For as long as there has been a Unity presence in Raleigh, there has been a Unity choir. In the early days, our fifteen-voice choir made up about half the congregation. From the beginning, our church has attracted musical talent.
What distinguishes our choir is its spirit. More than a collection of singers, we are a family, a blending of lives as well as voices.
We welcome everyone who enjoys singing, from new singers to professionals. We rehearse on Wednesday nights in our church — fellowship begins at 6:30, rehearsal is from 7-8 p.m. We record music for two Sunday services each month as well as special services and concerts. To learn more, email Tim Smith or Jay Wright.
The Unity Christmas concert, a spirited event with choir, band, and orchestra, has long been a community favorite. The program draws from different faiths, cultures, and musical genres—sacred, classical, popular, and world music, as well as traditional carols.
Even if you are not a regular member of the choir, we invite you to join us in creating what is sure to be a unique and moving holiday experience. You can participate in as many songs as you like. Tim Smith and Jay Wright can provide information about the program and rehearsal schedule.
We hope our music will help make this sheltering holiday a festive one.
How would you like to express your musical talent? That’s what happens with Open Mic Night, every third Thursday of the month at 7 pm. There’s talent, creativity, emotion, connection, courage, and fun! All are welcome to sing, play – or just enjoy the music! And this year, we’re opening up the performances to other types of performances, such as comedy routines, poetry readings, and story-telling. These will no doubt add to the musical performances that we’ve enjoyed and appreciated in past events.
This is a public event and all ages are welcome. It’s always a fun evening and a great way to see a variety of talent, inspiration, creativity, and courage.
“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” The Unity Virtual Choir
“Every Praise,” The Unity Virtual Choir
Dan Wilkinson
Tim Smith is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer. He earned his music degree at Oberlin College, where he studied voice and jazz theory. He has been a fixture in the local music scene for over twenty years, playing with such bands as Countdown Quartet and the Squirrel Nut Zippers. He now leads the Tim Smith Band and sings in the a cappella jazz group Thelonius.
As Music Director, Tim writes and arranges music, conducts, and performs with the Unity choir. He is a vibrant performer and a gifted teacher. He embodies the spiritual nature of music and imbues the choir and the congregation with that spirit.
Assistant Music Director Jay Wright trained as a jazz pianist at East Carolina University and North Carolina Central University. He has played all over the world on cruise ships, in theaters, clubs, and churches. He is a mainstay in the local jazz community.
Jay is equally talented as a conductor, composer, arranger, and sound technician. At Unity, he and Tim Smith perform at all Sunday services, and Jay co-conducts, arranges for, and accompanies the choir. He also does a masterful job of mixing sound for the Unity Virtual Choir.
Kim Church
Tim Smith, Music Director
