Music Notes
A Message from Joanna Wernette, Director of Music
Greetings Music Lovers!
As our programming year for the adult choir and youth music comes to a close, we’re looking forward to some fun musical events over the summer. As the weekly Wednesday UU nights will continue, you can look forward to special musical events the last Wednesday of each Summer month.
At the end of June, we will be hosting a fun all-ages karaoke/open mic night, at the end of July, we’ll be having an all-ages drum circle/instrumental jam, with adult and youth music programming resuming in late August.
As the days stretch longer, I hope you are able to enjoy the wonderful free outdoor music offerings in downtown Grand Junction and Fruita which occur each week. I’m excitedly getting planning for programming for next year under way- stay tuned for more coming attractions soon!
As our programming year for the adult choir and youth music comes to a close, we’re looking forward to some fun musical events over the summer. As the weekly Wednesday UU nights will continue, you can look forward to special musical events the last Wednesday of each Summer month.
At the end of June, we will be hosting a fun all-ages karaoke/open mic night, at the end of July, we’ll be having an all-ages drum circle/instrumental jam, with adult and youth music programming resuming in late August.
As the days stretch longer, I hope you are able to enjoy the wonderful free outdoor music offerings in downtown Grand Junction and Fruita which occur each week. I’m excitedly getting planning for programming for next year under way- stay tuned for more coming attractions soon!
Joanna Wernette, Director of Music for UUCGV is originally from the Chicagoland area. She and her husband, Jared, met in Fort Collins, and moved to Grand Junction in April of 2020, eloped in the mountains in August, bought a home in Sept, and had their son Connor on the way shortly thereafter. Joanna has a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from DePaul University, and received her Bachelors in Music in Vocal Performance from The Chicago College of Performing Arts (Roosevelt University.) Joanna has performed professionally on the operatic stage, as well as singing professionally with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Grant Park Music Festival Chorus, the San Antonio Chamber Choir, The Colorado Bach Ensemble, and The Bravo! Vail Festival Chorus.
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Joanna had the joy of stepping up to the conducting podium while employed with the Union Church of Hinsdale, after singing many years as an alto section leader in the choir. As their choir conductor, Joanna honed her conducting skills and developed passion for sharing music with others. A lover of all genres of music, in addition to singing her first season with the Western Colorado Chorale Joanna and her husband Jared enjoy playing music together as a duo called ‘The Lawless Project.’ In addition to singing and conducting, Joanna is also starting to offer private voice lessons through her private voice studio here in Grand Junction. Joanna is THRILLED to join the staff at UUCGV and has big dreams of developing our children’s music/rock band program, as well as hopes for welcoming more singers into the adult choir. If you love to sing or play an instrument, please reach out to Joanna at music@grandvalleyuu.org if you are open/interested in participating in music here at UUCGV!