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.
The pandemic has not stopped us. We are now the Unity Virtual Choir, rehearsing and performing online.
We welcome everyone who enjoys singing, from new singers to professionals. We rehearse on Zoom on Wednesday nights — 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.
This year we will will stream the concert on December 19 at 7 pm. A glorious program is being planned, and rehearsals are underway. 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.
Our popular third-Thursday open mic night has moved from the fellowship hall to the virtual world. To take part, simply make a video of yourself performing a song — aim for 3-4 minutes — and send your recording to David Johnson, our AV team leader, by the Sunday before the next scheduled event. We’ll include it in a show that we’ll stream from our website, our Facebook page, and our Youtube channel at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month. If you need guidance on how to record or how to transfer your recording — which will likely be too large for email — just ask David.
This is a public event and all ages are welcome. Be sure and stay for the Zoom after-party and rub virtual elbows with performers, observers, and (who knows?) talent scouts. It’s always a fun evening and a great way to see a variety of musical talent, inspiration, 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
