Barbara Berner

Review: The SLCC's mission is to provide children with a choral music experience that emphasizes musical excellence and character education. From simple beginnings in 1978, the program now includes about 500 1st through 12th graders from over 225 schools in the St. Louis, MO area. At the apex of the six progressive levels is the Concert Choir, which performs regularly with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and tours nationally and internationally under the direction of Barbara Berner, who also oversees all the Children's Choir programs. These 31 songs from the SLCC's annual Spring Concerts, most lightly accompanied, begin with 6 wonderful cuts by the Concert Choir, especially Mozart's "Love Duet" from The Magic Flute and a lovely solo on Bill Henderson's (heavily accompanied) "When I Sing." Then we have 3 very sweet live tunes by the Preparatory Choir, particularly "Mrs. Jenny Wren" and "All Night, All Day." Following are the Beginning Choir's "A Distant Shore," and "Orpheus with his Lute," the Intermediate Choir's version of Bob Chilcott's "Concrete" and "Streetseller" (from City Songs), the Choristers' "Oh Susanna" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and the Chamber Singers' "Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal" and "For Spacious Skies." The CD closes with all choirs singing their powerful Theme Song, "We Gather Here Together." Great stuff from one of the best children's choir programs we've heard!

Songlist: At The River, Hoj, Hura, Hoj, Love Duet, Dome Epais, When I Sing - Wwe Rise Again, Mrs. Jenny Wren, The Song That Nature Sings, A Distant Shore, All Night, All Day, Climbin' Up The Mountains, Don't Let The Nusic Stop, Orpheus With His Lute, Prepare Thyself, Zion, Ferry Me Across The Water, Concrete, Stretseller, Hold Fast Your Dreams, Sing Dem Herrn, Sound The Trumpet, Charlotte-Town, Oh, How My Heart Sings, Ain't That News, Irish Blessing, O Give Thanks, On The Sunny Side Of The Street, Keep Your Lamps, Hark, I Hear The Harps Eternal, For Spacious Skies, We Gather Here Together

Review: This CD includes highlights from the 2004 Spring Concerts, recorded live at Manchester United Methodist Church on May 16, 2004. The Artistic Director remains Barbera Berner, who took on the position in 1996. 2004 was a greatyear for the SLCC, as they performed internationally and in venues such as The White House and Carnegie Hall.

Songlist: Simple Song, Living In A Holy City, The Lake Isle Of Innisfree, All The Pretty Little Horses, Nursery Rhyme Nonsense, The Lily And The Rose, Ching A Ring Chaw, Little Bird -, I Had A Little Nut Tree, Tiritomba, The Poet Sings, Set Me As A Seal, This Is The Day, Prayer For The Earth, My Own Song, How Much Wood Would A Woodchuck Chuck, Blessing, Elijah Rock, The Passionate Shepard to His Love, Waltzing Matilda, Comino Caminante, And So It Goes, Roger Bobo Plays the Tuba, America, The Beautiful, We Gather Here Togther

Review: One of the most impressive children's choir programs in the world, the SLCC, under the direction of Barbara Berner, showcases the 6 progressive levels the children from 1st through 12th grades may attain, from the Preparatory Choir to the internationally performing Concert Choir. These 30 live songs, from the first 6 selections by the Concert Choir, especially Samuel Ward's "An American Anthem" and "O Sapo," the Beginning Choir's "The Lone Wild Bird," the Intermediate Choir's renditon of Handel's "I Will Praise Forever" and "Codfish Shanty," the Preparatory Choir's sweet "Sleep My Baby," the Chamber Choir's "O Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?," the Choristers' rendition of Bob Chilcott's 5-part "A Little Jazz Mass," and the massed choirs' lovely "Fairest Lady" by Nick Page. Every song here is special in its own way, and the collection as a whole is a joy to listen to-St. Louis is truly blessed to have such an uplifting program!

