Music News Archive
Leslie and Friends
A concert called Leslie and Friends was organized by Leslie Beauvais and held after Second Sunday Supper on April 8 to benefit the Music Fund. There is so much wonderful church talent including Leslie Beauvais, Tom Ahern, Ken Alexander, Teri Bond, and Kai Laudauer (aka Karl Lisovsky). However, the show was “stolen” by Delaney Hutchinson, accompanied by her dad, Brad Hutchinson. The Music Fund supplements the money for the Music Ministry not covered by the operating budget of the church.
— Cindy Kelly
CHOIR NEWS - Choir Attends UU Musical Festival
The UUSM choir joined with other UU choirs in Southern California for a Jason Shelton Workshop during the weekend of March 10 and 11. Following the workshop, the choir performed in a concert at the Studio City UU Church where they sang Jason’s music. Jason Shelton is a UU minister, composer, and choir director from Nashville. We will be singing many of his new songs that have been composed for UU churches in our future services.
On Sunday, all the choirs joined in singing with the Studio City Church choir and their choir director, Dr. Nancy Holland. The worship service led by Jason Sheldon was titled, “The Song in Our Hearts.”
– Cynthia Kelly
Sunday, April 8, 2018 • 7:30 pm (Doors open at 7:15 pm)
Suggested donation $15 to benefit the UUSM Music Fund
Starring: Leslie Beauvais, Barrett Tagliarino, Thomas Ahern, Kenneth Alexander, Delaney and Brad Hutchinson, Betsy Grant, Teri Bond, Kai Landauer, and a few surprises!
Come to Second Sunday Supper and wrap up your weekend on a high note. Stay for an evening of entertainment that will knock your socks off – and benefit the UUSM Music Fund. We will perform everything from Broadway and jazz standards to original singer-songwriter music, to blues, pop, folk and classical selections. Something for everyone to love!
Choir News
The UUSM choir will participate in a Jason Shelton workshop with the Studio City Unitarian Church on March 10, and will sing jointly with Jason and the Studio City choir on Sunday March 11 at the Studio City UU Church.
The Rev. Jason Shelton is a composer, arranger, conductor, singer, multi-instrumentalist, workshop, and retreat leader. He is the Associate Minister for Music at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Nashville, TN, where he has served since 1998. His compositions, familiar to people who worship in UU congregations, have been performed in churches and concert halls throughout North America, and his workshops for choirs, musicians and ministers are helping to redefine music ministry in the liberal religious tradition for the 21st century.
— Cynthia Kelly
Annual Choir Retreat: Requiem Vespers Nov. 5
Our Choir held its annual retreat at Throop Church in Pasadena in August. Led by our Director of Music, Dr. Zanaida Robles, the choir made plans for the coming year and began practicing to sing our annual Requiem. This year the choir will sing Mozart’s Requiem at the annual Remembrance Vespers on Sunday, November 5. The choir is looking forward to an exciting year of music.
Music Committee -You Are Welcome
Members of the congregation are welcome to join the Music Committee, which will hold its first meeting of the year on Sunday, October 8 at 12:30 pm in the choir room, upstairs.
Music Program Supports Our Music Program
"Leslie Beauvais and Friends" (lots of them) sang and played piano, flute, violin, and guitar at a concert March 12 following Second Sunday Supper. The concert raised $1,025 to support our Church’s Music Program.
Second Sunday Concert Featuring Leslie Beauvais
Immediately following Second Sunday Supper, in the Sanctuary, a special concert by our fantastic and talented singer/songwriter Leslie Beauvais. All donations to this event will go to the UUSM music fund, which relies on events such as this to help raise funds for our musicians, printed music, and other expenses related to music ministry. Please join us! Contact: Kim Miller for more information.
Disney Hall Concert Showcases Our Music Director and Bass Section Leader
I’m still floating after seeing the Los Angeles Master Chorale in an amazing concert at Disney Hall on Sunday, April 30. Grant Gershon, the conductor, shared with the audience beforehand that the concert, a selection of music to fill the spirit, was inspired by Zanaida Robles, our wonderful music director.
Early in the concert, Zanaida electrified the audience with her deep, rich, gorgeous solo on Wade in the Water, also the title of the program: https://www.lamasterchorale.org/ wade-in-the-water . Later, Zanaida’s arrangement of Lift Every Voice and Sing received a rousing and highlydeserved standing ovation. James Hayden, our bass section leader, was superb as a soloist on Vaughn Williams’ Mass in G Minor.
The audience was so appreciative at the end of the concert that the Chorale performed two encores. By my count, seven pieces were performed that our choir has also sung: Wade in the Water, Ubi Caritas, Amazing Grace, Randall Thompson’s Alleluia, Bright Morning Stars, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and Deep River. I was already tearing up by the fourth measure of the first piece, Stand in that River by Moira Smiley, a talented musician who has performed several times at UUSM. The singers processed in toward the stage from the four corners of Disney Hall. The sound of their voices surrounding us as they sang Moira’s beautiful Appalachian
harmonies was a wondrous experience.
