I am so excited and honored to be the new choir director at First Unitarian Church, and I deeply thank the community for the warm welcome I have been receiving. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, and where I come from both as a musician and a person of faith. As the daughter of a professional violinist, music was always one of the most important pursuits and obligations in my family.

I am from Cleveland, Ohio, and was raised in the Jewish faith. Over the years I have also found alignment with progressive Christianity, and have also spent in Buddhist and Quaker communities. Among the books on my bookshelf are: The Clear Quran, The Kol Haneshamah Prayerbook, The Tao te Ching, Zen and the Art of Pottery; writings by Thomas Merton, Krishnamurti, Thich Naht Hanh, Starhawk, Jesus and Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. I am thrilled to be in a place where all traditions and people are honored and look forward to making beautiful music with you, building the choir and serving the community through song, in our shared recognition of the holy around and within us; singing out our values of love, justice, hope, compassion and renewal. If you are interested in joining the choir, I would love to have you with us. We are especially in need of more tenors and basses currently, but new voices of all ranges are most welcome!

Please email me at choirdirector@uuoakland.org or just show up on Wednesday night from 7:30-9:15 p.m. in the Starr King Room! You don’t need to be able to read music. All that is required is a love of singing, a Wednesday night commitment and a desire to serve the congregation and one another.

In faith and gratitude,
Anna