Songlist: An American Anthem, Come, Ye Makers of Song, In The Beginning, Duet and Choral from Cantata No. 93, Things That Never Die, O Sapo, Ferry Me Across the Water, The Lone Wild Bird, Non nobise, Domine, I Will Praise Forever, Cuatro Bladas Amarillas: Pastor Que Vas, Orillo, Orillo Pastorcillo, Codfish Shanty, She Walks in Beauty, Sleep My Baby, L'Unione from Due Piccole Canzoni, Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music, Answer to a Child's Question, You'll Never Guess What I Saw, Irish Friendship Wish, Minoi, Minoi, O Soldier, Won't You Marry Me?, A Little Jazz Mass, -Kyrie, -Gloria, -Sanctus, -Bendictus, Agnus Dei, America from West Side Story, Fairest Lady, We Gather Togetherr

Review: This CD includes highlights from the 2006 Spring Concerts, recorded live at Manchester United Methodist Church on May 14, 2006. The St. Louis Children's Choir performs with the Saint Louis Symphony on a regular basis. Concert Choir, the advanced touring ensemble, joined the Symphony for "On the Transmigration of Souls" by John Adams at Powell Hall and Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2006.

Songlist: J'entends le Moulin, Akakomborerwa, There Is No Rose, Bright Is the Ring of Words, Harps and Wheels, Let There Be Music, Old Joe Clark, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Solidaridad, Wee Little Piute, Just Like Me, Good Night, The Journey, Red Dragonflies, Shady Grove, Yankee Doodle Joy, Dravidian Dithyramb, Va, pensiero from Nabucco, Light Out of Darkness, The Brightening Air, We Gather Here Together

Review: This recording features highlights from the 2007 Spring Concerts that were recorded live in Pillsbury Chapel at Missouri Baptist University. Under the most excellent direction of Barbara Berner the various choirs shine making this recording an excellent addition to your music library.

Songlist: For Spacious Skies, Sing Creations Music On, Daybreak Song, The Lily and the Rose, Duet from Cantata No. 15, A Distant Shore, Cuatro Baladas Amarillas No. 4, Go Gently Into the Morning, The Colorado Trail, I's the B'y, Hark, I Hear the Harp's Eternal, Tres Cantos Nativos Dos Indidos Crao, O Salutaris Hostias, Children of the Rainbow, Mrs. Jenny Wren, Thumbelina, Birdsong, Everlasting Melody, Old Dan Tucker, Jordan's Angels, Dirait-On, Stand Together, River in Judea, We Gather Here Together

Review: The 25th Anniversary Celebration Concert was recorded on May 18th, 2003 at Powell Symphony Hall. It included all 15 ensembles of the St. Louis Children's Choirs, plus a special choir of 90 alumni from across the United States. The Choirs were started in 1978 by Diance Finley whose vision established the artistic and professional foundation for the Choirs. Today, The St. Louis Children's Choirs include approximately 550 young people in 1st through 12th grades who come from over 275 schools throughout the greater St. Louis area.

Songlist: Come Ye Makers Of Song, Salut Printempts, How Can I Keep From Singing, Ah! Si Mon Moine Voulait Danser, Sing Creations Music On, Mbiri Kuna Mwari, This Shall Be For Music, Bist Du Bei Mir, Shiru, We Rise Again, Glory To God, I See The Morning Breaking, Edelweiss, I Bought Me A Cat, We Are The Children, God Bless America, Keep Your Lamps, The Cloths Of Heaven, Steam Heat- Alber - K Shaw, Shenandoah - Alber, Music Down In My Soul - Moses Hogan, At The River, Roger Bobo PLays The Tuba, Homeland, O Music, I'm Goin' Up The Ladder, The Storm Is Passing Over, I Am But A Small Voice, Here's To Song, We Gather Here Together

Review: Artistic Director Barbara Berner leads the various permutations of the 500 strong St. Louis Children's Choirs in this accompanied, 2-disc collection of 38 songs, which features eight new works commissioned to celebrate the Choirs' 30th anniversary. These include the Concert Choir, Children's Choir, Music Makers, Chorale, Chamber Singers, Young Men's Ensemble and Alumni of these smaller choirs. These commissioned works are among our favorites: Imant Raminsh's "The Path That Leads to Nowhere," Lee Kesselman's "Rad Halaila," "Dream Angus," arranged by Mandy Miller, Rollo Dilworth's "A Symphony of the Heart," David Brunner's "Psalm of Praise," David Gawthrop's "Repose," Bob Chilcott's "Red Boots On," and Andrea Ramsey's "Cover Me With The Night." Each of these choirs has its own personality and sound, and the well-chosen songlist is a joy from beginning to end. Meet us in St. Louis for this beautifully recorded, feel-good collection!

