FUUSN’s Family Choir will be starting up again on Sunday, November 4 (11.30am-12pm in the Chapel), under the joyful direction of our new RE Music Coordinator and Family Choir Director, Akela Franklin. The Family Choir is open to all families, with children of all ages, who want to spend a bit of time playing music games and singing together; the choir will also prepare songs to share in our worship services, and the families who are around sing in the December 24 Pageant.
California-born soprano and voice educator Akela Franklin is thrilled to be joining FUUSN as the new Children’s Music Coordinator and Family Choir Director! Akela is a recent graduate of the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she earned a Master of Music in vocal performance under the tutelage of Carol Mastrodomenico. She regularly performs in recital and on the operatic stage throughout the Boston area. Akela is also passionate about vocal pedagogy and music education. During her two years at Longy, she served as teaching fellow and adjunct choral director with Boston City Singers. Akela has also partnered with organizations such Longy’s El Sistema Side-By-Side Choral Program and Youth and Family Enrichment Services (YoFES) as a teaching assistant and choral director, respectively. She enjoys working with young people in both group and individual settings and maintains a private vocal studio from her home in Allston. When she is not singing or teaching, Akela enjoys cooking, listening to true crime podcasts, binging on British period dramas, and indulging her sweet tooth.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Music Committee is looking for some more volunteers – and what could be better than working with musicians on various events, including a benefit performance for the UU Urban Ministry? Email Anne Watson Born at music@fusn.org for more information.
You can read about our ensembles and see some of our upcoming events on the Music page of the FUUSN website (http://old2023.fusn.org/music/). Along with participating in our communal worship each week, we’re looking forward to: our upcoming collaboration with the First Parish UU of Arlington musicians; Music Sunday on December 9; and the annual FUUSN Musicians Concert in February 2019. Please join us! – Anne Watson Born