About Music in the Life of First Parish

Our music director, Laura Prichard, maintains much of the information relating to music on our site. Especially important is the "CURRENT SCHEDULE." Updated weekly, this is the place to look for rehearsal detail. Contact music director, Laura Prichard by email -- laura@firstparish.info by phone (home 978-369-7329, cell 508-423-1423)

Music for Sunday Morning Services

Our service music is most regularly provided by our church organist, Sarah Haero Tocco, and by choirs under the direction of music director, Laura Prichard.
Learn more about our music staff.

The adult choir sings about three Sundays in four and provides music-centered services twice a year. The choir rehearses Thursday evenings in the sanctuary from 8pm until 9:30pm and meets at 9am on Sunday mornings for a warm-up rehearsal.

Several times a year the choir is augmented by singers coming to rehearse for a particular service. Laura refers to the augmented choir as our "Festival Choir."

To aid in learning choral selections, Laura sometimes posts recordings. Check here for these -- email will be sent with access information when there are new postings.

Both men and women gather occasionally for creating special vocal performances. Recently Jennifer Kobayashi has been working regularly with a group of women on close harmony arrangements both sacred and secular. UUlations have sung at church services, the Fair Cafe, coffee houses and the Alliance Holiday program.

Our three children's choirs rehearse weekly and perform in services each month.

Instrumentalists participate in service music in ensemble performances, sometimes including the choir, sometimes on their own and sometimes with organ. The instrumental ensembles performing most regularly are:

• First Parish Symphonic Band : performs monthly, these rehearsals are announced in the Order of Service
• First Parish Flute Loops Flute Ensemble : coordinated by Mies Boet-Whitaker (flute)
• First Parish Jazz Ensemble : coordinated by Chris Botos (trombone).

In summer, our paid music staff takes a break, and a range of musicians and affiliated groups come forward to lend musical interest to the lay-led services.

Calls go out for help with music to people known to be interested in stepping in occasionally. Write musiclists@firstparish.info if you'd like to be placed on a list for notices when either singers or instrumentalists are needed or use the form provided here to sign up.

Music for Other Occasions

Musicians crop up in many venues at First Parish. Here are some musical contributions that have repeated often enough to be regarded as traditional.

• An annual Spring "Musicale" is sponsored by the Music Committee. This concert features musicians in a variety of styles in music by no means exclusively "sacred."
• During the November Harvest Moon Fair, the cafe features live music in a variety of styles, provided in half-hour programs by our local musicians.

• At Town Day in September, musicians add to the attractiveness of the First Parish offerings of "Man-made Chili" and home-made pies. Our parking lot and lawn become a lively gathering and lingering place, with no small measure of credit going to the music being provided.

• For many, the Alliance-sponsored December program of music provided by First Parish young people's choirs and inter-generational instrumental ensembles marks the beginning of the winter holiday season. There is lively caroling by audience and performers together.

Musicians' Extended Family

Three performing groups make their homes at First Parish -- each has participants from First Parish among its members. In addition congregation members are active in many other music groups.
Read the Connections page here to learn about some of these special organizations.  

Music Committee

The Music Committee works closely with music staff to support the role of music in the life of the church. The committee takes particular responsibility for the upkeep of instruments at the church. Click here for a list of the current music committee members with email contact information. (Use the same access information as for other member's areas of the web site.)