Our Choir Director, Bob McMeen, is pictured below with his wife Kay. Watch the video to see our latest choral concert!
Below is Pat Allender, professional Choir accompanist to the choir
Below is a photo of the choir performing at First Unitarian
Choir Director, Bob McMeen, served as a music educator for 28 years, two years at David City, Nebraska Public Schools, five years at York, Nebraska Public Schools, and 21 years as Director of Vocal Music and Music Department Chair at Omaha Central High School. Following his career as a music educator, he served seven years as a Central High Counselor and Interim Director of Guidance and Counseling. Bob has directed church choirs at Wheeler Presbyterian and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Bob also served two stints as director of the Central Statesmen Barbershop Chorus. His wife, Kay, is a talented and important member of every church choir he directs.
Patricia Allender graduated Knox College (Phi Beta Kappa) with a bachelor of music degree. Her M.A. in piano performance is from the University of Iowa. She taught piano at Shimer College in Illinois before leaving for the University of Omaha where she taught for two years. After a time-out for marriage and family, she joined Central High and served as accompanist in the music department. After retiring in 1997, she rejoined musical friends at Creighton and played for voice students until 2007. She has worked with our Unitarian Choir since 1997 and has accompanied vocal and instrumental soloists throughout the area. Pat enjoys reading, chamber music, and cats. |
Our contemporary musical group performs at the early service, playing many modern and energetic tunes.
Donovan Johnson, our summer musician and our 9:30am service coordinator and performer September through May, is a composer, educator and pianist. He has been composing, arranging, recording and performing in the Omaha area for 11 years. His works include pieces for musical groups, films, commercials, as well as his own compositions. He has played at the Strauss Center for Performing Arts, Omaha Qwest Center, Sokol Auditorium, and even in London, England.
His music touches the young and old, and goes beyond the boundaries of culture. Combining a unique mixture of Contemporary, New Age and Celtic musical styles, Donovan's music has a sound all its own. Our church has found Donovan's soothing melodies and rich textures to be refreshing.
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Patricia Will, our organist
A young onlooker watches Patricia Will, our organist. She is a member of the American Liszt Society and the American Matthay Association. She holds both bachelor and masters degrees from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. She has taught at the Eastman School, the Longy School of Music (Cambridge, MA), Duchesne College (Omaha), the University of Nebraska Omaha and College of Saint Mary (Omaha), from which she retired in 2000.
Patricia began playing the organ for church at age 13 in her father's Presbyterian church in Superior, NE and continued during the time he was minister at Miller Park Presbyterian Church in Omaha. Patricia Will became the organist at First Unitarian Church in 1975. She maintains a private piano studio in Omaha. |
