Long recognized for our outstanding programs, music is central to our life and worship at UCC Keene!
With a thirty-member choir, two handbell choirs, an active theater group, and strong partnerships with a host of local performers, we love creating musical experiences for our members and community to enjoy. This commitment extends to the visual arts with regular exhibits and openings in our East Room Gallery. If music and the arts are your passion, you will find plenty of soulmates here!
Choir
With more than thirty voices, our choir enhances worship with anthems, hymns, and solos every Sunday from September to June. An array of professional musicians accompanies our singers throughout the year. The choir, directed by organist, Beverly Caldon, welcomes new singers at any time. Annually, there are special “Sermon-in-Music” programs of longer selections, often with organ, string, and brass accompaniment. One community highlight is the “Messiah Sing” in December when every seat in the balcony is filled with singers and the sanctuary overflows with “Hallelujahs!”.
Handbells
Two handbell choirs lead music in the sanctuary once a month with five octaves of Schulmerich bells and five octaves of Malmark chimes. New ringers are always welcome! Jubilation Bells is a good starting place if you have some musical knowledge and would like to learn the art of ringing. Our larger group, Ringers on the Square, is composed of more experienced players. It, too, welcomes experienced musicians. Along with their director, Diantha Dorman, these choirs proudly share their talents, especially during the holidays and at regional Bell Festivals.
Organ
The church sanctuary organ is a Berkshire-Gilbert instrument with 3 manuals and 40 ranks of pipes. Two of the ranks are said to have come from the church’s original organ of 1865. Currently, Czelusniak et Dugal Organ Co. from Northampton, MA, maintains and tunes it. The church sanctuary also features a Henry F. Miller 9-foot grand piano. Our smaller chapel includes a pipe organ with one rank of pipes and a Yamaha studio upright piano.
Concerts
With a capacity of six hundred and fifty, our sanctuary is a popular venue for concerts and other community performances. From a five-choir concert with the Einbeck, Germany, Cantori, to the Keene Chamber Singers, Cheshiremen, Anamatera, and other groups, we fill our space with music whenever we can. On seasonal Sunday afternoons, our smaller “Live on the Square” series features jazz, bluegrass, and other special performers, all in an intimate café-style setting with pie and coffee/tea.
Theater
The Monadnock region’s passion for theater is alive and well at the UCC in Keene! As our sanctuary is transformed into a theater, recent productions have included full-scale musicals like The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Godspell. We can find a part for everyone who wants to participate. Join in!
Art
If your passion is the visual arts, we host exhibits by regional artists in our East Room Gallery. Opening with an artist’s reception, we showcase all types of media—watercolor, oil painting, photography, pottery, or your special talent. We especially love to exhibit work by our youth.
