Activities: Adult Choir at OCUUC

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Orange Coast Choir, OCUUC’s Adult Choir
We love to make music that is beautiful, that touches the spirit, warms the heart, and stimulates the intellect.

We enjoy working hard to achieve our goals, and we value the satisfaction that comes when we do well.

One of the great advantages a UU has over other church choirs is that it is not limited to singing sacred music. Our choirs sings classical art music, Broadway songs, folk tune arrangements, world music, and even some jazz.

Besides singing in English, we sing in French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Latin.

Few of us are trained singers, but we grow in sight singing and vocal technique at each rehearsal. Many have been in the choir for several years, but some are newcomers. We enjoy learning new things and are open to many new vocal experiences.

Orange Coast Choir consists of about 25 amateur singers. Beth Nakao is the Music Director. Orange Coast Choir meets Thursday nights and performs in both services 2–3 times per month (excluding summer).

The Festival Choir is an ad hoc choir that performs for holidays and special events. We rehearse just a few times before the performance, and are bolstered by most members of the Orange Coast Choir. The Festival Choir is perfect for those who enjoy singing in a choir but can't commit the time and energy needed for the Orange Coast Choir.

Beth Nakao has been the Pianist since August 2001, and she has been the Music Director at OCUUC since June 2003. She plays the piano during the Sunday morning services, directs the Family Choir and Children's Choir, and accompanies the adult choirs.

Beth has played piano since she was three years old. She has a Bachelor's degree in Music Performance and a Master's degree in Music History. Beth is currently a pilot candidate for the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network’s three-year candidacy program for UU music directors.

In addition to performing, Beth enjoys passing on the joy of music to piano students with special needs. She and her husband Jim live in Huntington Beach with their young son Joseph.

How to Join
We welcome experienced singers and novices alike. Reading music is an advantage but is not required. If you love to sing and can make a commitment to come to rehearsals and be present when the choir performs, we would love to have you come join us. Contact Beth Nakao at MusicDirector@ocuuc.org to find out when is the best week to jump in, or just show up early to a rehearsal and talk to Beth in person.

Orange Coast Choir rehearses every Thursday evening (excluding summer and holidays) in the sanctuary of the church from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. On the Sundays Orange Coast Choir sings (2–3 times per month), the time commitment is from about 9:00 a.m. to noon.

In addition to providing anthems and responses on Sunday morning, the Orange Coast Choir presents a choir concert each year, usually in the spring.

Our past concerts include the following works:
Vessels of the Sun, Jim Scott (world premiere)
Liebeslieder Waltzes Op. 52, Johannes Brahms
Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten
Testament of Freedom, Randall Thompson
Magnificat, J. S. Bach
Dirait-on, Morten Lauridsen
Requiem, Gabriel Faure
Locus Iste, H. H. Pater Otto Leidol
If Touched by Love's Own Secret, John E. Giles
Alleluia, Ralph Manuel
Gloria, Sonja Boorman
O Eyes of My Beloved, Orlando di Lasso
May Sun Warm You, Gerald Custer
Set Me As a Seal, René Clausen
Frostiana, Randall Thompson

Plan to attend the OCUUC Spring Auction on Saturday, May 17, at 5 p.m.

Orange Coast
Unitarian Universalist Church
1259 Victoria Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Phone: (949) 646-4652
Directions to OCUUC
email: info@ocuuc.org
Office hours: Sun-Thu 9:30AM-1PM

OCUUC is a member congregation of the
Pacific Southwest District of the
Unitarian Universalist Association