Cynthia Young, Music Director

Cynthia Young joined UUCR in August 2019 as Music Director.

Cynthia helps carry out the mission of UUCR (Spirit, Service, Justice, Love) through music ministry and shared musical experience. She works alongside the minister to plan and implement music in Sunday services. She directs the adult choir, the children’s choir and the handbell ensemble.  She facilitates participation in the music program by musicians in the congregation who wish to share their musical gifts with others, and she seeks opportunities to share the musical ministry of UUCR outside the church walls. Cynthia works to build a music program which is inclusive, vibrant, joyful, energetic, and focused on community and connection.

Cynthia is a life-long UU, and grew up attending the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington (UUCA). She is a trained music educator and choir director, and has served as Director of Children‘s and Youth Choirs at UUCA. She has taught music and directed both children’s and adult choirs in numerous international settings.

Motivated by a passionate belief in the power of collective singing to build bridges between cultures, languages, religions and ages, Cynthia has founded and directed community choirs around the world, including Les Voix de Laafi in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; The Eland St. Ensemble in Pretoria, South Africa; International Voices in Libreville, Gabon; and Ankara A-Cappella in Ankara, Turkey. These choirs have brought people together from multiple nationalities and all walks of life to find connection through the joy, beauty and fun of singing in community.

Cynthia is Director of the Arlington Community Chorus, in Arlington, VA. She is also the founder and director of Bella Voce, an Arlington-based women’s a-cappella ensemble.  Cynthia is a private voice and piano teacher in Arlington.  She holds a master of arts degree in music from The American University and a bachelor of arts degree in music from Wake Forest University. Cynthia has two adult daughters and is married to David Young, a wonderful bass singer and a US foreign service officer.