What the Soul Already Knows

What the Soul Already Knows is a large-scale symphonic work for choir and orchestra, jointly commissioned by Pacific Chorale under the direction of Robert Istad and The Washington Chorus under the direction of Eugene Rogers. The work receives its world premiere in the upcoming season with Pacific Chorale at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California, with a second premiere by The Washington Chorus in the following season.

Rooted in an exploration of the sacred—in both the physical world and the unseen—the work invites listeners to reflect on the deep interconnectedness of all life. At its core, What the Soul Already Knows is a meditation on our shared humanity and the potential for beauty that arises when we live in alignment with gratitude, unity, and service.

The title received inspiration from the book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul by Celtic spiritual teacher John Philip Newell, whose writings illuminate the sacred as present not only in heaven, but within the earth and all living beings. This philosophy resonated personally with the composer, whose Scottish roots and recent travels to Scotland further deepened the spiritual framework of the work.