

Rehearses Thursdays 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

Please contact Janet if you want more information.

Junior Youth Choir Janet Welby, director

(jwelby@uubedford.org)

For 3d to 6th graders. This group learns basic singing and choral skills, which include singing in two parts.  They rehearse music from variety of styles and genres and sing approximately once a month at the second Sunday service.  There are opportunities to participate in community events, sing with the other church choral groups, and the spring musical.

Rehearses Thursdays 3:15 to 4:15 PM.

Please contact Janet if you want more information.

KidSing

Janet Welby, director

For K - 3rd graders. Focus on sharing singing, movement games and musicianship. Sings at Sunday services several times a year, sometimes with other choral groups.

Please contact Janet if you want more information.

Meets Thursdays from 4:15 to 5:00 PM.