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The Unitarian Universalist
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UUCP
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In Focus: Linda Kochenburger
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Linda Kochenburger is the official UUCP Pianist and is a member of the Program Team and the choir. She has been a member since 1990. When her daughter Jaya was three years old, Linda and her partner Elaine thought it was time to find a "spiritual" place for her to grow up. They had attended the previous Thanksgiving service at the UUCP, which made her feel they had "found a spiritual home." The service was experiential in nature, extremely moving, and totally unlike anything she had previously experienced as church. "From that point on, I became involved." At the time, the congregation was still young, having just begun in March of 1989 with a handful of people and Rev. Lee Reid as the minister. Linda recalls that, after about six months of attending services, "I saw there was a need for a person to play the keyboard. One of the other members had a child's keyboard with about 3 or 4 octaves and that was occasionally being used along with music played by a guitar player and recorder player. The guitarist, who was a Julliard graduate, said she would be my "coach" and enable me to accompany the congregation on the keyboard." After a few months, the congregation purchased a 5-octave keyboard and Linda's role as pianist was established. From a young age Linda felt a calling to being a musician. She did have several years of piano lessons as a child but gave it up when she was 13. "I had 'issues' with my mother and did not want to express my feelings in front of her so practicing became impossible when she was home." After she left home for college in Valparaiso, Indiana, she "tinkered" around playing the piano and even took organ lessons for a year. After college she lived in many different places and situations and was "always thrilled when there was a piano in my living situation." Some time in the late 1970's an old childhood friend gave her a piano that would enable her to develop her interest. Working in the government sector for 18 years has not been a fulfilling experience for Linda. She says that "playing the keyboard for the congregation has kept my spirit alive." The UUCP gave Linda the opportunity and the direction to follow her heart's desire. The congregation currently makes a contribution towards Linda's degree program in Piano Performance at The Mannes College of Music in New York City. The ability to study in such a professional and demanding institution continues to help hone her musical talent that will continue to develop over her lifetime. "I've had several teachers over the years but felt that there was a bigger picture to be understood." The teachers she has encountered at Mannes do see the bigger connection. Linda believes the money the congregation invests in her lessons is a win-win for us all because "on a deeper level I am doing what I've always wanted and I hope my music will continue to bring joy to the congregation as a bridge to our faith." When playing a prelude or offering piece, Linda tries to match the words and feeling of the songs to the sermon's theme. With enough lead-time, she is happy to accommodate with a requested song or piece. Linda suggests that people bring suggestions of songs and other music to the Program Team members for incorporation into the Sunday Services or other programs. "We are always open to bringing in musicians from outside our congregation as long as the fee is reasonable." The choir is always looking for new members - especially more tenors and basses. Linda would like to see even more involvement with other adults and even children musicians. "I know we have a lot of untapped talent out there." The choir sings on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, and practices on those Sundays as well as one Monday evening and one Saturday afternoon per month at different member's homes. "It's a chance to get to know the choristers better. We have great camaraderie among us." In 1990, when Linda joined the UUCP, there was no choir. There were only about 15 - 20 members in all. "Jody Burrows pushed to start a choir very soon after she and her husband Leyn joined the congregation. An announcement was made during one of the services and a group of us just got together to sing. We practiced before and after the service like we do now and when we needed to, folks came to my house for practice. Jody and I provided many of our first selections. It was choir by consensus as we all put our heads together with suggestions of how the songs should go. It lasted about a year or so and then Lee Reid convinced Roberta Wallis, who she had met elsewhere, to lead the choir." Roberta Wallis continues to do a fabulous job as Choir Director. One of Linda's great joys is accompanying the congregation when it sings. "I think the congregational singing is the highlight of the worship service. It is the voice of the people and often the most spiritual of moments. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the congregation's pianist. I am happy to see other musicians in the congregation sharing their gifts with all of us. This is what our congregation's music is all about - the sharing of ourselves with each other." |
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