Music
About the Music Program
Music plays a vital role in our church’s ministry. It:
- Provides a wide variety of music during worship, enhancing the worship experience
- Encourages widespread participation
- Supports musical events
- Sponsor workshops and choral exchanges to promote community and education through music
- Allows for intergenerational involvement
Meet the Staff
Director of Music
KaeRenae Mitchell has served at TJMC for 26 years. She has arranged and composed many selections for the adult choir and has had several invocations and benedictions published. Outside the church, she conducts the Women’s Chorus at the University of Virginia and has directed them at the National Cathedral, the ACDA convention and on several tours. KaeRenae has studied two modalities of music and healing.
Accompanist
Scott DeVeaux, associate professor at the University of Virginia and an accomplished classical and jazz pianist, is an expert on jazz, particularly bebop. Among his many publications, his book The Birth of Bebop: A Social and Musical History received critical acclaim. Scott serves as series editor, Oxford Readers on American Musicians, and he serves on the Editorial Board, American Music, Center for Black Music Research. He received a 1992-1993 NEH Fellowship.
Join a choir:
Voices of Community | Chalice Chamber Singers | Children Choir | Treble Choir | Music Practice Schedule
For details, contact KaeRenae at music@uucharlottesville.org or 1.434.293.8179, 4#.
Voices of Community
Rehearsal Schedule: Two or three times/month, Thursday (sometimes Tuesday) evenings, with warm-ups beginning at 6:45PM, and rehearsal going from 6:45—8:30 p.m.
Performance Schedule: Both services once/month; two annual services
Who Can Participate: Great for folks who travel and who are only able to commit to singing for shorter periods of time, this is a “revolving” choir open to new folks every time we begin a new piece! Music reading skills are great, but not required-– only the ability to carry a tune and keep up rhythmically.
Description:The repertoire draws from many sources: Western Classical choral music, African-American spirituals and gospel, Unitarian Universalist composers, music in Latin, Hebrew, and Spanish.To join, please contact KaeRenae Mitchell or come visit a Thursday night choir rehearsal. Newcomers and visitors are always welcome, no auditions required.
Rehearsal Schedule: Two or three times/month
Performance Schedule: Both services once/month
Who Can Participate: Auditioned singers who read music and are committed to the independent study of music
Description: Challenging music appropriate for a small ensemble; selections range from Renaissance to contemporary music, and include classical, jazz, and world music. Rehearsals move at a fast pace and are for refining and creating balance and blend. Chamber singers often sing a cappella.
Contact KaeRenae Mitchell to arrange for an audition.
Directed by Anna Caritj (and KaeRenae Mitchell), accompanied by Frank Dukes and Michael Manto, guitarists, with valuable support from Beth Jaeger-Landis and Michele Hilgart. The children sing a variety of songs, including original selections and some of the “standards.”
Rehearsal Schedule: Sundays,10:30-11:05 a.m., church parlor (six-week sessions in fall, winter, spring)
Performance Schedule: Three or four times during the church year
Who Can Participate: Children in grades 3 or 4 through 6 or 7 who are looking for more of a musical challenge - members of this choir enjoy reading music and singing 2 or 3 part harmonies
Description:
Directed by KaeRenae Mitchell and accompanied by John Freeman and John Voss, guitarists.
Special Music
Our congregation and our community is gifted with many talented pianists, songwriters, instrumentalists, and choirs who generously contribute to the services, including:
- Wendy Repass
- Sugar Hollow Music
- Terra Voce
