We Love Our Music
Numerous surveys of our members have shown that music is an important part of our community life.
The goals of the music program are to support the greater goals of the church, including:
Because music is so important to our church and to achieve our goals, we have a multi-faceted Music Program:
The goals of the music program are to support the greater goals of the church, including:
- Singing out loud about social justice issues.
- Providing accompaniment to the current themes of church services.
- Supporting the emotional life of the congregation through music.
- Seeking to support the diversity of the church through music..
Because music is so important to our church and to achieve our goals, we have a multi-faceted Music Program:
Music Director Don Bryn is the church pianist and choir director and helps to coordinate our guest musicians and congregational music.
Choir: Our choir sings approximately every other week from September to June and performs a variety of music from classic concert choir repertoire to modern justice choir songs.. If you like to sing we would love for you to join us (No audition is necessary!) The choir rehearses on Thursday nights at 7:00 pm and our services are Sundays at 10:30 a.m.
Guest musicians: Professional musicians perform at many services throughout the year in a variety of styles and genres from folk and jazz to classical, rock, and ethnic music. We have quite an array of musicians who perform regularly, so please see our Guest Musicians page for a sampling. Guest musicians are recruited by members the music committee who are always interested in broadening the array of musicians at our services.
"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer,
it sings
because it has a song."
-Maya Angelou
it sings
because it has a song."
-Maya Angelou
Music Director
Don Bryn is a composer at heart but after finishing his masters degree in composition, he spent a large part of his career conducting and playing piano. For 14 years he toured the globe, playing over 300 shows a year, writing arrangements for big bands and show bands, and visiting over 120 countries. He did find time to compose and his composition “Too Much of a Good Thing” for orchestra was recorded in Melbourne, Australia and the Piano Sexted in D was performed on Nashville radio. More recently he completed a sonata for guitar ensemble and orchestrated a series of songs for Czech crossover artist Lenka Graf and a symphonic pops show that has been touring the Americas. He is now the Director of Music Theory and Keyboards for the State College of Florida, where he hosts the PianoPalooza! piano festival each spring. He recently completed an online music appreciation textbook, “Now Hear This”, and a series of five “Piano Grand” concerts featuring repertoire for five pianos. He also works as a singing coach for the Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training and continues to perform jazz and classical concerts across the region. In 2022 he completed a masters diploma in Film and Game Scoring from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe and had a blast composing for film!
Choir
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota's choir is a four part group and we are always open to new members. If you like to sing, it doesn't matter what your skill level or experience. No audition is necessary - just contact the music director, stop and say hello after a service, or even just show up to a rehearsal!
The choir rehearses weekly from September to June and sings at services every other week. Choir members have access to the Choir Corner which provides the schedule, lists upcoming music, and even rehearsal videos. If you would like to know more, contact the music director or the church office.
The choir rehearses weekly from September to June and sings at services every other week. Choir members have access to the Choir Corner which provides the schedule, lists upcoming music, and even rehearsal videos. If you would like to know more, contact the music director or the church office.
The Choir Corner requires login via a Google account. If you need access, contact the Music Director.
The Importance of Choir
The choir recently sang this song by Penny Stone.
It is a wonderful expression of the music and intentions of our choir.
We Will Sing
When they build walls we will build bridges; open up a diff'rent way.
When they close their eyes we will sing.
When they teach hate, we will love; open up our arms so wide.
When they scream and shout, we will sing.
Whether you're a friend or a stranger,
one world we're trav'ling through,
whether you're fearful or in danger,
we will stand with you.
When they hide the truth we will keep singing, shining out the brighest light.
When they try to silence us, we will sing.
When they build walls we will build bridges; open up a diff'rent way.
When they close their eyes, we will sing.
When they build walls we will build bridges; open up a diff'rent way.
When they close their eyes we will sing.
When they teach hate, we will love; open up our arms so wide.
When they scream and shout, we will sing.
Whether you're a friend or a stranger,
one world we're trav'ling through,
whether you're fearful or in danger,
we will stand with you.
When they hide the truth we will keep singing, shining out the brighest light.
When they try to silence us, we will sing.
When they build walls we will build bridges; open up a diff'rent way.
When they close their eyes, we will sing.
