MICHAEL JORDAN'S UUSAVANNAH VIDEO
SHOWN AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN JUNE

There are few churches of our growing-but-still-diminutive size that have a music program as consistently good, not to mention varied.

The number of people in the choir is growing into the 20s -- it is an enthusiastic and highly bonded group that serves the church not only with musical gifts but also as a wonderful example of people enjoying each other and getting along beautifully together.

We have soloists and instrumental musicians who give their all for us, and really enjoy it. The choir is meeting new challenges as Kelly gives us music that is more complicated and fun -- with great results. Members are growing and it shows.

Kelly Blackmarr is a treasure -- a person of beauty and remarkable talent. She is a committed Unitarian Universalist and really walks her Journey as mother, director, friend and maybe most important, musician. Her musicality informs every aspect of her life.

Kelly, with the church's music committee and talented members and friends, has crafted a dynamic program of special music events during the year.

In April we featured "Kelly Blackmarr and Friends," a musical revue that included amazing talent drawn from Kelly's wide range of musical friends and associates. It was a thriller evening -- with a gifted group of instrumentalists accompanying (and starring with) singers of all ages in everything from blues to folk, from Broadway to classical, from rock to pop.

"Savannah Sings the Season" -- was a remarkable and highly original coming-together of talented people from many faith traditions, and a great way to kick off the holiday season. 

"Classical Bash" showcased the church's in-house talent and friends with music from madrigals to Mozart, art songs to sonatas.  And our "Fifty for Fifty" concert rocked the house with selections from 50 years of pop and rock music, celebrating our  church's 50th anniversary. 

Our Christmas Eve service is a unique blending of the traditional Christmas story with beloved holiday music and UU's ability to create a welcoming space for those of any faith who want to celebrate the renewal and hope of the Christmas message.

The Martin Luther King Requiem has been a crucial opportunity for our church to extend itself into the Community of Color, and we are so grateful for that.  For several years in a row this event has produced an amazingly rich and rousing program.

Look for more music events coming this spring and fall...

Kelly Blackmarr Carlile has been Music Director for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Savannah for 15 years.   She is also organist and vocalist for Congregation Mickve Israel and Wesley Oak United Methodist Church.  

Kelly's career has encompassed vocalist, pianist, and choral conducting for the public schools, SCAD’s School for Performing Arts and various community theater organizations. She received the Robert Shaw Choral Conducting Award from Florida State University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1987. Kelly's primary instruments are piano and voice.  Additional instruments are flute, penny whistle, and guitar. 

Kelly is also accomplished as an actress, both in drama and musical theater.  Over the past decade-and-a-half, she has played lead roles in community theater productions, such as Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), My Fair Lady (Eliza), and Into the Woods (The Baker's Wife).  She has also directed the music for several productions at SCAD (West Side Story, A Chorus Line ), one of which traveled to the Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2000 (Reefer Madness), and she took her award-winning chamber singers (The SCAD Performance Ensemble) to Carnegie Hall in 2005 and 2006 to perform major Choral Works (Mozart Requiem & Poulenc Gloria). 

Some of Kelly's compositions have been featured in SCAD's theater performances at the Kennedy Center, as well (Journeys II).  Along with her degree in music/choral conducting, Kelly also holds a master's degree in social work and has practiced as a psychiatric counselor for the Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

Kelly is married to Larry Carlile, past UUSavannah President and active member in our congregation. Larry and Kelly have two daughters, Lillian and Nina.