FEATURING:
VocalEssence Chorus
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age
VocalEssence Vintage Voices
Brass, Percussion, and Harp Aaron David Miller, organ Casey Rafn, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor
G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
Welcome
Friends,
It is a delight to send this welcome from Northrop and VocalEssence to you! For many years Welcome Christmas has set the standard for celebrating choral music that combines the familiar with the new—and this year’s program continues that tradition—doing it uniquely by greeting all of you from the University of Minnesota’s beloved Northrop.
This is the third year that VocalEssence has partnered with Northrop to present Welcome Christmas with all four of our performing choirs: the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, Chorus, Singers Of This Age, and Vintage Voices—more than 200 voices serenading you! We are delighted that Northrop, with its grand stage and backstage facilities, can be the home for Welcome Christmas. Of course, the presence of Northrop’s glorious Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ adds an additional luster to these concerts!
VocalEssence and Northrop are about creating community and continuing to expand our messages through music and dance to a greater Twin Cities populace. This season VocalEssence is pleased that our 35th annual WITNESS Young People’s Concerts and public concert, which celebrate artistic contributions of African Americans to the fine arts and to our common cultural heritage, will come to Northrop in February 2025!
Thank you all for joining us and our best wishes to each of you for a wonderful Holiday Season!
—Kari A. Schloner, Executive Director, Northrop
—Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and Founder, VocalEssence
LA VIGILE DI NATALIE (CHRISTMAS EVE)
from La Bohème Giacomo Puccini
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers
STRIKE UP YOUR INSTRUMENTS OF JOY Brian Holmes
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
MID-WINTER Bob Chilcott
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age & Vintage Voices
AUDIENCE SING: ANGELS, WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH arr. Julian Wachner
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
A SAVIOR FROM ON HIGH Stephen Paulus
VocalEssence Chorus
ES IST EIN ROS ENTSPRUNGEN (LO, HOW A ROSE E’ER BLOOMING) arr. Mårten Jansson
VocalEssence Chorus
JOY TO THE WORLD (world premiere commission) arr. Gerald Gurss
VocalEssence Chorus
PEACE ON EARTH Errollyn Wallen
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, sopranos and altos
THE ROSE Joel Thompson
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
Dakota Andersen, baritone
GUDS SON ÄR FÖDD (GOD’S SON IS BORN) Otto Olsson
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
David Gindra, baritone; Ben Brunnette, tenor
AUDIENCE SING: 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Traditional English Carol
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
AUDIENCE SING: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL arr. John Rutter
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
TSHELA MOYA—KE NNA MOYA Traditional Sesotho Songs, arr. Michael Barrett
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age
STILL, STILL, STILL arr. Norman Luboff
VocalEssence Chorus & Vintage Voices
CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE Negro Spiritual, arr. Kevin Philip Johnson
VocalEssence Chorus & Singers Of This Age
Soliyana Woldu, soprano; Brianna Hill, spoken word
WE THREE KINGS arr. Stuart Nicholson
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers
YULETIDE HAS ARRIVED
from Three Latvian Yuletide Folksongs Ēriks Ešenvalds
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
MOTHER’S SONG Jocelyn Hagen
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
JINGLE BELLS J. David Moore
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
SILENT NIGHT Patrick Vu
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
AUDIENCE SING: WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS arr. Nils Lindberg
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
LA VIGILE DI NATALIE (CHRISTMAS EVE), Giacomo Puccini from La Bohème
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers
La Vigile di Natale (Christmas Eve) is the opening number in Act II of Puccini’s La Bohéme. The piece depicts a bustling square filled with shopkeepers selling their wares while people finish up their last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve.
STRIKE UP YOUR INSTRUMENTS OF JOY, Brian Holmes
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
Refrain:
Strike up your instruments of joy
To honor this, the Day of Days.
Trumpets, your stirring voice employ,
Employ in golden phrase on phrase.
Let drums beat and oboes play
In mazes of delight.
