Follen Blog

Auditions for The Gondoliers

• Upcoming Events

Sunday February 23, 12-1pm, Monday February 24 6:15-8:15pm

A message from Sara DeLong, our beloved Stage Director:

Dear youth music theatre lovers, I hope you will join me in this year’s operetta Gondoliers! There are 14 lead characters open this year to anyone in grade 6 and up, and many ensemble songs in this colorful and joyful musical. We will have weekday rehearsals Mon-Thurs 4-6pm and Saturdays 1-4pm in May leading up to our performances June 12 and 13 at 7:30pm in the Follen Sanctuary. Chorus rehearsals begin February 10 on Mondays 4:45pm-5:30pm. Because of the way this show is written, Gondoliers rehearsals will be full of folks at each rehearsal with tons of opportunity to build memories and friendships, all culminating in a fun performance with costumes and set for the whole community!

Sign up for auditions

Sunday, February 23, 12:00-1:00 p.m. (Sanctuary) or Monday, February 24, after Youth Choir from 6:15-8:15 p.m (Epp Sonin Music Room) 

Attend just your 30 minute slot or come for an extended period and cheer on others in their audition! Audition materials are now available here.

Foundations for Melanie DeMore Residency

• Staff Blog

I recently needed to go back to collect a little of the verbiage from a big grant application I submitted (with essential help from Follen mainstay Jack Donahue) to the Unitarian Universalist Association to support the Music Friendships Initiative/Follen Responds to Racism project hosting song activist Melanie DeMore in February and March of this coming … Continued

Welcoming Follen’s Harpsichord

• Staff Blog

The Italian harpsichord given to Follen by Anne Engelhart is built by one of the most prominent contemporary builders, Keith Hill of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Keith is author of an authoritative book, The True Art of Making Musical Instruments—A Practical Guide to the Hidden Craft of Enhancing Sound, and he provided many of the instruments … Continued

Thinking Out Loud About Christopher Montgomery

• Staff Blog

In this post, Director of Music Vivian Montgomery reflects on her father’s life. This Friday, November 15, she is part of a concert at Follen featuring his songs. My father grew up in Chicago, where he and his brother went to all the jazz clubs downtown from their early teens. Their parents were fellow travelers … Continued

Follen Directory – Please Update!

• General Interest

Follen Directory UpdatesDo you know someone’s name but don’t know what they look like? Too afraid to ask someone’s name for the third time and you think their name is Pat? Breeze, our directory, can help but only if it is up to date. Please take a moment to create/update your account including a photo of yourself. Start here.

Black Lives Matter Banner Re-Dedication

• Members Blog

by Robin Tartaglia, from Follen Responds to Racism (FRR) Two years ago, the FRR committee shepherded a proposed resolution through a year-long process of discussion and education that resulted in an overwhelming vote at Annual Meeting to adopt an antiracism resolution. This resolution declared the church’s desire to be an intentionally and proactively antiracist congregation; … Continued

Vivian’s Music Notes: 10/20/19

• Staff Blog

Director of Music Vivian Montgomery’s Music Notes are published in the weekly order of service and here at follen.org.  Music Notes for October 20: Finally, we get to hear our Children’s and Youth Choirs sing, for the first time this year! Children’s Choir will stay with us through the silence, but first regaling us with … Continued

Views from FUUY’s Cape Cod Weekend

• Staff Blog

from Liana Raberg, Youth Program Coordinator FUUY completed another successful fall retreat to Cape Cod Sea Camps last weekend! The weather was (mostly) kind to us, and everyone enjoyed a chance to disconnect from their week, connect with each other, and reconnect with ourselves. We arrived Saturday late afternoon, settled into our cabin, and had … Continued

One Music Maker’s Musings: A Little About Barbara Strozzi

• Staff Blog

from Director of Music Vivian Montgomery Some of you know that my performing, recording, teaching, and scholarly ventures have been immersed this year in celebrating the 400th birthday of Barbara Strozzi, one of the truly great composers of the Italian baroque. I wanted to give you a little info about all that I’ve been doing, … Continued