Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

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Music at ERUUF

The Music & Arts Program at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship exists to  facilitate, and make accessible, music and arts, performances and exhibits, at the Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Durham, NC, and to work to make valuable aesthetic experiences for others, as a way of celebrating the creative, the re-creative, the united, the universal, and to especially support those committed to providing a expanding variety of cultural expressions that represents the best of the community in which we live.

Music director, Dr. Kevin Badanes

Choir rehearses with their mouths open

Cafe ERUUF with new talent and good ol' Dad

We are currently employing 4 Yahoo groups for our broadcasting of event information and online "discussion."

The first one is for the ERUUF Music Committee for committee use only.

3 group e-lists handle events announcements, support discussion, and musician volunteer recruitment, respectively. All 3 are PRIVATE  lists and are not search-able using the yahoo groups search engines. You must give your name and e-mail address to a music committee member or to the music director in order to join or request for approval by the moderators through the group web page, which is accessible only by using the links we provide.

What is an ERUUF-Sponsored Music or Arts Event ? An event sponsored by ERUUF is an event that is planned and executed by at least 2 ERUUF members, that has the permission of both the Music & Arts Director and the Music Committee Chair , and also is in keeping with the purpose of the music and Arts Committee (see OUR MISSION). Admission can't be charged for.  Paying a rent fee is not required.

How to schedule an ERUUF Music or Arts Event  

0. PLAN EARLY!   At least 3 months in advance for a small event; 6 months in advance for a large event.

1. LEADERSHIP CHECK-UP and COMMIT VOLUNTEERS Check event concept  and proposed date(s) with the Music Committee Chair AND the Music & Arts Director; ideally, check also with entire music committee at a meeting. For event insurance, have at least 2 committed volunteers to help the organizer (for total of 3 people).

2. ROOM RESERVATION & RESERVE POLICY Reserve specific room(s) for a specific date and time through the Office Manager, don't forget to include set-up time and clean up time, and don't forget to get a key to get in! If  refreshments are part of an event that is in the sanctuary or chapel, where food and non-water drink is NOT permitted, then reserve gallery, choir room, or another room on campus where food is allowed. It is a good idea to review ERUUF rental policies.

3. SOUND If sound amplification or recording is needed for the event, commit a ERUUF sound trained volunteer to the date and time for your event; since the Sound Support Committee is not very big (and they are busy people), you may have to change your date and time at the office to accommodate having sound expertise.

4. DONATIONS ONLY Note that, as an ERUUF-sponsored event, you can't charge, or bar, admission; but you can ask for a suggested donation amount; preferably a range, e.g., $10-$20, to accommodate students, seniors, and generous supporters. We recommend also making the suggested amount a multiple of five ( $5, $10, $15, etc). Consider the projected debts, and potential audience, so any event donations will cover them.

5. FOOD SERVING If light refreshments are part of the event, get at least 1 volunteer specifically in charge of refreshments (and preferably nothing else). If it is meal, then at least 3 volunteers will be required (set-up, serving, and clean-up). A caterer could be hired, but the event is not in the ERUUF budget, there will be no money to cover this cost. About alcohol, wine at a reception is okay, but a liquor bar is not. You have to get a special license to serve anything other than wine at a place of worship.

6. ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE, ADVERTISE! People need redundancy for a message to be registered and remembered. Use a variety of media. personal invites, written, oral, by e-mail, by phone, the newspapers, hawking during coffee hour, tabling, flyers, signs, et cetera.. Do not assume the message has reached your audience if you just post in Currents. Note that Currents is published monthly. See the time table for submissions at  Currents Web Page or contact the Office Manager directly. If you advertise to the public, DO NOT give the office phone number as a contact for the event. The phone number or contact address must be one of the event organizers. Also remember that ERUUF sponsored events are supported by donations only.

7. POST-EVENT TASKS Clean-up, return furniture, remove all food from premises, take out trash, return key to office, itemize and add up expenses. Any "profit" for the event goes into ERUUF Music Capital Fund. Submit a one page report to the Music Committee Chair, preferably by e-mail to the entire committee. Please share any pictures (and recordings?) of the event with the committee so they can be used to publicize similar events.

ERUUF River Ringers tone chime choir

Sunday Morning Music

We are currently breaking in a new music director and haven't yet made a specific list for this year's activities, but you can be sure that they will be of very high quality and ranging from classical, to folk, to jazz, to international, and dramatic presentations.

In previous years, we have had an adult choir, various specialty choirs, a tone chime choir, an African drumming group, an intergenerational choir, and several instrument ensembles. Like a river, we have a very fluid and energetic program. For information, contact our Music director, Dr. Kevin Badanes

Occasional Trio with enduring spirit

Adult Choir "The Eno River Singers"    

We have always had one main adult choir that meets for rehearsals at ERUUF on Thursday nights starting at 7:30 PM in the worship hall. There is no need to audition to be in this choir, but you should consider joining us if you can hold a pitch, keep together with everyone else on your part,  can commit to coming to rehearsals on Thursday nights, and can also perform in the 11:15 service on most Sundays. Singers who participate in the general choir and are "section leaders" also earn additional opportunities to sing solos and participate in special groups. For information, contact our new Music director, Dr. Kevin Badanes

African Drumming "River Rhythms"  

Our resident drumming expert and maker, RJ Perz-Edwards leads this energetic and powerful group.

Instrumental and Vocal Ensembles

The excellent acoustics of the performance spaces in the sanctuary and fellowship hall and the fine music programming has attracted many talented musicians who readily mix and match to create very high quality music for worship, coffeehouses, concerts, and social events.

Cafe ERUUF   

A special sub-committee of Bob S-K, Pam D., Eric T. and Helen W., with former sub-committee members, has made Cafe ERUUF one of our most enduring activities, where ERUUF folks share desserts, music, poetry, and dance in the fellowship hall on bi-monthly Saturday nights. Members who with to perform contact the committee member in charge for a specific Saturday to get a 10 minute slot on the program. For information, contact Bob S-K

Volunteer Opportunities for Leadership

ERUUF has cultivated an number of leaders in the community, several of whom started in leadership roles in the ERUUF music programming, many who have gone on to create leadership careers elsewhere, some who use their leadership talents in "retirement," including those who choose to contribute to our program again and again.

Don H. with fingers, music, wit, and charm

The ERUUF Music Capital Fund started out as a fund for the walnut finished piano that is now in the fellowship hall and subsequently, as specific needs developed, it became a general support fund to purchase instruments and equipment for the program. In the past, these funds have been used to purchase pianos, music stands, special music, music folders and hymnals for the choir, and tone chimes. Our most recent project is to commission a music work for ERUUF musicians to perform at the installation of a new minister expected some time next year. Usually, music events just cover the immediate expenses for the event and suggested donations for these events are set with these in mind. Occasionally, however, we have an event that will actually raise funds! This doesn't happen very often as we are not, in our mission, a fundraising organization (but it does happen when we plan things well and are also lucky). Much of what is in the fund is from extra donations marked especially to be used for ERUUF Music and Arts.

Saxophrass in phellowship