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VOCALESSENCE AFFIRMS COMMUNITY BONDS IN CONCERT—‘HOPE RENEWED’
The season wraps up with a joyous call to renew the spirit–Ted Mann Concert Hall, May 3

MINNEAPOLIS, March 31, 2024—Building a community requires taking the risk of reaching out to one another, and VocalEssence celebrates the emotion at the heart of this action with Hope Renewed, the final concert of the performance season.

In a program that explores our relationships with one another and with creation, Hope Renewed seeks to give fresh life to justice and hope, sharing a message celebrating the wide circle of life that provides room for all to grow and thrive. Featuring a commission by Daniel Godfrey and the latest piece by ACDA Genesis prize-winning composer Kyle Pederson that shares the message of building bridges and caring for all, this concert will renew spirits as we step into summer.

“This concert bridges generations—featuring our professional Ensemble Singers, volunteer Chorus, and teenage Singers Of This Age—and truly celebrates our 55-year commitment to bringing new music to life,” says Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder, VocalEssence. “We are looking forward to the magic that will happen with Hope Renewed, including commissions from Daniel Godfrey and Kyle Pederson.”

“Singing is a community act,” says G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director, VocalEssence. “Creating something greater than the sum of its parts requires giving empathy and attention to one another. As we use our voices to create a more just and equitable community, it’s so important we draw on the hope inside of us. This concert is one way of celebrating that hopeful power. I’m thrilled that we can introduce Shanelle Gabriel to the Twin Cities community through her performance in A Vision Unfolding, creative writing sessions with our teens, and presentations in the community. Working with her is another way that we can help our community to find its collective voice and work towards a more loving existence.”

Shanelle Gabriel is a spoken word poet, singer, lupus warrior, and educator from Brooklyn, NY. Her feature on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam was the beginning of her career sharing her talent and motivational speeches on countless international stages, speaking to audiences and various companies about living with lupus, crafting artistic messaging for brands and companies, and working to transform the lives of the next generation through educational trainings and consulting. To learn more about Shanelle visit her website here.

Hope Renewed will feature the VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, diverse teenage choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, special guest artist Shanelle Gabriel, and pianist Casey Rafn, with Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz, III conducting.

Press images are available here.

Hope Renewed will be performed at 7:30 p.m. at Ted Mann Concert Hall in Minneapolis on May 3, 2024. Tickets are available online now.

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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