In fellowship, the Music and Arts Committee nurtures artistic excellence and spiritual growth, rooted within UU values, for all who wish to blossom through artistic expression.

May all hands, all voices, all ages flourish.

The music program at Portland's First Unitarian Church is the largest music program in the denomination, with some 275 volunteer musicians of all ages participating. It is steeped in excellence, but not performance.

We consider the presentation of our music to the congregation in worship as gift-giving--sharing the spiritual gifts we share so abundantly within this program. Consequently, the program is cherished by the congregation. The sense of community is strong in each of the ensembles listed below and it is built intentionally through ritual, individual call to ministry, working together, and celebration.

The First Unitarian Church music staff is first rate. Signe Lusk, our pianist, and Joe O'Donnell, our organist, both play at worship services and often more than one choir will participate in worship.

This gives our worship richness of style, and variety of culture and musical color. Our children and youth music directors are the best in their fields and understand the role of music and choir community for kids.

MUSIC AND ARTS STAFF

Mark Slegers (mslegers@firstunitarianportland.org), Minister of Music, 503-228-6389, ext. 18

About Mark Slegers:

Mark Slegers has been Music Director (now Minister of Music) at First Unitarian Church for 30 years. The church’s music program includes over 300-member musicians of all ages participating is some 11 musical ensembles. It is the largest music program in the Unitarian Universalist denomination. 

Mr. Slegers received his undergraduate degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, where he was recognized in May of 2007 as an outstanding graduate. He attended Union Theological Seminary, School of Sacred Music in New York City where he received the Master of Sacred Music degree. While in New York he sang and conducted in various New York churches. He has completed further study in conducting with Dr. Rodney Eichenberger and has also taught music in all levels of music education, including both Pacific University and Reed College.

Mr. Slegers was a commissioner/compiler for the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook, Singing the Living Tradition, published by Beacon Press. For the past sixteen years he has served as church music consultant to Unitarian Universalist congregations continent-wide.