by Erin Busch, Director of Music Ministry

Over the past two years that I have served as your Director of Music Ministry (and now, beginning my third) one of the coolest things I get to do is introduce new musicians to our space and our people. I know how much our congregation appreciates our visiting musicians, and it’s also very rewarding to see the congregation through their eyes. Erica Cherry, a clarinetist who performed for one of our services in the spring, said to me during coffee hour: “Everyone is absolutely delighted to be here.”

I’ve always felt our congregation is special—we all really want to be there, with each other, in community—and it was meaningful to hear it from someone who was visiting us for the first time. I also know how much many of you have enjoyed talking to our guest musicians after the service to get to know them or ask questions about the pieces we performed. I am honored to help facilitate more of these moments of connection and conversation this fall, and I hope that you will join us for some of the following special services.

I’m thrilled to welcome some new faces to our congregation this fall! Starting our season on September 15th, we’ll be joined by flutist Chelsea Meynig, who will perform for our regular Sunday service. On October 6th, we will celebrate Susan Irgang’s retirement with a jazz trio, who will play for our 10 a.m. service and during our brunch celebration. Later in the fall, bassoonist Zachary Feingold will provide music for our service on November 17th. We will close out the season with the UUCWC-favorite South Philly Big Band concert on December 15th, a ticketed event that will take place at noon and is open to the general public. We are also fortunate to be able to hire a professional string quartet for our 8 p.m. Christmas Eve service to perform with our choir and provide instrumental music.

I hope to see many of you at these special music services this fall!