Music Ministry

Music at Jefferson Unitarian Church plays a vital role in the ministry of the church, providing important elements of Sunday worship services, opportunities for participation, avenues for outreach, and ways to connect with the larger community.

For the most up-to-date and current listing of music activities as Jefferson Unitarian Church, be sure to download the recent “Music Notes” newsletter to the left.  To find out how you can connect to JUC’s Music Ministry, you are warmly welcomed to contact Keith Arnold.

MUSIC STAFF

Minister of Music, Keith Arnold

Keith has served at Jefferson Unitarian Church since 1997.  He earned a Doctorate in the History and Performance of Choral Music from the University of Colorado.  He has led Unitarian Universalist music ministry programs in Nashville, TN; Boulder, CO; and Golden, CO.  At the denominational level, Keith conducted the General Assembly Choir (2001) and Singers of the Living Tradition (2007), co-chaired a UU Musicians Network Conference (2005), and served as President of the UUMN (2008 - 2010).  His choral mentors include Chet Alwes, Joan Catoni Conlon, Tony Lee Garner, Larry Kaptein, and Fred Stoltzfus.

Outside the church, Keith currently conducts the One World Singers, a chorus dedicated to promoting understanding through performance of music from many cultures.  He served as Music Director for the Arvada Chorale from 2001 – 2010.  Keith studied Renaissance music in England with Peter Phillips and conducted choirs on tour to Bulgaria, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, and China.  Keith’s partner, David Burrows, is an active participant in JUC’s music ministry and has written numerous children’s musicals including “Let my people go,” “Flaming Chalice: A History of Unitarian Universalism,” “Coral Carbon Blues,” and “Walking in your Moccasins.”

Pianist/Assistant Choir Director

Margaret Scharff has served as pianist at Jefferson Unitarian Church since 2009.  In 2004 and 2005, she worked at JUC as Music Intern.  She also worked at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder since 2002, first as pianist, and then as choir director.  She has a Masters degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studied with Doris Lehnert.  She has taught private piano lessons for over a decade, and worked as an accompanist to choirs, instrumentalists and singers.

Director of Music for Children and Youth

Sarah Billerbeck has a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Maryland. She also holds a Level III Orff Schulwerk certificate. Sarah has taught music to people of all ages from babies to adults in both the public schools and in various churches. She is the founder of the Whole Note Music Academy, which provides classes in music and movement for children and their parents. Her son Luke, who happens to have Down Syndrome, has further inspired her to investigate the link between language development and music, something which is reflected in her teaching and which benefits all children.

JUC CHOIR

Rehearsals: Wednesday nights, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m., Sanctuary
Director: Keith Arnold 303-279-5282 x17
Pianist/Assistant Choir Director: Margaret Scharff

The purpose of the JUC choir is to nurture the musical and spiritual life of JUC through enhancing worship services with inspiring music that promotes UU principles, building a welcoming and supportive community, and encouraging musical growth.

The JUC CHOIR provides music for two Sundays every month, drawing on repertoire from many sources: Western Classical choral music, African-American spirituals and gospel, music of Unitarian Universalist composers, and choral music representing the world’s many faith traditions.

The JUC CHOIR presents frequent choir services, which have included Fauré Requiem, Beethoven Mass in C, Malcolm Dalglish Voices of Earth, and Marc-Antoine Charpentier Missa di Minuit de Noël, Conrad Susa Carols and Lullabies of the Southwest, and A Winter Solstice Singing Ritual.  On Christmas Eve, the CHOIR and guests present a half hour of music before the candlelight service.

The JUC CHOIR frequently sings outside the church’s walls, such as at Front Range UU Choral events and interfaith music events.  On occasion the entire choir or members of the choir tour and travel: 2004 Sacred Music Tour of England; 2005 National Cathedral in Washington, DC; 2006 Choir and Friends Tour of England and Scotland; 2010 Carnegie Hall Festival appearance.

To join the JUC CHOIR, please contact Keith Arnold or come visit a Wednesday night choir rehearsal. Newcomers and visitors are always welcome, no auditions required, but Keith will hear all new singers to place in the appropriate section of the choir.

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN and YOUTH

Our annual music ministry program for Children and Youth is divided into four 6 to 8 week projects.  Parents and kids commit to signing up for a limited number of rehearsals that culminate in singing in a worship service.

Chalice Choir

3-5 year olds (not yet in kindergarten)
Rehearsals: Tuesday nights, 5:00-5:25, Priestley Room
Director: Sarah Billerbeck (720-855-8584), billerbeck@comcast.net)
The JUC CHALICE CHOIR is open to children ages 3 – 5. In weekly practices, the choir develops beginning musical skills through singing, movement, games, and playing Orff instruments. Chalice Choir children prepare music for performance in services, although performances are optional for this age group.

Children's Choir

Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Rehearsals: Tuesday nights, 5:30-6:15 p.m.., Priestley Room
Director: Sarah Billerbeck (720-855-8584), billerbeck@comcast.net
Assistant Director: Bob Hofmann
The JUC CHILDREN'S CHOIR is open to children in Kindergarten and First Grade. In weekly practices, the choir works on beginning musicianship and singing skills through singing, movement, games, Orff instruments, and music theory activities, The Children’s Choir performs in one or two services per project.

