Well here I am, writing my first-ever message as the Artistic Director of The Choristers... wow! I am absolutely thrilled to be leading The Choristers into a new chapter of their life as a choir. The Choristers is the passion project and life's artistic work of Founding Director Emeritus David Spitko, and I'm excited to build upon that foundation of musical excellence.
I am a life-long singer and pianist. I started taking piano lessons at age five and began singing in our church children's choir when I was in second grade. While I loved music from early on, I didn't really recognize the power of group singing until I was singing in my high school choir. It was the experiences that I had there that led me to pursue a career in teaching music and leading others in singing. That career has included teaching in both public school and community settings and performing with choirs of all sizes, both locally, in the US, and internationally.
I'm hoping that you've arrived here on this page of our website for one of a few reasons. Maybe you've sung in a choir and have experienced first-hand the joy and community that comes from singing together... such a blessing! Or maybe you've sung in an ensemble seeking that joy and community and haven't quite found it yet. Perhaps you are a patron of the arts, drawn to compelling performances and captivating programming. Regardless of what brought you here, The Choristers has something to offer you.
As Artistic Director, I am committed to the choir’s mission of including under-performed works in our programming. I’m excited to expand that initiative to include new and emerging choral composers and their music. Representing diverse voices in engaging thematic programs is a long-term goal of mine for The Choristers. But don’t worry… this doesn’t mean we’ll be ignoring the masterworks and time-honored classics that you’ve come to know and love! We look forward to presenting thoughtfully crafted programs that pair familiar well-loved repertoire with intriguing new works.
So, how can you partner with The Choristers as we enter our next chapter? Well first and foremost, we would be nothing without our community of musicians who come together to perform. If you are interested in auditioning or know someone who might be, please reach out to me today at kwchoristers@gmail.com to set up an audition. Singers can join The Choristers by season, starting in August and then again in January.
Additionally, there is a very real cost to all that we do to present each concert of music, and we have several funds in place that support the choir’s programming. Will you consider making a donation to financially support the choir? That donation can help us pay the musicians who accompany us, rent the beautiful performance space that we use, fund future commissions by the choir, or support our scholarship and endowment funds. We work hard behind-the-scenes to ensure that 90% of every dollar donated goes directly towards The Choristers. You can make a donation today by clicking here. Thank you!
Thank you, Choristers community, for being a part of our musical mission. We look forward to having you at a concert soon, whether it be on stage or in the audience!