Paul Christensen, his wife Donna Christensen and their award winning Omega Productions crew were recently hired by Malaco Records to produce a live concert Video (CD & DVD) featuring the label’s flagship group, the Mississippi 
Mass Choir. The project, titled, By My Spirit, was staged in Jackson, Mississippi at Thalia Mara Hall. The evening’s festivities featured the high energy performances for which the Choir is well known, presented against the texture of a tight five piece rhythm section assembled by venerable Producer, Milton Biggham. The 120 strong group provided a rich tempest of movement, color and visual excitement for the enthusiastic home crowd as well as Omega’s cameras.
The choir has had an illustrious career since its first live recording 
and video in October of 1988. Among the honors bestowed on the group are numerous Grammy Nominations, Stellar Awards, as well as several Billboard Magazine and National Association of Record Merchandiser Awards, including a 1990 Billboard Special Achievement Award for maintaining #1 on the Billboard Gospel Charts for a record 45 consecutive weeks.
The project was produced by Milton Biggham. Paul and Donna Christensen served as Television and Live Event Producers bringing in their award winning team 
of shooters, including Director Don Moore. Ruthel Flunder assisted the Christensens with talent and logistics. Rounding out Omega’s talented crew were Mike Filippi on Hand Held Camera, Andy Dean on Steadicam, Don Warren on Jimmy Jib and Charlie Faciane and David Bunger on Fixed Cameras. The stage was transformed into a spectacular wash of colors by the venue’s Lighting Director, Bill Kuriger and Steve Anderson with CPX Concert Productions,
Inc., Little Rock, Arkansas, who provided a full compliment of intelligent lighting.
Harvest Media, Anniston, Alabama, provided remote television facilities, with the assistance of Chief Engineer Oak Lea, who also shaded the cameras to capture the vibrant look of the stage. Remote recording facilities were provided by Big Mo Recording, Silver Springs, Maryland. Big Mo’s owner and chief engineer, Greg Hartman provided
the engineering expertise for the live sound track, assisted by Drew Doudette and Jason Lee. Stagelight Sound and Lighting, Pelahatchie, Mississippi, served as sound reinforcement vendor, with Geri O’Neil providing the concert mix at the Front of House position while Bucky Alman handled Monitor Engineer duties. Jill Lucas, Stage Manager for Thalia Mara Hall, provided crew support and supervision of the stage production along with her crew, Bill Kuriger, Lighting 
Director, Clyde Harrison, House Sound Technician and Carol Evans, Flyman.
Paul Christensen and his wife Donna and their Omega crew have had the pleasure of producing six of the seven video projects done by the choir since their first outing in 1988, a project for which Omega provided the live recording. We feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of the ensuing projects, as well as the good fortune to have known so many of the individuals who make up the organization. Our thanks go out to all the fine folks at Malaco Records – Tommy Couch, Sr., Wolf Stephenson, Stewart Madison and Jerry Mannery for their assistance and encouragement.
The Long Form Video and DVD will be edited in Jackson by Eyevox, Inc. The CD and television soundtrack will be mixed and posted at Malaco’s studio. Both projects are scheduled for a Spring 2005 release. More information on the Mississippi Mass Choir is available at www.mississippimasschoir.com as well as www.malaco.com, where info on the choir and other Malaco artists is available.
Here is the song, “If I Be Lifted Up.”