Songlist: An American Anthem, Psalm 100, The Path That Leads to Nowhere, African Celebration, I Will Praise Forever, Rad Halaila, Cameron, Dream Angus, Edelweiss, Do Re Mi from Sound of Music, A Symphony of the Heart, Ubi Caritas, Psalm of Praise, Youkali, Ehre Sei Gott in der Hohe, Repose, Red Boots On, I Give You A Song, One Short Day, Cover Me With the Night, Come To The Music, I Am But a Small Voice, Here's to Song, Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle, Omnia Sol, Ye Banks and Braes, Linden Lea, Afton Water, I Want Two Wings, Loch Lomond, Esto Les Digo, O My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose, Iona Boat Song, Path to the Moon, Skye Boat Song, In Praise of Isla, Auld Lang Syne, We Gather Here Together

Review: This collection of holiday highlights was copiled from live recordings of Holiday Concerts at Powell Symphony Hall from 2000-2003. Selections can be heard performed by the various subdivisions of the SLCC. Represented in this collection are the Advanced Touring "Concert Choir," the Advanced Intermediate "Choristers," the Intermediate "Chorale," the Preparatory Choir "Music Makers," the Beginning level "Children's Choir," and the select SATB "Chamber Singers." The performers range in age from about 6 to 18, and during the three year span of the recordings, likely transcended their original rank.

Songlist: Magnificat, Deck The Halls, What Sweeter Music, Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy, Be Simple Little Children, Ose Shalom, Solstice, Sing For Hanukkah, The Angel Gabriel, On Christmas Night, Still, Still, Still, Bring A Torch Jeanette, Isabella, Sh'ma Yisrael, Away In A Manger, It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, For The Beauty Of The Earth, Mary's Little Boy Child, One Fine Hour, Living In A Holy City, Shiru, Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, Happy Chanuka, Velvet Shoes, A-Wassailing, Chissimas Day, Feed My Lambs, Some Children See Him, One Candle Lights The Way, Riu Riu Chiu, Ein Keloheinu, Jubilate Deo, Hanerot Halalu, A Clare Benediction, Auld Lang Syne, We Gather Here Together

Review: "Making Seasons Bright!" is a sumptuous, joyous 2-disc collection from the 500 singers of the St. Louis Children's Choirs, conducted by Artistic Director Barbara Berner. From the advanced touring Concert Choir and Choristers to the beginning Children's Choir; including the intermediate Chorales, Music Makers, Young Men's Ensemble and Chamber Singers, each of these choirs has its own wonderful sound and personality. There are 44 songs here, many of them familiar standards like "Go Where I Send Thee, "Angels We Have Heard On High," "The Holly and The Ivy," "Silent Night, " "Carol of the Bells" and "Riu, Riu, Chiu," and some tunes we are enjoying for the first time, such as Noel Goemanne's "The Carol of the Dance," Allan Naplan's "Hine Ma Tov," "Douglas Mountain," "S'vivon," Hal Leonard's "Reindeer Jive," Michael Isaacson's "Light the Legend" and several others. It's nice to hear several Hanukkah tunes instead of one or maybe two. All the songs are at least lightly accompanied. "Making Seasons Bright" is a rich collection of holiday music from many different traditions, sung by choirs of beautifully-trained children-what could be better?

Songlist: Disc 1, The Carol of the Dance, This Little Babe, Go Where I Send Thee, There Is No Rose, Hallelujah, Glory Hallelujah, The Time of Snow, Angels We Have Heard on High, The Holly and the Ivy, Douglas Mountain, S'vivon, On Christmas Night, Carol of the Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Hine Ma Tov, Reindeer Jive, Riu, Riu, Chiu, Sweet Songs of Christmas, Jingle Bell Swing, The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy, Light the Legend, Lullaby Carol - Premier, Silent Night, All is Well, Disc 2, Be We Merry, Lullay, Susanni, Welcome, Yule!, What Child, A King is Born, Ani Maamin, Alleluia, Ose Shalom, Feed My Lambs, Menybol Ar Angyal, I Saw Three Ships, Still, Still, Still, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, The Angel Gabriel, Living in a Holy City, How Far is it to Bethlehem?, Candlelight Carol, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Let There Be Peace on Earth, We Gather Here Together