On Saturday April 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM, The Choristers will present the premiere of its first commission: Even The Grass Must Sing by Kile Smith. The Choristers commissioned three-time Grammy-nominated Kile Smith to compose an 18-20 minute work with choir divisi (SSAATTBB) accompanied by a chamber orchestra.
Artistic Director David Spitko approached Mr. Smith with the commission asking for a composition focusing on “rebirth” … a secular version of a spring Easter message. The piece will set to music four poems by Pennsylvania native Jane Flanders. Of Flanders’ poems, Smith says, “That theme [rebirth] infuses these poems, as do images of nature and growing plants.” One of the four poems includes the following verses:
When milkweed spreads its wings
and flies exquisitely off
even the grass must sing
of falling over and over again
towards new lives, no less beautiful.
Hence the title of the commissioned work: Even The Grass Must Sing. Click here for more from David Spitko, Artistic Director.
The Choristers strongly encourages audition submissions from minority group members, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and anyone who can add to the artistic merit and vision of The Choristers. Auditions can be scheduled by sending an email of interest to DSpitko@TheChoristers.org. Auditions are individually scheduled with the prospective singer any time after a concert through two weeks into rehearsals for the following concert.
Go to our FAQs page to learn more about becoming a choir member.