Music Ministry

Joyful Noise Music Ministry of The United Parish of Upton

The music ministry at The United Parish of Upton is the longest-running small group ministry within the church. Over the years, the ministry has included children’s choirs, teen choirs (Solid Rock), an adult mixed choir (Accord), a woman’s ensemble, a men’s ensemble (AccaFella’s), and a Praise Band. We have produced and performed many children’s musicals, Christmas pageants, several choral cantatas, and an opera (twice). We organized and hosted a choral festival and collaborated in ecumenical services at Thanksgiving for many years. In addition, we organized and sponsored a coffeehouse and a concert series for the community.

We are blessed to have two lovely instruments in our Sanctuary: a George Reed tracker pipe organ, and a new Kawai hybrid digital piano. Over the years, we have been blessed with wonderful accompanists who skillfully and artistically offer lovely keyboard arrangements to enhance our worship experience.

Presently, our adult mixed choir is small, as we are still recovering from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting multi-year moratorium on choral music. Though small, we are mighty, and the dedication and talent of this group is truly amazing.

We rehearse weekly on Wednesday evenings in the Sanctuary, from 6:45 p.m. until 8:45 p.m., and again on Sunday mornings from 8:15 a.m. until 9:15 a.m., to prepare for the 9:30 a.m. worship service. We sing a wide variety of music with the congregation, including contemporary, traditional, and multicultural Christian hymns and praise music, as well as historic and contemporary chants and rounds. The choir offers choral music in a wide variety of styles, including sacred classical choral masterpieces, traditional and contemporary Christian anthems, jazz and gospel arrangements, and original compositions and arrangements.

We welcome adults who would like to join us, as well as high school students (with the director’s approval). Consistent attendance and in-tune singing is appreciated, and the ability to read music is helpful, but not required. Each Sunday, we typically sing 3-4 hymns/songs with the congregation, and a choral anthem. We occasionally add short Psalm and prayer responses, and sung “amens” and benedictions.

The choir meets and performs weekly from late August through early June and enjoys a break over the summer months. Solo and small group opportunities are available at the director’s discretion year-round. There are music-focused services each year on Christmas Eve and Jazz Sunday, and in some years, a Taizé service on Ash Wednesday, as well as additional music on Easter Sunday.

To encourage and nurture each individual's musical abilities and talents, to enrich and intensify the worship experience through the power of music, to be receptive to the Holy Spirit as we come together in music and fellowship, and to offer each other support through Christian prayer and companionship - these are the aims of the United Parish of Upton's music ministry.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact Susan Bonito, our Music Minister, at MusicDir@UnitedParishUpton.org.