our mission
Sphere Born, a professional choral ensemble for Indianapolis, is committed to choral excellence, artistic and scholarly integrity, and educational outreach by:
Fostering the next generation of choral professionals and soloists within an environment that demands collaborative musicianship and consort-style singing of the highest caliber.
Contributing a distinct voice to the city's distinguished tradition of choral singing.
Engaging the wider community with programming that celebrates tradition, is enlightened by a commitment to historically-informed performance practice, and embraces lesser-known and contemporary works.
simon thomas jacobs
Originally from the UK, Simon has been establishing roots in his adopted home city of Indianapolis since 2011, when he commenced a three-year post as Associate Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral on Monument Circle.
It was during this time that he developed a deep appreciation for the city’s musical heritage, and its passionate dedication to classical choral music. After years of planning and dreaming, he is thrilled to be bringing Sphere Born onto the local musical scene.
Simon’s love of choral and organ music began as a chorister at Waltham Abbey in Essex. He went on to read for a degree in music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he worked closely with Timothy Brown and the College’s internationally-renowned chapel choir in a busy schedule of choral services, performances, recordings and broadcasts.
In 2013, Simon won First Prize and the Audience Prize at the St Albans International Organ Competition. As the 22nd organist to receive this distinction since 1963, he has secured a place alongside some of the world’s finest concert organists and has subsequently built an international reputation for his innovative programming, exacting technique, and engaging performances. He continued his organ studies with James David Christie at Oberlin College, receiving an Artist’s Diploma in 2015.
Alongside his musical endeavors, Simon has transitioned to a career in commercial aviation earning type-ratings in several transport-category jets—the Embraer 170, Airbus 320, Boeing 717, and Boeing 757/767. He currently operates the latter as a First Officer for Delta Air Lines.
frequently asked questions
Why does Indianapolis need another choir?
It is no secret that Indianapolis is home to numerous fine choral ensembles associated with religious, educational, and secular institutions. While many of these ensembles employ professional singers, there is presently no independent, all-professional choral ensemble in Indianapolis.
Sphere Born hopes to fulfill this niche by providing a musical community for local professional singers to thrive and grow, perform lesser-known repertoire, and partner with venues and institutions throughout the city.
Where do your musicians come from?
Every musician currently performing with Sphere Born is based in Indianapolis or Bloomington and this focus on local musicians is central to the ensemble’s mission. As the ensemble grows–and as repertoire dictates–we hope to attract singers from further afield to collaborate with us, but never at the expense of providing opportunities for local musicians. Sphere Born is especially focused on creating an environment where those at the start of their careers can enhance their skills.
Is Sphere Born a nonprofit organization?
Sphere Born is incorporated as a nonprofit organization in the State of Indiana, and has applied to the IRS for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a Public Charity. The IRS approval process is currently taking 6-9 months. A Board of Directors oversees the running of the organization and ensures the ensemble’s mission and by-laws are upheld.
Please contact us directly if you have further questions about this process.
How is Sphere Born financed?
While there are numerous grant-giving organizations in Indianapolis, we are not eligible to apply for grants until our application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a Public Charity has been approved by the IRS. Until then we are entirely reliant on private donations from the general public to support our work. We hope that in offering free performances to the community over the coming months we will be able to build a strong audience and donor base ahead of our first full, ticketed concert season beginning in the Fall of 2026.
What’s next?
We plan to present at least two more concerts through the summer of 2026 as part of our “launch” season. These will be free to the general public, and organized in such a way as to responsibly and most effectively utilize our limited financial resources.
Assuming sufficient financial support–predicated considerably on obtaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status as a Public Charity–Sphere Born plans to present a full season of 3-4 ticketed events in the 2026-2027 season.
How can I be involved?
We appreciate you taking the time to learn more about us and hope you will become a regular supporter of our musical endeavors. The most important thing you can do is stay engaged, attend our concerts, and spread the word!