Music is a big, joyous part of the services at East Shore Unitarian Church. When we come together and share music, we strengthen our bonds of community and experience anew the daily miracle of being alive. We are lucky to have so many members who bring their various musical talents to our Sunday gatherings: violists, vocalists, percussionists, guitar players, saxophonists, harpists – the list keeps growing! The East Shore Mighty Choir sings twice a month, performing music that ranges from classical to folk to Broadway to classic rock to originals written by Director of Music Eric Lane Barnes. The East Shore Ensemble, a smaller group of select vocalists, sings for one service each month. The East Shore All Stars, a band with a rotating roster of excellent players, joins the fun from time to time. We also invite numerous local musical talents to share our services, from the world-famous drag chanteuse Arnaldo to world-class cellist Kevin Krentz. If you like music, you will love the Sunday services at East Shore Unitarian Church!
Choir
The East Shore Mighty Choir is a joyful group of unauditioned singers who love to join their voices in glorious song. There are no prerequisites to joining the Mighty Choir; ability to read music is nice, but certainly not a necessity – Director of Music Eric Lane Barnes provides rehearsal tracks for each song the choir learns. One also does not need to be a member of ESUC to join the choir. The choir rehearses each Thursday evening in the sanctuary from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, and sings twice a month for Sunday services. (It is not necessary for every choir member to be available to sing for every service – we know that there are numerous things in life that take us away for various weekends.) If you miss singing in a group, or if you’ve ever wondered if you would like see what it feels like to be part of a singing community, come join the East Shore Mighty Choir any Thursday evening from September through June!
Sharing Your Musical Gifts
Do you play flute/ guitar/ ukulele/ djembe/ harmonica/ trumpet/ bagpipes/ spoons/ accordion/ bassoon/ etc? Would you like to share your talents with the East Shore community? Contact [email protected]. We love to lift up people’s joyful musical expressions!
Here’s a Sample!
Choir Rehearsal
The East Shore Mighty Choir rehearses every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 pm, each week. This season’s last rehearsal will be on June 13th. We’ll resume rehearsals Thursday September 5, 2024. We always take all of July and August off, but people are always welcome to sing/play for services during the summer.
Musical Notes: Introducing Misha
Some of you have met Misha, who has been coming to East Shore since May. He is quite a talented and multi-faceted musician, with a number of impressive achievements in his life. Missagh “Misha” Domirani was born in Iran, and has been playing music for over 16 years,...
Music Notes: An Enthusiastic Invitation!
Hello Members and Friends of East Shore Friendly neighborhood Director of Music here. I am looking forward to the upcoming new season of music at East Shore Unitarian Church! I feel so fortunate to be able to make music with people who share so much of their hearts...
Music Notes: Join the East Shore Mighty Choir
There are few things more satisfying, enlivening, connecting, grounding and uplifting than singing. This is even more true when singing in a group. Science has shown singing in a group lowers blood pressure, releases endorphins, lowers stress and even strengthens...
Statement of purpose and intent
I believe we are here in this life to make connections. First with ourselves and our deepest-held thoughts and feelings, then with one another in the joys and sorrows we share, and then with the world at large by living authentic lives, full of doing things we know foster and strengthen these connections. Music is one of the most powerful and enjoyable mediums for connection: music (whether vocal or instrumental) connects us with our own bodies, minds and souls, music connects us with the groups with whom we sing/perform, and music connects us with the larger world as we share this connected, magical joy. My approach is to let the music lead us from joy to joy. I strive to make every rehearsal an enjoyable and connecting time; when we perform for the membership we are taking that joy and sending it out as a gift for people to resonate with and take home with them. The power music has to strengthen our minds, bodies and spirits is palpable and scientifically verifiable: music helps us live stronger, happier, longer lives. Music, it has been said, is love made audible, joy speaking its name out loud. Come connect with us, in the love and joy of music!
Harmony to Happiness
Thank you to Pedro Augusto Leite Costa for these videos about the happiness harmony can bring!