While Billy Strings is out west touring with Willie Nelson‘s traveling Outlaw Music Festival, an audience in Burlington, VT, got (arguably) the next best thing earlier this month when an elementary school choir sang “Gild the Lily”.
The performance took place on May 2nd at CP Smith Elementary School—interestingly, only half an hour drive from the Founders Memorial School that has produced a series of similarly adorable kids’ choir Phish covers. Led by dutiful music teacher Mr. Dave on acoustic guitar, the group of 4th and 5th graders put a wholesome spin on the already harmony-rich standout from Strings’ 2024 chart-topper Highway Prayers. Though there wasn’t any of the deep improvisation that typically accompanies the newly christened jam vehicle at Strings’ arena shows, this performance’s power was in its sincerity.
Related: High School Orchestra Performs Phish’s “Fuego” With Guitar Prodigy [Watch]
Billy Strings himself has been a committed supporter of the arts for children, returning to his hometown of Muir, MI in 2021 to hand-deliver 200 free guitars to local kids. Then just last month, the Grammy-winning bluegrass guitarist performed for the young patients at Grand Rapids’ Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, where his newborn son was briefly treated last year in the NICU.
“I really wanted to come play music to distract kids from going through a rough time,” Strings said at the hospital.
Watch an adorable choir of 4th and 5th-grade elementary school kids sing Billy Strings’ “Gild the Lily”. Strings has seven dates on Willie’s Outlaw Festival before kicking off his own headlining spring tour with two nights in Grand Rapids on May 30th and 31st. He also just announced a 2025 fall tour, including international dates and a two-night Halloween run. Find tickets and tour dates here.
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