Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Stanislaus County

Music

Music is a vital part of our worship services. Our choir practices every Wednesday, during the church year, and performs twice a month - at both services. Singing in the choir is like singing in the shower; anyone can do it. (You don't get wet or naked in the choir, though.) If you'd like to join, drop Bernadette (below) a note.

We have guest musicians, from our congregation and from the community, at irregular intervals. We have an all-jazz Sunday service with Ernie Bucio and the new Horizons Jazz Band every year, in June.

Three people who make our program special:

Bernadette Burns, choir director, founded the choir in 1993. She has directed it since then, with a break for a few years for family leave. She is an accomplished vocalist and songwriter. Her compositions have been sung in several UU congregations. In addition to conducting the choir, she occasionally leads worship services using music, songs and chants to illustrate seasonal metaphors and teach ancient stories from some of our ancestors. She views her work as a music ministry and strives to deepen the congregation's experience of the spiritual through music. (That doesn't keep her from dressing up in period costumes every once in a while.) E-mail:	Elizabeth Coard, pianist, has been with us since 2006. She has played since childhood and graduated with honors in music. She has held positions as a church pianist, organist, and Music Director beginning in 1970. She also teaches piano. Her students are sometimes guest performers. She has played as accompanist for the Townsend Opera Players, Modesto Performing Arts and the Modesto Symphony. E-mail: Elizabeth's web site: www.modpiano.com	Kathryn Swain, alternate pianist, has lived in 39 different cities from Japan to New York City. She now gladly calls Manteca, and our UUFSC, her "Blue Boat Home." She has lived there since 2004. She started singing and playing the piano in church when she was six years old, but travels and various careers did not always include a piano. Now she plays solos or arranges for other performers, and plays on Sundays when Elizabeth is not performing.