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Welcome to the Unitarian Society of Germantown, A Liberal Church in Northwest Philadelphia, PA |
Music & Worship at USGUU |
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Music has long been an important part of USG's services, lending variety and spiritual enrichment to the community's Sunday experience, as well as providing members of the congregation the chance to join their voices in song.
The USG choir is a key element of the congregation's musical life. This volunteer group, numbering about 25 men & women, leads the congregation in hymns and songs, and performs additional pieces, most of them sung in parts. The range of selections is broad, reaching back to Renaissance and Baroque music, both sacred and secular, and extending to contemporary composers of both classical and worship-related music. The performance of professional soloists enriches many of the Sunday service selections.
USG's Music Committee has overall responsibility for the music programs. The creative leadership in planning and carrying out the program falls to USG's Music Director, Mark Daugherty. Working with both the Sunday Services and Music Committee, Mark takes the lead in selecting music, ensuring that it resonates with the theme of the Service, rehearses and leads the choir, and oversees all music performances on Sundays. Mark is also USG's organist (playing on a 40-year old, Austrian tracker organ) and keyboardist.
Besides regular Sunday performances, Mark and the choir present two special musical performances during the year, one in December and one in the spring. These have included:
In addition, the Christmas Eve candlelight Service includes a generous selection of seasonal music and carols, performed both alone by the choir and together with the entire congregation.
The choir rehearses most Thursdays from September through June. Anyone interested in joining should contact Mark Daugherty, any member of the choir, or the Music Committee Chair, Tom Smith (215.842.1143).
To listen to the music of the Unitarian Society of Germantown's truly awesome choir under the direction of Mark Daugherty, click on one of the links below or right-click on a link and choose save to download the file.
