In 1989, thirty-nine singers attended the first rehearsal of the Girlchoir. As we enter our 18th Season, 170 singers
experience the challenge of mastering complex and exciting music; make lifelong friends in a unique musical community;
work with world-class choirs, composers, and conductors; and perform beautifully. Singers in five progressive ensembles,
ranging in age from 6 to 18, travel from throughout the metro-Portland and SW Washington areas to participate in Girlchoir's
comprehensive choral music program.
Widely acclaimed by composers, conductors, and music educators for its musicality, adventurous programming, and dynamic
performances, the Portland Symphonic Girlchoir offers a performance-based vocal music education for talented girls who
love to sing. Under the direction of Founding Artistic Director & Co-Conductor Roberta Q. Jackson and Co-Conductor
& Vocal Coach Debra R. Burgess, each Girlchoir ensemble enjoys the benefit of a unique collaborative approach using the
artistry and skillful teaching of both conductors. Our outstanding pianists are Kay Doyle, who plays for Premier and Encore,
and Dr. Tamara Still, who plays for Prelude Singers, Debut, and Intermezzo.
Dr. Doreen Rao, internationally renowned conductor and educator, proclaimed about Girlchoir, "This choir can reach the moon!
This choir is already on the moon!" Our earthly accomplishments include a feature on Oregon Art Beat; broadcasts on All
Classical 89.9 FM and numerous guest appearances, such as Western Oregon University's Stephen Hatfield Composer's Forum,
Girlchoir-in-Residence at the Pacific International Children's Choir Festival, and collaborations with the Oregon Symphony,
the Portland Youth Philharmonic, Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Portland's Columbia Symphony Orchestra, and Pacific Festival
Ballet. As part of a challenging program that inspires choristers to strive for vocal and personal excellence, the Girlchoir
has toured to Eugene, Los Angeles, San Antonio, New Orleans, Tacoma, and Seattle as well as Canada, Denmark, Italy, Australia,
land, England, Portugal and Spain. In June 2006, the Intermezzo Choir performed in Carnegie Hall with guest conductor Dr.
Janet Galvan. Premier embarked on their 8th International Tour traveling to Paris, France, singing in Notre Dame Cathedral
and York, England, as an invited choir for the 20th Anniversary of the Choral Music Experience Institute in July 2006.
In 2003, Girlchoir was honored with the prestigious 2003 ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming. We are
delighted to have seven of our commissioned works published by Boosey & Hawkes. In addition, the Girlchoir was selected
by distinguished Canadian composer, Imant Raminsh, to be one of a three-choir consortium of outstanding U. S. children's
choirs to co-commission The Nightingale, a new children's choral opera, which Girlchoir presented in Portland at the Newmark
Theater on June 10 & 11, 2005, receiving high praise from the composer and all those in attendance.
Over the years, Girlchoir's artistry has been documented by its CD recordings including Celebrate, which Oregonian Music
Critic David Stabler reviewed as one of his top 10 CDs from 1998. He said, PSG "is in top form under conductor Roberta Q.
Jackson. The singing is lively, crisp, and musically satisfying in every way." Our 4th CD, Our Hearts Sing! includes 13
cuts from our 2001-2002 Season, which was the basis for our ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming. Last
season we were delighted to release our 5th CD, We're Going Places! which garnered high praise from choral directors across
the U.S. and Canada. $2.00 from each CD sale goes to the New Orleans Children's Chorus, with whom Intermezzo collaborated in
2003 at the Crescent City Choral Festival, to aid their recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
Girlchoir and beautiful music go hand in hand. Our 18th Anniversary Season showcases the distinct voices of Girlchoir as we
share our music in Oregon and beyond!
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