The search committee is delighted to announce that Vivian Montgomery will be joining Follen Church as interim music director, effective August 1, 2017, for one year. Vivian will direct the Adult and Youth choirs, and is involved in the search for an interim Children’s Choir director.

Vivian comes to Follen with a wealth of experience leading Unitarian Universalist music programs for singers and instrumentalists of all ages. She recently completed four years as music director at Medford UU Church. Prior to that, served for nine years as music director at First Parish in Needham, partnering with former UUA President Rev. John Beuhrens. Vivian is also on the faculty of the Longy School of Music.

A specialist in early music and women composers, Vivian enjoys creating programs with a broad array of traditional and non-traditional music-making, from Vivaldi’s Gloria to Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, the music of Libby Larsen and even a production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Ruddygore”! She has also directed creative productions of Jewish music, jazz, bluegrass, experimental new works, medieval chant, traditional African music, and drumming. In her free time, she plays accordion in a klezmer band at a nearby synagogue.

“I am excited beyond words to be joining the Follen music community this year,” Vivian writes.   “I look forward to making music with everyone, uncovering all the ins and outs of your musical traditions, and offering some new ideas as well. I’m committed to inclusion on many levels: integrating the traditional/classical with the popular, global, and cutting edge; integrating the use of the organ with the piano and other instruments; integrating the highly trained musicians with those who are more self-taught or instinctive; and bridging the generations in as lively a way as we can find!”

The committee was impressed by Vivian’s wide-ranging musical tastes and experience, her commitment to an inclusive, collaborative, spiritually and culturally rich approach to music-making, and her warmth and good humor. She looks forward to meeting with Follenites and music-makers at several sessions before the beginning of the church year. Stay tuned for dates and times to meet Vivian.

In faith,

Interim Committee

Sophie Evett, Claire Feingold Thoryn, Aimee Fox, Gordon Hardy, Rachel Hyde