Radiance Choir

3rd-6th grade
Rehearsals: Tuesday afternoons, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Sanctuary
Director: Keith Arnold
Assistant Director: David Burrows

The RADIANCE CHOIR is open to children in second through fifth grade. Radiance choir sings for Sunday services, further develops skills in ear-training and music reading, uses tone chimes and Orff instruments for skill development, and has sung independently, with the Children's Choir, with the JUC Ringers, and with the JUC Choir.

Seekers Choir

6th-8th grade
Rehearsals: Tuesday evenings, 6:30-7:15, Chapel
Director: Sarah Billerbeck
*This choir meets only during the Holiday Project. Middle schoolers can also participate in the Musical during our Spring Project.

The Seekers choir will share their musical talents and continue to develop their musical skills during our Christmas Eve and Choir Sunday holiday services. This is a special opportunities for middle schoolers to sing, move, and play Orff instruments.

About the Musical

An annual Children’s Musical engages our community of musicians, teachers, costume and set designers, and families to produce a worship service relevant to Unitarian Universalism.  Recent musicals have included:

2010 Coral Carbon Blues (David Burrows)
2009 Flaming Chalice: A History of Unitarian Universalism (DB)
2008 Let my people go: The Story of Moses (DB)
2006 Paint the Town December (John Jacobsen)
2002 Spirit of the Christmas Tree (Joyce Poley)
2001 Would you like to hold the baby? (Joyce Poley)
1999 Brother Heinrich’s Christmas (John Rutter)
1998 Spirit of the Christmas Tree (Joyce Poley)

Handbell Programs

Our handbell ensembles play on four octaves of Schulmerich handbells, enriched by three octaves of Malmark tonechimes.

Golden Bells

A beginning handbell ensemble
Rehearsals: Sundays, 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.  Priestley Room
Director: Bev Curtiss

JUC Ringers

Auditioned handbell ensemble
Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. – 7:20 p.m.  Priestley Room
Director: Keith Arnold

HEALING POWER OF MUSIC

The Music Ministry Group maintains a "Healing Power of Music Library." The library consists of CDs to assist with Pain Control, Relaxation, Surgery; and books on "The Healing Power of Sound."

People undergoing surgery report that the music helps to take the edge off of their nervousness going into the surgery. One JUC patient reported that she needed less anesthesia than expected due to the music.

Please contact Keith to explore the Healing Power of Music Library.

MUSIC MINISTRY GROUP

Chairs: Rona Bradley and Peg Rocklin

The MUSIC GROUP supports the Minister of Music in determining the entire scope of Music Ministry at Jefferson Unitarian Church: music for Sunday worship services, musical ensembles for adults and children, musical outreach, and opportunities for making and listening to music outside worship services.

The GROUP works closely with the Ministers and Religious Services Group to select forms of musical expression which are diverse and imaginative, reflecting the musical tastes of the whole congregation.

THIN AIR: AN ECLECTIC ENSEMBLE

Coordinator: Bob Stelzer (303-986-0310)
This group meets weekly for musical fellowship. All instruments and levels of ability are welcome to join and make joyful music. Contact Bob Stelzer for details.

SPECIAL MUSIC AT JUC

JUC members and invited musicians often play an important role in worship services. The congregation is gifted with many talented pianists, songwriters, instrumentalists, and choir who generously contribute to the services. In addition, invited musicians from the community and visiting musicians from our denomination frequently present on Sunday mornings, with diverse offerings.  Special musicians include flautists, pianists, violinists, and our own Everhopefuls (guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass), Loosely Assembled (instrumental ensemble), Love Notes (women’s trio), Sophia’s Journey (women’s ensemble), and Treblemakers (women’s trio).

FAMILY BAND

Rehearsals: December Sundays, 12:15 p.m.
A 40+ year intergenerational tradition at JUC! All who play instruments are invited to prepare Christmas carols for the Family Christmas Eve service.

MUSIC CLASSES

In conjunction with the Lifelong Education and Adult Programs (LEAP), periodic classes in Group Singing, Music Appreciation, Sight-singing, and Conducting are offered.

West Side Live! Presents

JUC maintains a close relationship to a non-profit performing arts series, West Side Live! Presents. 

Brief history and description

WestSideLive! Presents (originally called JUC Live) is a performing arts series which presents several concerts per season. The season runs from September through May, and concerts are held in the Jefferson Unitarian Church (JUC) sanctuary at 14350 W. 32nd Avenue in the Applewood area of Denver (just west of I-70 and Youngfield).
The series showcases a diverse variety of musical and dramatic genres – musical styles include folk, jazz, blues, world, pop and classical music. Every season features one theater production. Performing artists have included local artists as well as artists from across the country.

WestSideLive! Presents (JUC Live!) obtained tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status as an independent not-for-profit from the IRS in October, 2006 with the aim to improve offerings, broaden community support, and provide outreach and other activities in the future.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit
www.westsidelivepresents.org