About UCC Music
The UCC of California is fortunate to have many excellent musicians who share their talents to add to our worship services. Through the school year, our three choirs provide music for most of our services. During the summer months, groups and individuals perform vocal and instrumental anthems. We invite all who want to participate to join us. Beth Dampf is our organist and accompanies both vocal choirs.
Adult Music Programs
Chancel Choir
My name is Stacy Friedrich, and I have been the director of the UCC Senior Choir since September 2011. My husband Brad and I have been members of the UCC church since 2003. Our daughter Lauren is also a member of the UCC church and she is active in our youth program. I teach PreK through 5th grade general music at California Elementary School. Brad is an art teacher at California High School and is also the manager of the California Performing Arts Center. Our daughter Lauren is currently in High School and is active in sports and several extra-curricular activities.
The age range for our members is 15 and older. We sing 2-3 Sundays a month during our worship service. We also perform a Christmas Cantata in December. We sing all genres of Christian music from traditional hymns and spirituals to blended and contemporary songs. This is a very dedicated and amazing group of singers to work with! They are welcoming, talented, and have a lot of fun. We hope you consider being a part of the UCC Senior Choir.
The Chancel Choir is open to teens and adults. They meet on Wednesday evenings through the school year from 7:30-8:30 PM.They perform two or three Sundays a month, September through May. Traditionally, the choir sings a cantata during Advent.
Bell Choir
My name is Becky Schneider. A graduate of California High School, I have lived (off and on) in California since I entered the 6th grade. Undergraduate was completed at then Central Methodist College in Fayette, MO and Graduate school was completed in Oklahoma City, OK at the University of Oklahoma. 
My husband and I met while I was in undergraduate school and we married at the California United Church of Christ in 2001. Our first son, DJ, came along in 2004, while still in Oklahoma City, and our second son, Cody, completed our family in 2008. After completing Graduate school in 2005, we moved back to California and I began working (and continue to work) for the University of Missouri.
I am the current director of the UCC Good Vibrations Handbell Choir. Started many years ago, I have been a ringer for the last several years and am in my second year as the Director. Handbells are a wonderful addition to the worship service and allow for individuals to create beautiful music (even if you have never played before or do not know how to read music!)
The bell choir was formed in 2006 when a 3 octave set of bells was given to our church. A group of novice players started learning to play them under the leadership of Phil Lewis. Many are still part of the group. They meet on Wednesday evenings through the school year from 6:30-7:30 PM. They perform one Sunday a month, September through May.
Youth Music Programs
My name is Connie Bestgen. I have been a member of the United Church of Christ my entire life. My husband, Jay and I have two grown children, Morgan and Wyatt. We live on a farm east of California and we raise beef cattle besides both being fulltime employees of the State of Missouri.
I have been directing God’s Singers for two years and I really enjoy it. I actually directed the youth choir for a couple of years when I was in high school. So now I have children in the choir whose parents were in the choir I directed years ago. God’s Singers is for kids from first through seventh grade. We meet on Wednesday nights during the school year and sing one Sunday a month. The kids are very enthusiastic and they are a joy to work with.
Favorite Bible Verse:
Revelations 2:10
“Be faithful until death and I will give you the crown of life.”