2024–2025 Season
Celebrating our 15th anniversary!
As always, all Chestnut Street Singers concerts are pay-what-you-wish, no ticket required.
In the House of Tomorrow
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
-Kahlil Gibran
A concert exploring the never-ending process of finding our truth, shedding and regrowing stories of ourselves, and allowing the enduring mystery of life define us.
We Build in Air
How do we shape the invisible? In music and in life, we build the intangible in air—reaching into the unseen and giving it form. Join us for a concert exploring how we build and release tension: with collective breath, through cycles of emotion, and in shared music making. We invite you to listen, to reflect, and perhaps take part in the creation of something new.
To the Brilliant Sky
Where can we go? What can we dream? Join us to explore what appears to be the universal human tendency to look up at the stars and long to explore. We reckon with our venturesome spirits, take some leaps, and find ourselves boldly out in the unknown.
Ask the Winter Moon
Who are we when we enter this season of cold & dark? And who will we be when we emerge on the other side?
The Passing of the Year
Reflections on the four seasons, centered around Jonathan Dove’s masterful work for double chorus and piano.
Stand In That River
In the midst of disorienting upheaval in the natural world, we can seek solace in the beauty around us.
Featuring music of Melissa Dunphy, Moira Smiley, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Victoria.
CANCELED Chestnut Street Singers and Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble – New Jersey
In summer 2020, we will partner with New Jersey’s Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble to present a joint concert featuring works for larger choir, which could not be performed alone. In addition to joining forces, each choir will perform an independent set of complementary works. An exciting finish to our 10th season, and a showcase of ensemble collaboration.
We have decided to cancel our upcoming collaboration with Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble. We did not come to this decision lightly. Singing and performing together brings us such joy, but the threat of potentially putting ourselves and others at risk is just far too great.
Thanks to all of our supporters who have helped us celebrate a decade of music-making. We wish our community in Philadelphia and beyond health, strength, love, and patience.
CANCELED Chestnut Street Singers and Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble – Philadelphia
In summer 2020, we will partner with New Jersey’s Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble to present a joint concert featuring works for larger choir, which could not be performed alone. In addition to joining forces, each choir will perform an independent set of complementary works. An exciting finish to our 10th season, and a showcase of ensemble collaboration
We have decided to cancel our upcoming collaboration with Glassbrook Vocal Ensemble. We did not come to this decision lightly. Singing and performing together brings us such joy, but the threat of potentially putting ourselves and others at risk is just far too great.
Thanks to all of our supporters who have helped us celebrate a decade of music-making. We wish our community in Philadelphia and beyond health, strength, love, and patience.
Always Singing – St. Mark's Church, Locust Street
Always Singing includes works by American composers and features the world premiere of Dale Trumbore’s “A Different Kind of Flight,” which is commissioned by and dedicated to the Chestnut Street Singers. The text is a compilation of various texts authored by current and former members of the Chestnut Street Singers. Taking inspiration from Dale Trumbore’s new piece, other works in Always Singing incorporate texts from a variety of sources. All mention singing in one way or another.
FINNEY: Spherical Madrigals
PUTS: “At Castle Wood” from To Touch The Sky
TRUMBORE: A Different Kind of Flight (world premiere)
WOLFE: Guard My Tongue
HAILSTORK: Nocturne
BARBER: Twelfth Night
BARBER: To be sung on the water
CARMICHAEL (arr. CASSEY): Stardust
RODGERS (arr. AL-ZAND): My Romance
GERSHWIN (arr. OJEDA-GONZALEZ): Blah, Blah, Blah
WARLAND: Always Singing
Always Singing – Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
Always Singing includes works by American composers and features the world premiere of Dale Trumbore’s “A Different Kind of Flight,” which is commissioned by and dedicated to the Chestnut Street Singers. The text is a compilation of various texts authored by current and former members of the Chestnut Street Singers. Taking inspiration from Dale Trumbore’s new piece, other works in Always Singing incorporate texts from a variety of sources. All mention singing in one way or another.
FINNEY: Spherical Madrigals
PUTS: “At Castle Wood” from To Touch The Sky
TRUMBORE: A Different Kind of Flight (world premiere)
WOLFE: Guard My Tongue
HAILSTORK: Nocturne
BARBER: Twelfth Night
BARBER: To be sung on the water
CARMICHAEL (arr. CASSEY): Stardust
RODGERS (arr. AL-ZAND): My Romance
GERSHWIN (arr. OJEDA-GONZALEZ): Blah, Blah, Blah
WARLAND: Always Singing
World Without End – St. Thomas, Whitemarsh
World Without End is a concert featuring the Chestnut Street Singers and organist Michael Smith. Repertoire includes anthems from the golden era of the English choral/organ tradition, loosely following the structure of an Anglican evensong service and centered by Herbert Howells’ groundbreaking Collegium Regale setting. A contemplative atmosphere in which historical Anglican Church music is cast in conversation with contemporary settings and thought. Sunday’s concert is in the sanctuary at St. Thomas’ Church, Whitemarsh in Flourtown, PA.
World Without End – S. Clement's Church
World Without End is a concert featuring the Chestnut Street Singers and organist Michael Smith. Repertoire includes anthems from the golden era of the English choral/organ tradition, loosely following the structure of an Anglican evensong service and centered by Herbert Howells’ groundbreaking Collegium Regale setting. A contemplative atmosphere in which historical Anglican Church music is cast in conversation with contemporary settings and thought. Friday’s concert is downtown at S. Clement’s Church.