Music at Sunnyhill

Music is the only language in which you cannot say a mean or sarcastic thing. - John Erskine

My music is best understood by children and animals. - Igor Stravinsky

The music on Sunday mornings is as varied as our services. On any given week you might be treated to a performance by our all-volunteer choir, or the children's choir, or a soloist. Most services include hymns sung by the congregation from Singing the Living Tradition, the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook with hymns, songs and readings from around the world.

The Sunnyhill Choir

Our choir is currently about 12 volunteers led by our music director, Carol Karl. We sing a wide variety of material, based around UU-inspired choral anthems, but also including music from many other religious traditions.

The choir performs roughly once every two weeks, alternating services. So if you normally come to the 11:30 service you would see the choir about once a month. Here is the performance and rehearsal schedule.

Rehearsals are approximately every two weeks, during the hour preceding a performance. Extra rehearsals are scheduled prior to the all-choir services. Anyone who loves to sing is encouraged to audition by arrangement with Carol.

The Sunnyhill Youth & Children's Choirs

Under the direction of church member Denise Obenauer-Kohnke, Sunnyhill has two choirs for kids, with a combined 15 members. We have a children's choir (through grades 3-4) and a youth choir (grades 3-4 and up). Anyone interested in singing is welcome to join. You do not need to know how to read words or music to sing with us. The choirs rehearse on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month (September - June) during the LifeCraft hour. We sing during the Family Services which are held on the first Sunday of each month during LifeCraft hour, and we sing at some special services, and a few regular Sunday services. Most recently, the children's and youth choirs performed in the first annual Sunnyhill Christmas pageant.

The Annual All-Music Service

Once a year, the members of Sunnyhill cast aside all illusions of modesty and take to the stage to embarrass themselves in front of their friends and loved ones. We dedicate an entire service (actually two services, 9 and 11:30) to the celebration of the best kind of music - the kind we make - and you can be one of us! All are welcome to showcase their talents, vocal, instrumental, group or solo. In the past, we've had everything from didgeridoo to dulcimer. Auditions are not required, and walk-ons are welcomed. Contact Louise Machinist for more information.

The Sunnyhill Chamber Players

Join with other musicians in one of several small groups to play chamber music on Sunday evenings. Strings, winds, and pianists are welcome. If you plan to attend, please let us know in advance by contacting Jerry Agin.

Meet Our Music Director

Carol Karl, Music Director at Sunnyhill, is one of the original members of the church when it was first formed in the 1970's. She became the choir director a year later and has been the choir director ever since.

Carol is also the principal pianist for the Sundays services. In addition to her contributions to Sunnyhill, Carol is the director of the 25-member Tapestry Choir, a women's choir that performs for church groups, AARP groups, nursing homes, etc. She has been the accompanist for the Harmony Singers, a South Hills area choral group, for over 25 years. She is also an accompanist and sometimes Musical Director for various community theater groups, including the Pittsburgh Savoyards, and various high schools. Somehow Carol finds the time to teach private piano lessons. And finally, a quote: "It never ceases to amaze me how talented and ingenuous and wonderful all the choir members have been. What a pleasure it is to work with them!"