Unity Atlanta Church Music Ministry
At Unity Atlanta, music is a sacred expression that connects us, uplifts us, and celebrates the Spirit in all people. Guided by Choir Director Ellen Chase and Director of Music Simon Needle, The Celebration Choir and The Soulful Harmonics band perform a rich variety of music that honors the diverse and forward-looking voice of our community.
Every Sunday, we create a joyful noise to deepen our divine connection and welcome everyone into our harmonious home. Come Sing Along!
The Unity Atlanta Celebration Choir
The Unity Atlanta Celebration Choir is a loving, welcoming community of voices that brings energy, heart, and Spirit into our Sunday services. Together we create music that uplifts, inspires, and deepens the spiritual experience for everyone present.
From gospel and contemporary to New Thought favorites and choral classics, our musical repertoire celebrates our uniqueness and the oneness of our human experience. Our goal is to deepen each encounter by carefully curating every choir piece to complement that day’s message. We bring forth the sacred song that lives within us all.
No auditions required — just bring a love of singing and a willingness to share your voice with your community. Reading music is helpful, but not necessary. What matters most is the joy of singing together and the desire to be part of something larger than yourself.
Choir Rehearsals:
- Sundays at 12:45 PM (after service)
- In the Choir Room
- Contact Ellen Chase, Choir Director, at ellen@unityatl.org for more information.
Come add your voice to our choir — all are welcome!
“Singing in the choir feels like singing with family — it’s spiritually inspiring and uplifting.”
“The power of singing with others is magical. It’s prayer that lifts the soul.”
“We sing a wonderful variety of music that helps me appreciate different cultures and styles.”
The Soulful Harmonics
Band Members
- Simon Needle –Band Leader, Guitar & Vocals
- Adrian Ash – Bass Guitar & Vocals
- Zach Smith – Drums & Vocals
- Brian Reid – Piano, Keyboard & Vocals
Our house band, The Soulful Harmonics, brings a vibrant energy and wide range of musical styles to every Sunday service. From soulful classics to contemporary jams, their music grounds us in Spirit, lifts our hearts, and reminds us of the abundance of being fully alive.
Led by Director of Music, Simon Needle, The Soulful Harmonics weave together rich inspiring arrangements and heartfelt vocal harmonies to create an inspiring and inclusive message for our community. Their seasoned musicianship invites the entire congregation to revel in the message of Unity and acknowledge the universal language of Spirit that transcends all boundaries (and genres!).
The Soulful Harmonics invite those interested in singing backgrounds, solos and leading worship songs to join our fast-paced and dynamic vocal group. Anyone with a willingness to prepare their contribution to our diverse repertoire and to celebrate their sacred voice within should reach out to Simon Needle at unityatlantaband@unityatl.org for more information on singing with the band.
More about our Music Ministry Leaders:
Ellen Chase
Ellen Chase brings a lifelong love of music and a deep passion for helping others find their voice to her role as Choir Director at Unity Atlanta Church. A native of Washington, D.C., Ellen has been singing in choirs since childhood—ever since her sister convinced her to join their church’s youth choir with the promise of them serving ice cream (there was no ice cream, but the music turned out to be even sweeter).
Ellen earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Earlham College in 1996 and has spent her career inspiring singers of all ages. She was one of the founding directors of Our Song Atlanta in 2002 and served as associate director and soprano with the ensemble from 2002 to 2018. Before that, she directed the choir at Atlanta Unity in Dunwoody from 2000 to 2002 and later taught voice at the Rectory School, a private school in Connecticut, from 2018 to 2021. For ten years, she also led the Melodivas, an Atlanta based, ten woman vocal ensemble, which formed in 2001.
Known for her heart of a teacher, Ellen brings a nurturing, expressive approach to choir rehearsals. She focuses on helping each singer grow as a musician while guiding the choir as a whole to communicate the deeper spiritual message within every song. She loves exploring a wide variety of genres and finds joy in creating moments of harmony—musical and spiritual alike.
Whether she’s leading rehearsal, performing, or teaching, Ellen’s purpose remains the same: to help people discover the power, joy, and connection that come from making music together.
Simon Needle
Simon Needle is a musician, music producer and music educator from Atlanta, Georgia with a diverse repertoire of musical interests. In 2018, he graduated from Kennesaw State University with degrees in Music Theory & Jazz Studies with a certificate in Music Business. In the course of his professional career, Simon has started an online music lesson studio, a live event booking service and recorded music production company (needlepointmusic.com).
At present, he works as a studio engineer and producer for many talented local Atlanta artists, as well as a freelance vocalist, guitarist, bassist and (too infrequently!) banjoist in addition to cultivating a personal repertoire as a singer-songwriter under the name Simon Benjamin (https://linktr.ee/NeedlepointMusic). Simon has played many a church service, but since he subbed in on guitar in 2017 for a close-knit church community in Peachtree Corners, he has spent most of his Sundays at Unity Atlanta Church.