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Music is a very important part of the life of First Unitarian Church. From singing in the congregation on Sunday or with our choir or attending one of our many concerts, there is a lot going on musically.
Music for children has always been important to us. The First Unitarian Church of Chicago is the original home and founding institution in 1956 of the internationally renowned Chicago Children's Choir. The Children's Choir sings annually at our church on United Nations Sunday (usually the fourth Sunday in October) as they honor their founding birthday. It also provides the music for the annual vespers service on Christmas Eve.
We are now home to the Hyde Park Neighborhood Choir, one of the training choirs of the Chicago Children's Choir. For more information on joining the Children's Choir, please contact their office at (312) 849-8300 or visit their website at www.cccchoir.org.
Music is also an important part of religious education for children, in our life span program. Not only do children and youth participate with the rest of the congregation during worship services but music is also incorporated into the curricula they use. Church musician Lia McCoo (pictured above playing the flute) is especially helpful in bringing music into the lives of children in the religious education program.
We feel strongly that part of our mission is to offer the congregation, the city and the Hyde Park community an opportunity to hear and participate in a wide variety of quality music programs. In addition to our two special choir concerts during Sunday services, we also have annual noontime concerts on Fridays in October and May as well as many special musical events throughout the year.
First Unitarian Church is very proud of its historic and newly restored 3-manual 40-rank E.M. Skinner organ. We also have a very fine Shlicker neo-baroque organ in beautiful Hull Chapel. The main sanctuary has a Yamaha C7 grand piano.
Michael Thorn is out talented Music Director. You can view his biography here.
We hope you join us in making and appreciating music at First Unitarian Church of Chicago!
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 Michael Thorn began his tenure as Director of Music at First Unitarian
Church in September, 2004.
He is a prolific composer, writing music for organ, piano, chorus,
voice and chamber groups. He and his wife, Eva, lived for several years
in Sweden, where he was music director at Arentuna Kyrka, a parish of
7,000 members. One of his many compositions while living in Sweden was
a "Jazz Mass," which was performed in the church and very
well received. In 1984 he formed a jazz trio which is still very active.
Mr. Thorn studied piano with Hyde Parker Gavin Williamson and organ
with Edward Mondello. He received a Masters Degree in Music Theory and
Composition from Roosevelt University.
A catalog of his compositions and CD recordings appears on his website,
www.michaelthornmusic.com.
Mr. Thorn may be reached by email at
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