She Shall Have Music: An interview with Priscilla French

“Priscilla French puts on amazing choral concerts and has a way of drawing people together,” says The Music Hall’s Executive Director Patricia Lynch. “This celebration, with its emphasis on children, seems a perfect and affordable way for a family to enjoy a fun, inspiring concert post-brunch or pre- dinner. With tickets at $5 for Music Hall members and $10 for the general public, we hope everyone can bring their mom, grandmother, or favorite aunt and celebrate the special bond we all share.” She Shall Have Music: A Mother’s Day Celebration Concert, will take place at 3 pm on Sunday, May 8 at the Historic Theater.

We recently caught up with Ms. French, choral director of Portsmouth Pro Musica and ”>The Sandpiper Seacoast Children’s Chorus to talk about the backstory of the concert, and what the audience can expect to hear on this special afternoon.

Regina Baraban: What inspired you to create the Mother’s Day concert? How is it going to work?

Priscilla French: My inspiration to create the concert started with a conversation with Patricia Lynch more than a year ago, in March 2015. After a decade of my co-producing the Messiah Sing concert at the Music Hall, Patricia invited me to produce a Mother’s Day choral concert. I wanted the program to be entertaining to mothers, with lighter music. I wanted to feature some of the best area youth choruses. As well, in searching the Web, I discovered there is much material in the Broadway repertoire that is related to mothers, ranging from sentimental to very funny. The resulting 75-minute program will be in two parts, with no intermission. The first part features local choruses and the second half features four area professional singers performing Broadway show tunes, accompanied by a pianist.  The Broadway selections are humorous and upbeat, and pay tribute to mothers.

RB: Please share details about the choirs and performers.

PF: Choirs include the Sandpipers Seacoast Children’s Chorus, joining the York High School Honors Treble Choir, an auditioned choir of 27 girls in grades 9-12, directed by Rob Westerberg.  The four local singers performing Broadway selections are Linette Miles, Kim Keeler, Wendell Purrington, and Jackson Walsh (age 12!), accompanied by Kathy Fink on piano. Kathy is very knowledgeable about musical theatre, and brainstormed with me on the Broadway selections. As well, several girls from Arts in Reach will perform two songs learned during their February vacation camp.

RB: Where did the program name She Shall Have Music come from?

PF: She Shall Have Music is the title of one of the combined choral pieces. It is based on a nursery rhyme and written by Boston-area composer Nick Page.

RB: Will there be any audience participation?

PF: The program closes with an audience participation song. It will be a well-known song—a surprise! It’s a classic many of us grew up with, so I doubt folks will be shy about joining in. My experience is that when the audience participates in music-making, they experience the joy that comes from singing.

RB: What makes this concert especially appealing for families—and for Moms?

PF: The blend of youth choral singing with professional Broadway singing should provide a delightful afternoon of musical entertainment following Mother’s Day brunch. Plus, the entire program is deliberately on the short side. This promises to be a joyous and upbeat afternoon of song as we honor all mothers, leaving the audience feeling inspired and uplifted!