Music and Art

Sing and rejoice by joining FUSW’s Coffee Hour Choir, an all-volunteer intergenerational group, presenting music of many styles from many different cultures, both sacred and secular, including folk and world music.  Although the choir has a "drop-in" policy--the only commitment necessary is to attend at least one of the rehearsals for a particular choir service--we recommend attending rehearsals as often as you can.  The choir sings at both services, once or twice a month, and at holiday services.  

Come join us most Sundays at 10:30 am in the Meeting Room.  On days that we sing in the services, those of us who can meet at 9:45 in the RE Wing to rehearse and sing at the end of the 9:30 service, followed by a 10:30 rehearsal before we sing the 11:15 service.  We always sing early enough in the service that the RE teachers and assistants, children and teens in our choir community will be able to get to class on time.

Our music director is Richard Slade, and our accompanist is Diane Guernsey.  Read more about our music staff.

Rock and rejoice by jamming with The First U Rock & Soul Revue, a band composed of members and friends of FUSW, including youth.  The band strives to promote community, fun and self-expression through the ministry of making music and performing together. The band typically performs several times a year, including at FUSW’s Common Ground Coffeehouse.

Bang on a drum, strum a guitar, or raise your voice with our occasional song circle.  We provide Rise Up Singing, a compilation of traditional, folk, and work songs; you provide the music and laughter after services on selected Sundays.

Members of our congregation include many professional and highly talented amateur musicians, including classical and jazz singers, pianists, and instrumentalists.  Each year the Music Committee sponsors 3 or 4 concerts where our musicians explore genres, composers, or themes in a variety of fascinating concerts of our own.  We also engage in joint ventures with neighboring UU congregations and guest performing artists.

Children and youth are also involved in making music in our annual Young Musicians Concert, as well as performing during occasional Sunday Services.

If you love piano music, come early on Sunday's for our Sunrise Music Series - a 30-45 minute concert of classical piano music by pianist-in-residence Alan Murray. Come at 8:30 am and enjoy listening in a contemplative setting, surrounded by the natural beauty visible from FUSW’s Sanctuary windows.  Click here for the Sunrise Music Series schedule.

Pianist-in-Residence, Alan Murray

Alan Murray provides music at the early Sunday morning services of the First Unitarian Society of Westchester, where he enjoys blending classical music with diverse world musical traditions. Alan has appeared as a concerto soloist with orchestras in Westchester and in numerous solo and chamber music recitals.

Pianist-in-Residence, Diane Guernsey

Diane Guernsey is a pianist-in-residence at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester. She is an adjunct faculty member at Manhattanville College, teaching piano and doing vocal coaching, and she also accompanies New Rochelle's Sound Shore Chorale and, with fellow FUSW members Paul Gross and Liz Loglisci, is a member of the band Avalanche. She has enjoyed a longtime career as a writer and editor.

Choir Director, Richard Slade

Richard Slade is a tenor, voice teacher and conductor. His busy performing career has included concert and opera tours across America and Europe, with NY City Opera, The Western Wind, NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players, the Ensemble for Early Music, and the Yale Whiffenpoofs. He has held adjunct positions at several local colleges and teaches privately. He conducts the Sound Shore Chorale in New Rochelle, the Shira Choir of Sutton Place Synagogue and is the founder/director of FUSW's Coffee Hour Choir.

While your ears take in the services and music at FUSW, let your eyes feast on the artist work on the walls of our meeting room.  This ongoing series exhibits works of individual or groups of artists, including the work of the many members of our congregation who are professional artists and photographers.