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VOCALESSENCE YOUTH CHOIR—‘SINGERS OF THIS AGE’—TO MOTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE AUDIENCES WITH “CHANGE SINGS,” A DYNAMIC INVITATION TO ACTIVISM

New music is inspired by the writings of Presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman

MINNEAPOLIS—December 8, 2022—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations, presents Change Sings, April 22, 2023, at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. Inspired by the work of Presidential inaugural poet, wordsmith and changemaker Amanda Gorman, Change Sings invites each of us to see ourselves as changemakers too. Members of the ensemble singers will perform choral standards and co-created original works alongside VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA).

Through singing, movement, spoken word, and visual art, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA), a choir of Twin Cities teenagers, will be collaborating with guest artists throughout the winter and spring, including 29:11 International Exchange from South Africa and Vox Populi, founded by VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! composer Julio Morales, to create pieces to tell the story of how we can sing change into being.

“This performance is a culmination of workshops, conversations, and neighborhood performances that have been happening for the last several years,” says Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence artistic director and founder. “We are proud of our young VocalEssence Singers Of This Age for these reflective and extraordinary works—and their dedication to encouraging us all to be activists and changemakers.”

“When I founded SOTA in 2017, the idea was to create a space for young people to share their messages, find confidence, and really voice their truth — using all their artistic sensibilities,” says G. Phillip Shoultz, associate director, VocalEssence. “With this concert, they have a giant opportunity to explore — to create change, to sing the world they want to see into reality.

Amanda Gorman is the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate and the youngest inaugural poet. She delivered her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” at age twenty-two, at the January 20, 2021, presidential inauguration. Her work will be read during the performance. Kyle Peterson is writing a piece called Sing Change—a followup co-created piece to The Other Side that SOTA and Kyle Peterson co-wrote at the beginning of the pandemic.

There will be two performances of Change Sings at the Capri Theater 2027 W Broadway Ave, Minneapolis:

2 PM on Saturday, April 22, and
4:30 PM on Saturday, April 22.

Tickets are $25 and available online now. For season tickets, details about the season, individual tickets and other information, please visit vocalessence.org.

The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA) is a community of Twin Cities teenagers engaged in expanding what it means to be a choir and, encouraging a wider circle of participation in the artform. Presenting music ranging from classical to hip-hop, they use creativity and collaboration to build an accepting community, equipped with the skills to lead social change in our society.

VocalEssence, the choral organization Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the impact of choral music. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and through its performance series has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs help people of all ages bridge, create, and learn across cultures by connecting them with renowned choral experts to provide exceptional role models, grow community self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.

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