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Fall 2021 marks the beginning of the 14h year for the HUUF Choir with director Elisabeth Harrington.

Check Out Different HUUF Choir Recordings

Holiday Choir:

Who we are:

A group of HUUF members and friends who enjoy singing, and who are dedicated to learning and sharing diverse vocal music to support Sunday worship at HUUF and other events within and beyond the HUUF community. New singers are welcome at any time, and no prior choral experience or music reading ability is required.

What we do, and when we do it:

From September through May, we rehearse weekly and sing two Sundays each month at the 11 a.m. service. The rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 p.m. (a little later when needed) and Sundays from 10:00-10:45 a.m. on performance days. We rehearse in the main hall on all but the third Wednesday of each month. On the third Wednesday, we use the CARE Building (to accommodate the local chapter of the Mycological Society).

Other annual Choir events include caroling in December, singing at the Christmas Eve service and hosting an all-music “Music Sunday” in May. (We also make time in rehearsal to celebrate birthdays together, and at the end of each year with a dinner party and “variety” show.)

The Music:

We perform a variety of repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary, local to global, simple to complex. Our goal is to enhance the worship experience for all present.

We sing most often with piano accompaniment (provided by HSU Choral Director Rachel Samet again this year.), and also with guitar, assorted percussion or a cappella. And, at least a few times each year (when it’s appropriate for the service topic, and we are able.) we sing in languages other than English. Singing in our non-native language offers an opportunity to step inside another cultural “home” and experience the gift of musical community from a different perspective.

About our Choir Director:

Elisabeth Harrington joined the Unitarian Universalist church in 2002 in her home town of Greensboro, North Carolina. After relocating to Arcata in 2006 to teach music full time at Humboldt State, she was delighted to discover that HUUF was in need of a Choir Director. Elisabeth began conducting a small group of 6 singers on a volunteer basis in early 2008, and soon thereafter, wrote a letter to the HUUF Board requesting that the position of Choir Director be made official.

Elisabeth believes that everyone has the ability to sing, and that making music together creates a stronger community. One of her great passions in life is helping people discover their voice–both individually and as part of a group. She enjoys working with singers of all experience levels, and tries to help people understand a healthy approach to voice building through exercises to develop posture, breath, resonance and articulation.

For more information:

Contact Choir Director Elisabeth Harrington at elisabethhharrington@gmail.com.

If you are interested in playing an instrument to support the choir, please let Elisabeth know that as well.