The Charles Sigmund Memorial Music Fund
The Charles Sigmund Memorial Music Fund was created in 1983 to honor former FUS member, Music Director, and U. of M. professor, Charles Sigmund. Its purpose is to enable us to commission and perform new music to enrich The First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis and the larger community as well. Each year, the Sigmund Fund Committee (Barbara Brooks, Jan Sigmund, Madeline Simon, and Bob Aderhold) decides if there are sufficient proceeds available. Often there is not enough to commission a work, and proceeds are allowed to accumulate for future projects. Accumulated proceeds this past year paid for the orchestration of the Barnett/Gibbons hymn, “Holy Ground,” for the Society’s 125th Anniversary celebration, and cosponsorship of the final (7th) movement of “Sources, a UU Cantata.” Since 1983, this fund has enabled the commissioning of 10 original compositions.
It may interest you to know that “Sources, a UU Cantata” will be featured at the UU Musicians Network conference in Florida this summer (2007) in a community-wide worship service. Composer Jason Shelton says: “Kendyl’s texts seemed to sing right off the page for me, and the result of our collaboration is at times bursting with energy, and at times deeply contemplative and moving.” In addition to Kendyl’s lyrics, proceeds from an FUS Foundation fund, the Charles Sigmund Music Fund, were used to cosponsor the final (7th) movement of the cantata, recently performed at FUS.
This fund can accept gifts or bequests from music lovers. So, you see, you could participate in the process of creating inspiring music at FUS, whether or not you can sing or play an instrument, or wave a baton.