Carling FitzSimmons

Artistic Director

After graduating from Kenyon College in Ohio, Carling returned to her roots in Chicago and has established herself as a masterful singer, conductor, and arts educator. As a conductor of young singers, Carling has worked for the Pro Musica Youth Chorus, Chicago Public Schools, and the Merit School of Music, where she currently teaches private voice and advanced vocal technique and is Head of Choirs at the Tuition-free Conservatory. Carling has also served as the guest conductor for both the William Ferris Chorale and

the Northwest Choral Society, and has appeared as a guest conductor and clinician and at Goshen College, Kenyon College, and with the Young Naperville Singers.

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Lauded for her “sweet-toned” voice, Carling has maintained an active singing career, performing with ensembles including Bella Voce, Aestas Consort, the Rockefeller Decani, and the William Ferris Chorale. In addition, Carling serves as Artistic Director of La Caccina, a professional women’s vocal ensemble she founded in 2011. Under her guidance, La Caccina has established itself as the city’s premier treble ensemble, performing in a diverse range of styles, and commissioning exciting new treble works, especially by composers whose voices have been under-represented in choral music. Through La Caccina, Carling has proven herself to be a champion of new music and an innovative conductor, earning praise for her “visionary and generous” leadership. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Choral Conducting at Michigan State University.

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Carling is honored and overjoyed to be joining the Spirito! family.