Music

Looking for R5 Concert tickets?

Annual "Little Light Music" Concert

Directed by the acclaimed Jen Hayman, our choir meets Thursdays at 7:30 pm to rehearse for Sunday worship with a vast repertoire, spanning from choral motets and classical masses to a variety of contemporary world music. 

Do you like to sing?

If the answer if "yes," you should consider singing with the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia Choir! From September through June, the choir meets every Thursday evening from 7:30 pm-9 pm, and on Sunday mornings at 10 am., prior to our 11 am service. In our summer months, the choir meets at 9 am on Sunday mornings. The choir sings a very vast repertoire, spanning from motets and classical masses to a variety of contemporary world music. If you're curious, come and check us out!

Do you play an instrument or have other musical talents?  

 We would love to incorporate your gifts into our music ministry. If you are interested in playing solo or smaller chamber works as part of the worship service, please contact Jen Hayman, Music Director, at jen@philauu.org.

Meet Our Music Director, Jen Hayman

Jen was born and raised in the "Roller Coaster Capital of the World": Sandusky, OH.  Amid the thrill of roaring coasters, her love for music developed through singing along with the Solid Gold TV show and listening to her mother's records.  Jen began taking piano lessons at age 8, and was performing and competing regionally by age ten, when her rendition of "The Blue Danube Waltz" won her a gold medal at the Erie County Fair.

Upon graduation from high school, Jen attended Syracuse University, where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Industry.  She later worked as an A&R representative for DreamWorks Records and Island Records in New York, NY.  While working as a tour manager for a popular rock band, Jen met her future husband, Willem, and moved to Albany, NY.  There, Jen briefly worked as a booking agent for Northern Lights LLC, a local concert venue, before deciding to attend the College of Saint Rose for her graduate work.

Jen earned her Master of Science in Music Education, and received the school's Graduate Student of the Year honor in 2007.  The following fall, she began teaching middle school music in Schenectady, NY, working with children with severe learning disabilities and social-emotional disorders.  After her first year teaching, Jen was invited to help write the district-wide music curriculum, incorporating many elements of both popular and world music, which had proven very successful in her classroom.  She has also been a sought-after accompanist for solo, chamber and choral groups, often accompanying and co-conducting many district, regional, and all-state choruses.

In August 2008, Jen and Willem were married and relocated to Philadelphia shortly after.  Willem is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, and works as a neuroscientist and neuropharmacologist.  In addition to her position at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, Jen also works as the Program Coordinator for Tempesta di Mare, the Baroque Orchestra of Philadelphia.

In addition to teaching, studying, and working in the music business, Jen has also worked as a church musician "religiously" for the past 13 years.  Most recently, Jen was the music director at St. John's-St. Ann's Catholic Church in Albany, NY, where she served for 4 years.  Jen has always enjoyed working with volunteer choruses, and in 2005, she became the director of the Albany Medical Center Chorus and Orchestra, a group comprised of doctors, nurses, professors, and medical students.  

Jen continues to work to refine her musical craft, studying with conducting greats Weston Noble and Charles Bruffy at the Summer Conducting Institute at Westminster Choir College for the past 2 years.  She also sings with the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia, and teaches private voice and piano lessons.

Jen is very thrilled to be working with this vibrant church, and hopes that this is only the beginning of a beautiful partnership and growing music ministry!

To contact Jen, you can call 215-563-3980, ext. 315, or email her at jen@philauu.org.