MUSIC
Hosanna Choir
The Chancel Choir offers choral music for Sunday worship and other special services throughout the year. It is open to high school students and adults. Weekly rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7pm to 8:30pm.
Children’s Music
While there is not currently a children’s choir at UPC, all children are invited to participate in seasonal music opportunities.
Should you have any questions about the music programs or if you would like to join the choir, please contact our new Director of Music, Janice Lyayuka Irungu, at upcmusic@outlook.com.
Austin Pipe Organ
When the United Presbyterian Church of Albany first opened its doors in 1913, it did so to the sound of a remarkable new instrument. Built by the Austin Organ Company of Hartford, Connecticut, the church's eleven-rank pipe organ was a gift from the Ladies Society, made possible in part by a generous contribution from Andrew Carnegie of New York City, a well-known patron of music and education.
The organ was formally dedicated on March 19, 1913, during a special service that featured celebrated organist Lucien Becker and baritone John Claire Monteith (grandson of Reverend William John
Monteith), whose performances introduced the congregation to the instrument's rich and resonant voice. From that day on, the organ became an essential part of worship life, accompanying hymns,
ceremonies, and community gatherings for generations.
In 1981, the organ suffered significant damage when the large wooden cross that hung above the pipes fell onto the console. Other parts of the instrument were aging and in need of refurbishment. In 1989, the noted organ craftsman Frans Bosman of Portland was hired to rebuild the wind chest, including a solid state electrical system, an increased number of ranks and remodeling in the old organ chambers to accommodate the rebuilt instrument.
More than a century after its installation, the 1913 Austin pipe organ remains a symbol of artistry, generosity, and enduring faith—an instrument whose music continues to fill the sanctuary just as it did on the day the church was first dedicated.
