Lee Kesselman is one of those dynamic people, active in music, who seem to"have it all." First and foremost, he is a first-rate, accomplished musician. That impeccable musicianship comes through, loud and clear, in all of his inspiring work as a composer, conductor, and teacher.

I have enjoyed each opportunity I have had to make music with Lee Kesselman. He is a fine musician, always ready to move beyond the page into the world of communicative sound. He is a much-loved conductor of groups large and small, able to lead them through a lively rehearsal process into meaningful performance. And as a human being, he is a true friend with a delightful sense of humor and of what is truly important in our lives.

The heart of a poet, the mind of a philosopher, a spirit of quiet observation, these qualities infuse Lee’s music and music-making. His music is his distinct voice and one musicians sense is authentic and organic. I have and will continue to program Lee’s music with singers of all ages.

Portland Symphonic Girlchoir and its conductors have enjoyed numerous opportunities to work together with Lee to explore his PSG commissions and have also performed many pieces from his large body of work, with a number of them becoming Girlchoir favorites! Lee continues to expand Girlchoir’s artistry as musicians and singers with his brilliance in writing music in a variety of genres that speaks deeply to them and our audiences. Every piece of music he has written for us has connected with us as conductors and with our singers allowing us to send inspiring and beautifully crafted music with important messages into the universe. We not only value Lee’s compositional skill, but also his humanity and our long-time, deep friendship. Lee R. Kesselman is a gifted composer with a relevant voice for today.

Roberta Q. Jackson and Debra D. Burgess, Co-Conductors

Portland Symphonic Girlchoir

When Lee Kesselman sits down to compose, he is writing for the ages. He is using his lifetime of knowledge, an unending curiosity, and a unique ability to synthesize diverse styles to create music that stirs the intellect, feeds the heart, and challenges the soul.

Lee Kesselman's music has always been part of my core repertoire for community, school, and festival choirs. Across all difficulty levels, I find his pieces to be artfully crafted with something interesting to say. He knows how to write for the voice at all stages of development, and his music honors the singer's intelligence and quest for excellence.

Lee Kesselman is the consummate inquisitive musician - educator, conductor, composer, performer. And his brilliant career continues to blossom. His interests lie in the possible. Can't wait to see/hear what comes next!

Illinois-based composer Lee Kesselman contributes his own take on the subject of bees (and as a beekeeper, I certainly approve!), with (BUZZINGS) Three Pieces about Bees, texts by Emily Dickinson. The last song, “Bee! I’m expecting you!”, is a delightful monologue, full of humor and clever vocal writing that’s more like speech than song.

No words can describe the communal sentiments of pain and love these musicians created as they carried the audience through an emotional journey beginning with Mozart’s Ch’io mi scordi di te, through Ravel’s Kaddisch in memory of the Tree of Life tragedy, to the tender, tear-welling climax of the performance, Lee Kesselman’s setting of e.e. cummings’s poem, “i carry your heart,” which received a standing ovation.