It’s always nice to be back in the swing of things! The choir’s “comeback performance” from their summer hiatus was on groundbreaking day, and I don’t think I could have asked for anyone better to celebrate that with! I am always filled with such kindness and with such elation when music is back in my life, especially after these long summer breaks. Even though some music is still present in the service during the summer break it’s always nice to hear the full choir.
What lies ahead for the choir is many months of amazing music with special guests. Some highlights include a piece titled “Invictus” which is for Piano, Choir and Cello, J.S. Bach’s Motet Lobet Den Herrn Alle Heiden (BVW 230), a piece by Melanie DeMoore (a favorite com-poser of the choir), and a jazzy arrangement of We Three Kings for the Holiday season. This is just a fraction of the pieces that are going to be sung for the choir. It’s my goal to make sure that we 1). Hit all the aspects of classical music and 2). Make sure that new and exciting music (especially by BIPOC and LGBTQ composers) gets represented as well. Strap in, this will be one amazing roller coaster ride!
Jakob Swetland was Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's Director of Music Ministries from October 2023-April 2025.