Choir at CUCC
Music has a unique way of bringing people together and creating community. At Community United Church of Christ in Boulder, our choir is one of the ways we explore our faith and contribute to the life of our congregation. And we have a great time doing it!
Our choir includes people with a wide range of musical backgrounds. Some members have sung in choirs for years and read music comfortably. Others are coming back to choir after a long break, learn primarily by listening, or are trying choir for the first time. There are no auditions, and you don't need to know how to read music to participate.
Although we often perform in the 10:30 church service, rehearsals are about more than preparing for Sunday morning. They're also a chance to be part of a smaller community within the church, build relationships, and enjoy making music! We take the music seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. There’s plenty of laughter along the way.
Music That Reflects Who We Are
Community UCC is a progressive Christian congregation of spiritual seekers, and our music reflects that spirit of curiosity and exploration. Throughout the year, we sing both sacred and secular music chosen to complement the themes of worship and hopefully inspire reflection.
Our repertoire often engages with the values that are important to our congregation, including inclusion, love, compassion, social justice, environmental justice, and care for creation.
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A Choir That Fits Real Life Schedules
Our choir is intentionally process-oriented rather than performance-oriented. Of course we want to sing well, but we also recognize that people have families, travel plans, work commitments, and busy lives.
Some weeks we're all here, and other weeks life pulls people in different directions, heading off on trips to see grandkids, or needing to work. We see this flexibility as part of creating a sustainable musical community. If you can't attend every rehearsal or need to miss a particular Sunday, please come when you can! The more singers we have, the healthier the choir.
We rehearse on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. before worship, with no weekday rehearsal. Our season begins in the fall, continues through Advent and Christmas Eve, resumes during Lent and Easter, and often includes one additional piece in May before we take the summer off. We also have a fabulous time at our annual Christmas party, a favorite choir tradition.
Recent Repertoire
O, Love by Elaine Hagenberg
Crowded Table by The Highwomen
Where the Light Begins by Susan Labarr
Earth Song by Frank Ticheli
The First Noel by Dan Forrest
Let the River Run by Carly Simon
The Road Home by Stephen Paulus
Tshotsholoza, South African Folk Song
Glow by Eric Whitacre
Meet Our Director
The choir is directed by Esther Terpenning, a longtime member of Community UCC. Before becoming a therapist, Esther taught high school band and choir. She strives to create a fun and welcoming rehearsal environment where people can learn, try things, make mistakes, and become more confident musicians.
Our Collaborative Pianist
Choir wouldn't be the same without the wonderful work of our collaborative pianist, Reece Classen! A pianist, composer, and educator, Reece can play anything we throw at him and leads us through gospel, classical, and modern compositions with equal ease and unmatched musicality.
Interested in joining choir?
New singers are always welcome! We try to make the process of joining as frictionless as possible - if you are interested you can reach out to Esther, or just show up!
If you're looking for a church choir or community choir in Boulder, returning to singing after some time away, or simply curious about what it would be like to sing with a group, you're more than welcome to come to a rehearsal and see what you think!
Contact choir director Esther Terpenning for more information!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read music to join the choir?
No. Some members read music and others learn primarily by listening. We'll help you figure out your part!
What if I can't attend every rehearsal or performance?
That's okay! We value the process of rehearsing and making music together, even when you can't participate in every performance.
Is there an audition?
Definitely not. If you'd like to sing, you're welcome to join us. We welcome folks of all experience levels. If you need help figuring out what voice part you are, let Esther know.
