Roberta Q. Jackson

Review: Now entering its third decade, ably led by Co-Conductors Roberta Q. Jackson and Debra R. Burgess, the award-winning PSG is taking its place among the finest children's choral ensembles in the country. Over 1,000 young women ages 5 to 18, who love to sing, have come together through the years to create the distinct voice of the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir, and the 100+-strong ensemble joins the 33-strong, "20th Anniversary Alums & Mums Choir" for 17 piano-accompanied, selected live cuts, recorded from 2008 to 2010. Favorites are a pair by Duke Ellington," "It Don't Mean A Thing" and "Mood Indigo," Charles Collins' "Mary Had A Little Blues," Bill Perison's "Naughty Four O'Clocks," "Gershwin for Girls," Moses Hogan's "Ride On, King Jesus," Charles Collins' "The Star," Stephen Hatfield's "Living In a Holy City," "Deep Peace, a Gaelic Blessing" and David Brunner's "A Song to End All Wars." We love the sweet, spirited sound of the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir, one of the best in the world!

Songlist: Give Us Hope, Music Is Indeed, It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing), Mood Indigo, Mary Had A Little Blues, Naughty Four O'Clocks, Gershwin For Girls, Birth Of The Blues, Bye Bye Blackbird, Living In A Holy City, Ride On, King Jesus, My Lord, What a Mornin', The Storm Is Passing Over, Deep Peace, A Gaelic Blessing, The Star, She Shall Have Music, A Song To End All Wars

Review: Roberta Q. Jackson directs the over 100 strong PSG, accompanied by the Portland Youth Philharmonic. This is a Christmas CD, and there are 21 songs in celebration of Christmas, from sacred (Galuppi's "Dixit Dominus (Psalm 110) Movements, I, II, II") to pop (Elliot's "Jingle Bell Swing"). There are actually 2 choirs here, the Premier Choir of over 100 voices, and the Debut Choir of about 90, and when they sing together on something like "Silver Bells," it's pretty impressive. An excellent Christmas CD, for yourself to enjoy every Christmas, or to give to a loved one.

Songlist: Shepherd's Pipe Carol, Cantique de Jean Racine, Dixit Dominus, Children Blessed of the Lord, This Little Babe, Chose Something Like a Star, Ding Dong Merrily on High, el Desembre Congelat, Il Est Ne, Angels We Have Heard on High, Hope for Resolution, Donkey Carol, Hine Ma Tov, Sleigh Ride, Jingle Bell Swing, I'll Be HOme For Christmas, Heavenly Aeroplane, Winter Wonderland, The Christmas Song, Silver Bells, O Holy Night

Review: Co-Conductors Roberta Q. Jackson and Debra R. Burgess have led the 168-strong PSG to its current status as one of the finest children's choirs in the US, widely acclaimed by composers, conductors and audiences. Composed of five ensembles, all of whom benefit from Jackson and Burgess' unique collaborative approach to artistry and teaching; the PSG was awarded the prestigious ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming, and the conductors continue to commission new works for PSG ensembles each season. They also created "Music in the Making," an annual Girlchoir event, hosting guest composers, conductors and area school and community choirs. "Stars" is a wonderful collection of 19 lightly accompanied live performances from 2005-2007 by the 5 ensembles, individually and combined. Some favorites are the soaring, dramatic "Kayama & Ademus" (from Songs of Sanctuary by Karl Jenkins), the Stephen Hatfield-commissioned a cappella spiritual "First to Know," Bob Chilcott's "Benedictus" (from A Little Jazz Mass), Lee Kesselman's "Hwayana yaMwari" (Agnus Dei from Shona Mass), Eleanor Dale's "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," Mozart's "Papageno, Papagena Duet" (from the Magic Flute), Irving Berlin's "I Love a Piano," the lovely folk song "Away From the Roll of the Sea," James Rankin's "Fare Thee Well, Love" and the final cut, Keith Hampton's "Praise His Holy Name." From beginning to end, the aptly named "Stars that sing..." is a beautiful recording that touches and moves us!

Songlist: Kayama &Adiemus, Song of the Stars, First to Know, Sanctus, Benedictus, Hwayana yaMwari, Einini, Castle of Dromore, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, Who But I?, Papageno, Papagena Duet, Hopi, Hop, Une Poule Blanche, I Love A Piano, Bye Bye Blackbird, Away From the Roll of the Sea, Camino Caminante, Fare Thee Well, Love, Praise His Holy Name

Review: This live 2-CD set features the four Girlchoirs, the Premier Choir, Intermezzo Choir, Debut Choir and Encore Singers in 24 pieces on the first CD, and 14 on the 2nd CD. All pieces are accompanied, by piano, organ, percussion, string quartet and by other instruments. Ably conducted by Roberta Jackson and Debra Burgess, The last 7 selections on the first CD are a "best of" from the Girlchoir's founding in 1989 to 2004 and include a pair of commissioned songs, "Deep Peace, A Gaelic Blessing" and "Spero" (Hope), both written by PSG alumnus Amy C. Burgess. 7 of the pieces on the first CD are sacred Christian pieces, such as Bach's "Christe Eleison from Mass in B Minor" and Rupert Long's "Sanctus from Mass For Many Nations." The Moses-Hogan arranged spiritual "Ride on King Jesus" and his "Music Down In My Soul," Steven Hatfield's "Over the Hills," Gwenyth Walker's "How Can I Keep From Singing" and Lee Kesselman's commission, "Tsvey Taybelekh" (The Two Doves), are particularly fine. Also fine are four movements from Benjamin Britten's "The Little Sweep" from "Lets Make an Opera." A generous, finely-crafted collection from the talented Portland Symphonic Girlchoir.

Songlist: Sing Dem Herrn, Behold Man, O Regem Caeli, Praise Him!, Salvation Is Created, Laudamus, E'en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come, God Is My Rock, The Tabernacle Of God Is With, Heaven, The Creation, Ride The Chariot, Selections From The Student Prince, Song For Today, She Is My Slender Small Love, Let No Man Despise Thy Youth, Polly Von, Widerspruch, The Long Day Closes, From Boston Harbor, Blue World, Fiddler's Fare, Kiss The Girl, Red Head