Published: August 22, 2008 01:53 pm         

Marsten, Jackson to perform in Pleasant Hill Aug. 30, 31

Soprano Jessica Marsten and tenor David W. Jackson will provide a delightful weekend of music, Aug. 30 and 31, in Pleasant Hill. The couple are members of the professional choir at the Riverside Church, UCC in New York City and concertize in many venues. They are just returning from a festival in Piton, Austria where they were part of the faculty for three weeks.
On Saturday morning, Aug. 30, they will be presenting "A Retrospective of American Musical Theater," words and music, sponsored by the SHALOM Center of Continuing Education, which will be held in Adshead Hall of Fletcher House. This will include selections from musicals dating back to the '30s and including such favorites as South Pacific, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof and West Side Story. 
On Sunday afternoon, Aug. 31, at 3 p.m. the music committee of the Pleasant Hill Community Church will sponsor the couple in a classical concert in the church sanctuary. Included in this program will be solos and duets by Gabriel Faure, Robert Schumann, Charles Gounod, Gerald Finzi and a group of songs by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona. Concluding the recital will be a group of light opera duets by Sigmund Romberg and Franz Lehar. Emily Byrens of Pleasant Hill will be the accompanist for their performances.
Marsten has sung distinguishing roles in operatic productions in New York City, Vermont, Austria, and Mexico. She made her New York recital debut in Carnegie Hall as a winner of the Artist International Young Musician’s Awards. At the request of renowned composer Beth Anderson she returned there in 2003 to perform The Angel, with the Rubio String Quartet. She can be heard reprising the work on the CD Swales and Angels, released by New World Records. 
Audiences in New England know David Jackson best from his many appearances with Opera Northeast, the Liederkranz, and New York Chamber Operas. He has also appeared with Michigan Opera Theater, Dayton Opera, Orlando Opera, and Colorado Opera Festival, among others performing a wide variety of roles. Jackson also has a varied oratorio background having appeared with the Denver Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Florida Symphony, and Saginaw Symphony Orchestras. He holds degrees in voice from Olivet College where he was a student of Emily Byrens and also from the University of Colorado.
Fletcher House is on Fletcher Circle off of Church Street across from the Pleasant Hill Post Office. The Community Church is on Church Street. The performances are free and open to the public.