Singing her praises

Jillian Pirtle was only 4 when she first heard Marian Anderson sing on a recording. "It was such a huge, rich, beautiful voice," she said of the legendary vocalist.

Now 23, the Bella Vista resident also is a performer, singing on area stages — and even boats.

A few years ago, she found a way to honor the long-admired African-American singer as one of 12 Marian Anderson concert scholars. Supervised by Blanche Burton Lyles, founder of the Marian Anderson Residence Museum, the program is based at the former home of the Philadelphia native, which is open to visitors.

Lyles, an Anderson prot�g�, selects talented, young, African-American vocalists and supports their career efforts. Pirtle and the other participants perform in events sponsored by the museum, which is on Marian Anderson Way (near 19th and Fitzwater streets), and give tours of the spot.

As a Marian Anderson Scholar, Pirtle can express her wide range of interests: "I adore spirituals, gospels, musical theater, classical music."

The vocalist has even done Anderson interpretations: Wearing a gown and donning a hairstyle exactly like the singer’s, she belts out "God Bless America" (an Anderson staple), sings spirituals and performs excerpts from "Porgy and Bess."

Pirtle and the other scholars also take an active role in special events. One highlight was in February during the 50th-anniversary celebration of Anderson’s debut at the Met, when she became the first African American to perform at the venue.

"It was a memorable event," Pirtle, who was thrilled to meet Leontyne Price, Denise Graves and other opera luminaries at that time, said.

During the ceremonies, the scholars were asked to stand. "We were acknowledged for carrying on [Anderson’s] legacy as vocal artists," Pirtle said.

Later that month, the late singer’s birthday was celebrated at the museum, with a festive open house, complete with a cake in her likeness. The scholars greeted visitors, led tours and gave concerts throughout the day.

Anderson’s legacy was honored most recently when a life-size statue was unveiled Sept. 7. "It was long overdue," Pirtle said. "Marian Anderson deserves far more appreciation for opening so many doors to artists of color. She’s my inspiration."

But Pirtle’s love of singing began before hearing Anderson’s voice. At 3, she was already in the choir at New Hope Temple Baptist Church, 711 S. 12th St., where her mother, Patricia Jackson, is a longtime deaconess. Pirtle and mom live — and always have — just a short walk from the place of worship, where both sing every Sunday.

Jackson is another role model for Pirtle. After earning a Ph.D. in psychology, she became the first African-American female in Pennsylvania to earn a detective license. She now has her own security company, as well as a consulting and event-planning business.

Determination, as well as talent, seems to run in the family. Pirtle’s twin brother, Ashley, also is a vocalist who hopes to release an album soon.

With such hard-working and loving people around, Pirtle, a soprano, has a lot of support to achieve her goals — and she’s come a long way. At the University of the Arts, she earned a degree in musical theater and performed in major shows, such as Adrienne Kennedy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning "Funny House of a Negro."

Since then, she’s landed leads in many productions, including "Porgy and Bess" at the Allentown Theater, "Ain’t Misbehavin’" at the Bucks County Playhouse and "Ragtime, the Musical" at the Jenkintown Musical Theater.

Pirtle also is gaining varied experience while performing several times a week on the "Spirit of Philadelphia," a 550-passenger vessel that sails on the Delaware. It embarks every day from Penn’s Landing at Lombard Circle year-round, rain or shine. While on board, passengers enjoy the lively singing and dancing of "Red Hot Rhythm and Blues."

"It’s a Motown-style revue, which is very dear to my heart," Pirtle, one of four performers, said. "We do a lot of Michael Jackson and Diana Ross moves."

Her attire for the production — no matter the weather — is a black ensemble with a halter top and l940s’ T-strap shoes. Dancing in 3-and-a-half-inch heels on a moving boat has its challenges.

"In bad weather, the boat rocks terribly, but we just keep calm and continue performing," Pirtle said cheerfully.

In this revue for almost two years, she’s a trooper who’s performed in wind, downpours and even snowstorms. Whatever the conditions, Pirtle enjoys the experience.

"The audience is receptive," she said. "They’re in good spirits, in a party mood."

Each performer has solos, along with ensemble numbers, and interacts with the crowd, something Pirtle especially enjoys. Often, she’ll do three or four solos during one performance, her favorites being "Everlasting Love," "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Now that the demanding summer schedule — with four sailings a day, including a moonlight cruise; Pirtle usually being on board for three — is over, her involvement on the "Spirit" slows down. But theater season goes into high gear.

This fall, Pirtle had a lead in the Bucks County Playhouse’s "The Hot Mikado," an adaptation of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, which included four solos and a duet. The production ended Oct. 1, but starting Oct. 18, she’ll again be on the Bucks stage in "Hair." Running Wednesdays through Sundays until Oct. 29, the cast performs matinees and evenings.

When her day ends at 10 p.m., Pirtle and her mom — a devoted fan who attends every show — drive an hour from New Hope back to South Philadelphia.

It’s a hectic schedule, but Pirtle welcomes it. "My heart is in musical theater," she said. "My goal is to get to Broadway."

The energetic singer already is planning to audition for several upcoming musicals, including "Purlie," scheduled for the Ritz Theatre in Oaklyn, N.J., and "Carousel" at the Walnut Street Theatre.

Whichever role she gets, her commitment as a Marian Anderson Concert Scholar is ongoing.

"It’s a very important part of my life," she said. "Being able to express my art in a way that honors her memory is a great privilege."