This December we have several musical treats in store.

On December 2, the Albany UU Choir will sing Hannukah music including Jill Gallina’s “Light the Candles,” and the world premiere of my own setting of the hymn Maoz tzur (“Rock of Ages”).

On December 9, we welcome as guest artist the soprano Savannah Gordon, a recent graduate of SUNY Albany. I will accompany Savannah in “Silent Noon” by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and in Franz Schubert’s An die Musik and “Ave Maria,” the latter a prayer of a captive.

Our service on December 16 will include a Christmas pageant with congregational hymns and choral anthems. Each section of the choir will be featured on this day, including the tenors in J.S. Bach’s “Zion hört die Wächter singen” (Zion hears the Watchmen Singing) with accompaniment by a string ensemble drawn from our talented congregation.

On December 23, I will be at the Steinway in Community Hall to accompany hymns and carols of the season.

On Christmas Eve, at the 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Candlelight services in our historic Sanctuary, I’ll conduct the Albany UU Choir in the O magnum mysterium of Tomás Luis de Victoria and Michele Weir’s jazzy “O Christmas Tree.” I will be at the Memorial Organ to accompany hymns including “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night,” and Music Associate Chris Jensen will conduct the choir in Jay Rouse’s funky “’Tis a Wonderful Thing.” We’ll also enjoy a visit from mezzo-soprano Virginia Reed, who grew up at FUUSA and is now a graduate student at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

Virginia Reed returns as our featured guest artist on December 30, with repertoire to be announced.

Happy Holidays to all!