Welcome!
The Winchester Unitarian Society has a strong tradition of music in worship. You will find many opportunites for making and being sustained by beautiful music. Please contact Music Director John Kramer if you would like more information about our program.
We are pleased to welcome Lidiya Yankovskaya as our new Children's Chorale Director. 
The Chorale meets regularly at 9:00 in the Chapel. Please contact Lidiya or Music Director John Kramer if you are interested.
A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Lidiya Yankovskaya began her studies on piano at the Russian Specialized Music Schools and as a singer in the St. Petersburg Children's Choir at age five. Soon thereafter, she also began playing th violin. Lidiya first performed as a conductor at age seventeen, when she led her high school orchestra in the first movement of Dvorak's Symphony No. 7. Lidiya received her B.A. in Music focusing on piano, voice and conducting from Vassar College, where she also acitvely studied Philosophy and languages. Currently, she is pursuing a dgree in conducting at Boston University under the tutelage of Dr. Ann Howard Jones. In addition to her work with Dr. Jones, Lidiya is conducting the BU Women's Chorus, working as a collaborative pianist and accompanist, singing with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and serving as the assistant conductor of the Zamir Chorale of Boston under the tutelage of Josh Jacobson.
For additional information, see www.LidiyaYankovskaya.com .
Adult Choir
We are blessed to have a very talented group of 20-25 singers who comprise our Adult Choir. This group is augmented by four tremendous soloists who also serve us as section leaders. The choir is always welcoming of new members and you are invited to contact Music Director John Kramer if you are interested. The choir rehearses most Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m. and sings at most Sunday services. We also meet for choral retreats on Saturday mornings from 9-12. Our next scheduled retreat is on Saturday, January 10th.
Why should you sing? New research suggests that choral singing might be just what your body wants. According to Victoria Meredith, a University of Western Ontario professor who used the school's adult choirs as a "live research lab," participation in choral music leads to increased respiratory function, improved overall health, a heightened immune system and improved brain function. Meredith also concludes that performing in a choir "can keep you younger and healthier for longer," pointing to similar studies that found people who sing on a regular basis require fewer doctors' visits, are less prone to falls, don't need as much medication, and are less likely to be depressed.
|
