By Anna Hughes

In 2008, Molly Lindberg saw a need in the local community:

Music.

At least more of it.

Ragazze a cappella ensemble, Voce, rehearses with the help of their coaches. Photo by Carling FitzSimmons

Although many schools offer choir and music programs, some students were looking for more: more practice, more difficulty, more variety, and more community.

So, Lindberg started the Spirito Singers. She wanted to create a place where young women from many different communities could come together and sing choral music of the highest caliber. For 16 years, Spirito Singers has promoted their mission of inspiring their singers to be leaders through music education, performance excellence, and service to others.

Spirito started with two groups: Bravura, for highschool girls, and the Men of Spirito, which was originally comprised of fathers/grandfathers of the treble singers, as well as other men in the community looking for brotherhood through music. A year later, they added Ragazze for fifth through eighth-grade singers, and in 2021 they introduced breakout a capella groups.

Lindberg served as the artistic director of these groups until 2020 when she handed the conductor’s wand to Carling FitzSimmons. FitzSimmons now serves as the artistic director, handling all things music, as well as working to advance the mission of the choir.

“Music enables us to relate to each other and understand ourselves and the world,” FitzSimmons said. “As a music educator, I am keenly aware that I’m teaching our world’s future leaders, and I want to make sure that they know the strength of their voices, but also how to work together, to empathize, to connect. Music teaches all that.”

With all of the success they’ve seen performing both at home and internationally, as well as demand for further expansion, Spirito is proud to announce their newest group: Forte. Now, second through fourth graders can develop their voices and musical interests after school in a fun, low-stress environment. The progress singers have made during their time in Spirito is incredible, FitzSimmons notes, and they’ll be able to start that process at an even younger age.

Spirito singers come from over 20 communities in the city and suburbs of Chicago, but the three current groups (Ragazze, Bravura, and the Men of Spirito) rehearse here in Elmhurst. Ragazze and Bravura are treble choirs, meaning for higher voices. Spirito was originally founded as a group for girls, but some of the members today identify as nonbinary.

FitzSimmons wants to make this a space where people are accepted for who they are – which she says has always been the case at Spirito. She said she’s proud of the girls for accepting and appreciating every member of the group for all they have to offer.

Bravura singers embrace before a concert. Photo courtesy of Spirito Singers

“My feeling as artistic director is that as long as a singer identifies with our mission – to inspire young women to be leaders through music education, performance excellence, and service – and sings comfortably in their treble range, they are welcome,” FitzSimmons said

These groups have an impressive resume of esteemed venues. They’ve traveled to Nashville, San Francisco, and New York City, where they performed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Carnegie Hall. They’ve also showcased their talents across the Chicagoland area, including at the Symphony Center, on WFMT’s Introductions, and this past winter at the Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Last spring, Bravura made their European debut in France, which FitzSimmons recalled as one of her favorite performances to date.

But fancy concerts aren’t the only time you’ll see Spirito singers out and about. The organization and singers in it are steadfast in their commitment to service their communities. They often sing at nursing homes or hospitals, and work with organizations like Feed My Starving Children and Bernie’s Book Bank.

“It’s truly incredible to see how much joy music brings to people’s lives,” FitzSimmons said.

Through their weekly rehearsals, unifying performances, and acts of selfless service, these singers have become a close-knit group of friends. (FitzSimmons said the girls refer to each other as their “Spirito sisters.”) Through the confusing years of middle and high school, navigating growing up, and grappling with what it means to become a woman, the “Spirito sisters” have each other.

“Spirito advocates for musicians and artists but it also advocates for young female leaders and dreamers,” Bravura senior Natasha Lumb said. “We all are driven, kind, and passionate. Spirito has built a strong community and foundation for me as I have grown to find and love myself.”

Spirito Singers is looking for new faces to join them this summer for Camp Spirito (3rd-5th graders) and next year in all ensembles! Interested singers and parents should go to their website www.spiritosingers.org/getinvolved to schedule a private or group audition or sign up for their next Open Rehearsal. ■

The Bravura a cappella ensemble performs in 2022. Photo by Kristi Tolman