Vision Statement

At Music@FourthU, we believe that music has the extraordinary power to be a whole-body, transformative experience that brings people to a deeper understanding of self. 

At Music@FourthU, we work towards a world where people of all backgrounds and ages can grow and find a deeper appreciation of themselves, their faith, and their environment through the power of carefully curated music experiences. 

Where we nurture an empathetic physical space for diverse music making is where we are dedicated to justice and love for each individual person; through the tangible work that enacts this Vision, we hold steadfast in doing our part to strengthen the relationship between Fourth Universalist and the needs of our greater community. 

The Tangible Work 

At the heart of Music@FourthU’s work is in fact its programming, which includes both high-level music and performers that represent a rich tapestry of cultural traditions and identities. Music selected for Sunday worship (or any Music@FourthU-featured events) is always designed to edify listeners in different ways to engage with a central theme, whether the sermon theme or Unitarian Universalist-aligned programming. Music@FourthU aims also to be progressive through the featuring of music — and the hiring of musicians — from underrepresented identities, as well as through the commissioning of originally composed music for special events, among other initiatives. 

Most Music@FourthU events take place in our stunning historic landmark building at 160 Central Park West, which comes equipped with state-of-the-art sound and live-streaming technology, a beautiful mahogany Yamaha GC2 grand piano, and a growing collection of music/audio gear. The music we nurture honors the tremendous capabilities of our physical space, as well as of course the diverse gamut of our listeners, which includes our in-person and global membership. We hope to be a shining example of the union between Fourth Universalist Society and the needs of our community. 

Music@FourthU Volunteer Ministry 

There are many opportunities for volunteers to perform at Sunday worship or other Fourth Universalist events throughout the year. One of the biggest vessels for these opportunities is Sing Fourth, our volunteer choir led by Director of Music Robert Buonaspina. The vital lifeblood of our volunteer music ministry, Sing Fourth embodies our Vision to foster musical growth, celebrate diversity, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for oneself, one’s faith, and one’s environment.

Rather than a weekly Sunday commitment, Sing Fourth operates on several “Cycles” during the year (for example, a Cycle of rehearsals/performances for Easter, for Pride, themed concerts during the year, etc) to accommodate the varying yearly schedules of our members. A Cycle typically includes a handful of select Tuesday evening rehearsals (7–9 PM in the church), some dress rehearsals, and a performance, often on a Sunday morning for worship.

If you wish to view or add the Music@FourthU Google calendar to your calendar, just click here.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering at Music@FourthU — whether a vocalist, or instrumentalist, or a community member just generally interested in music — is invited to fill out this 30-second survey or to reach out and connect with Fourth Universalist’s Director of Music, Robert Buonaspina at music@4thu.org.

Rehearsal Schedule

Our Designated Teams

Music Team
Meeting a few times a year, the Music Team is a specially appointed group of volunteers from Fourth Universalist who help develop, nurture, advise, and ensure the success of our Music@FourthU Vision.

While the Music@FourthU Music Team has membership by appointment only, we encourage individuals with an unwavering passion to be part of the visionary planning of this Team to reach out to Robert Buonaspina at music@4thu.org at any time.

Organ Team
Music@FourthU has a dedicated team focused on exploring cost-effective methods for integrating the pipe organ back into worship (read more about the history of our pipe organ here), exploring creative solutions for integration rather than a prohibitively expensive investment. For those interested in this initiative, please reach out to Robert Buonaspina at music@4thu.org to learn more and get involved.