I say with great pride that I was able to bask in the “glory of association” during intermission with friends from other parts of LA, fellow lovers of choral music. When I told them that Zanaida was our choir director and that James our bass section leader, they were astounded and envious. I am so appreciative of the folks we are blessed to work with: Zanaida, Danny, Jyvonne, Gabriel, James, Colleen.
If I’ve inspired you, there is another Los Angeles Master Chorale concert scheduled for June, a tribute to renowned choral composer, Morten Lauridsen and his piece, Lux Aeterna: https://lamasterchorale.org/season-concerts. I hope to see you there!
– Janet Goodwin
Concert Raises Spirits and Funds
It was a packed house for Leslie Beauvais & Friends in Concert in our Sanctuary Sunday, September 11. The joyous celebration of music featured our own Leslie Beauvais with her talented backup musicians Ed Tree, Jime Van Booven and Jaynee Thorne, performing Leslie’s original songs in genres from blues to jazz to pop to folk. Sexton Tom Ahern absolutely shone in his church operatic debut, delighting everyone with songs from Gershwin and the musical “Ragtime.” Our own Daniel Gledhill performed his original piano piece, “Wondrous,” which it most certainly was. Choir section leader Jyvonne Haskin dazzled everyone with an a cappella gospel song and her inspired renditions of two pop songs; and Scott Roewe led the audience in two sing-alongs, not to mention performing a brilliant saxophone accompaniment on several of Leslie’s blues and New Orleans-inspired ballads.
The musical fundraiser raised over $600 for the UU Santa Monica Music Fund.
A wonderful time was had by all, and we look forward to the next musical fundraiser, and an even bigger attendance, in 2017.
Leslie Beauvais and Friends: MUSIC FUND BENEFIT CONCERT
Sanctuary • Sunday, September 11 • 7:30 - 9 pm
following Second Sunday Supper
When our own talented singer/songwriter and actress, the lovely Leslie Beauvais, learned that our Music Fund was nearly depleted, she stepped up to lead a Concert to Benefit the Music Fund.
Billed as Leslie Beauvais and Friends, the concert will include our talented pianist Daniel Gledhill, Alto Choir Section Leader Jyvonne Haskin, and bass/baritone Tom Ahern.
Leslie will be accompanied by three esteemed music professionals, her longtime bass guitarist/composer and friend Jime Van Booven, incomparable guitarist/producer Ed Tree, and composer, teacher and jazz saxophonist Scott Roewe.
A requested donation of $15 or whatever you can afford to help replenish our Music Fund will be appreciated.
Let us welcome our new Music Director, Dr. Zanaida Robles, when our choir returns September 25, with a restored Music Fund.
Zanaida Robles Will Be Our Director of Music
I’m delighted to announce that Dr. Zanaida Robles has accepted our offer to serve as our next Director of Music. Dr. Robles brings an impressive combination of professional preparation and experience, as well as personal warmth and vitality, to this role. She immediately won the enthusiastic endorsement of our Interview and Audition Panel (Kim Miller, Leonard Cachola, Rima Snyder, Karen Hsu Patterson, Rev. Rebecca, and Denise Helton from the Personnel Committee), as well as our choir, during her final audition July 14, and I am thrilled that she will be joining our staff team for the coming church year.
As Dr. Robles will be departing from a long-time position as a soloist and section leader with All Saints Pasadena (Episcopal) to come to UU Santa Monica, we will be fitting her start here around her previous commitments to All Saints. Thus, she will have a series of “start dates” on a calendar something like this: Dr. Robles’ first day in the office will be August 18 (surprisingly close to our originally projected start date of August 15); she will be introduced to the congregation at our Ingathering services August 21; start rehearsals with the choir September 1, and her first Sunday directing the choir at a service will be September 25. I know her work with the choir will be worth the wait and I look forward to introducing Dr. Robles to the whole church community August 21.
Zanaida Robles is a singer, conductor, composer, and music instructor born, raised, and educated in Southern California. She holds a Doctor of Music Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, a Master of Music degree from CSU Northridge, and a Bachelor of Music degree from CSU Long Beach.
Dr. Robles has prepared choirs for performances with such artists as Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald and Wayne Brady. She is also in demand as a clinician and adjudicator for competitions, festivals, and conferences related to choral and solo vocal music. She is currently entering her fifth season as the Artistic Director of the San Gabriel Valley Choral Company in Monrovia, CA.
Dr. Robles has performed background vocals for artists including the Rolling Stones, Andrea Bocelli, and Juanes. She has worked as a singer and pianist on the hit Fox Television series “Glee.” Her film credits include “Tinkerbell: Pirate Fairy,” “Godzilla,” “Minions,” and “Creed.”
— Rev. Rebecca Benefiel Bijur
“Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here!” - J.K. ROWLING