Teenage girls have very few limits. At least that's what San Francisco Girls Chorus artistic director Sharon J. Paul thinks.
"They are resilient when it comes to singing," Paul said during a phone interview from her home in San Francisco. "And they seem to be fearless in anything they sing, even in different languages."
The San Francisco Girls Chorus touring ensemble, Chorissima, will perform Friday, June 2, at the Temple Square Assembly Hall. The singing will begin at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.
In addition to that performance, Chorissima will be featured with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for a taping of "Music and the Spoken Word" on Sunday, June 4, at 8:30 a.m. in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Admission is free.
Paul has been the artistic director of the girls chorus for eight years. And even back then, she knew what she was coming into. "The organization has been in existence for 21 years. And it has always been committed to musical excellence. When I became director, I didn't want to change anything. I just wanted to take it into the future."
Paul is impressed with the caliber of musical talent that comprises the chorus. "There are a total of 325 girls in the chorus. We are bringing 41 to Salt Lake City. But while they might be teenage girls, they are also extraordinarily sophisticated artists."
Chorus members' ages range between 7 and 18, said Paul.
"They audition, and we separate them into groups depending on their knowledge of music," she explained. "Most of the girls begin in level one or level two. And they go through a full course of study."
The girls learn vocal technique, artistry, performance, dictation and music theory, history and style, said Paul. "By the time they are 12 or 14, these girls have already completed four or five years of professional training."
Of course, the music is an important aspect of the singing. "When I choose the music, I look for a whole package. An interesting text is important. But the music also needs to be interesting to the audience and challenging for the girls. It also needs to be inspirational and, hopefully, be the type of music that will attract bigger audiences."
Chorissima has embarked on eight international tours, recorded nine albums and performed on the San Francisco Symphony's Grammy Award-winning "Stravinsky" album.
For Friday evening's performance, Chorissima will perform an international program with Finnish, French, Japanese, Mexican and American folk songs.
While the professionalism of the chorus is top-notch, the voices are of teen girls.
"They certainly are teenagers," Paul said with a laugh. "And we deal with all the issues that come up in everyday, teenage lives. But no matter what happens in their personal lives or what kind of issues at school might come up, a good number of the members view the chorus as a sanctuary.
"We struggle together," she said. "And I'm always amazed when it comes time for graduation. They have to write a letter when they leave the school, and in those letters, it never fails, they tell us how much the chorus has been a nurturing and safe place for them."
This is Paul's last year as artistic director. She recently gave birth to a son and wants to spend more time in a smaller city with her family. But she will always have a place in her heart for the San Francisco Girls Chorus. "The girls have always bloomed musically. And they've been equal partners with me when it came to the music.
"They don't act like children while working on new pieces. In fact, it has been rewarding for me to see them getting involved with the process. They volunteer their own ideas and thoughts on how to present the works. And they've shown a keen sense of responsibility to bring the music to the people."
E-mail: scott@desnews.com