Cymbals sharp and tambour may
Ring bold through day and night. Refrain
Let sire and dame proclaim the joy
That pulses free through every vein,
Maids too and every lively boy,
Take up the fresh and brave refrain.
Rebacs, shawms, and curtals trace
A thousand golden ways;
Clarions and rackets race
To join in lovely praise. Refrain
—John Edmunds
MID-WINTER, Bob Chilcott
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age & Vintage Voices
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air—
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give Him—
Give my heart. —Christina Rossetti
AUDIENCE SING: ANGELS, WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH, arr. Julian Wachner
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.
Refrain: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song? Refrain
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain
See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise. Refrain
A SAVIOR FROM ON HIGH, Stephen Paulus
VocalEssence Chorus
O sweet was the song the Virgin sang
When she to Bethlehem Judah came,
And was delivered of a son,
And Jesus was his name.
Lullee, lully, lullo, lullaby.
And Jesus his name.
“O babe,” sang she, “My son.”
And so a Savior, a Savior is born,
Who was given from on high
To visit us that were forlorn.
And sweet was the song she sang.
Lullee, lully, lullo, lullaby. —William Ballet
ES IST EIN ROS ENTSPRUNGEN (LO, HOW A ROSE E’ER BLOOMING), arr. Mårten Jansson
VocalEssence Chorus
(Sung in English)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming,
From tender stem hath sprung.
Of Jesse’s lineage coming,
As men of old have sung.
It came a flower-et bright,
Amid the cold of winter,
When half spent was the night.
Isaiah ‘twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind,
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind;
To show God’s love a-right.
She bore to all a Savior,
When half spent was the night.
O, Flower, whose fragrance tender,
With sweetness fill the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere;
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death now save us,
And share our every load. —from Mainz, verse 3 by Friedrich Layritz
JOY TO THE WORLD (world premiere commission), arr. Gerald Gurss
VocalEssence ChorusJoy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and heaven and nature sing!
No more let hate and violence grow,
Nor color make us bound;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as all pain is found,
Far as all pain is found,
Far as, far as all pain is found.
He gives the world both truth and grace,
And asks his children prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love. —Isaac Watts, adapted by Gerald Gurss
PEACE ON EARTH, Errollyn Wallen
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, sopranos and altos
And snow falls down on me.
Peace on earth.
The night is dark and soft.
Peace on earth.
The lights that sparkle in the square,
The smoke that lingers in the air.
Peace on earth.
And grace falls down on me.
Peace on earth.
The dark will turn aside.
Peace on earth.
The fires that burn in every hearth
Do sing our praise of Christmas past.
Peace on earth. —Errollyn Wallen
THE ROSE, Joel Thompson
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
Dakota Andersen, baritone
A Rose unfolds on tender vine,
as seers foretold, from Jesse’s line.
Its petals radiant in the light
of stars aglow this holy night.
Isaiah divined the Flower would bloom
a spotless Rose from Mary’s womb,
as angels praise the glorious sight:
the blessed Babe on this holy night. —16th century German (trans. by Joel Thompson)
E’en though we now our anthem raise
in gratitude and joyous praise,
I wonder why, for me, God chose
to show such love with a spotless Rose. —Joel Thompson
GUDS SON ÄR FÖDD (GOD’S SON IS BORN), Otto Olsson
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
David Gindra, baritone; Ben Brunnette, tenor
(Sung in Swedish)
God’s Son is born in Bethlehem on this day,
according to God’s own pleasure, and became flesh.
From pure favor and grace, he is of great help and comfort to us,
and has redeemed the world from all danger.
Oh, heavenly message! Angels and rulers now
proclaim peace on earth, and praise God
with your angel tongues, with harps and trombones.
Yes, with your hearts sing praise to the Lord God.
Oh, heartfelt joy! Now let us all be glad,
and with the shepherds be on our way,
and follow the star which the clear light of the word of our God,
evens and smooths out on the road to the Lord’s holy house.
The wise men from the East,
who came from Midian to Bethlehem,
Disposed of their riches with heartfelt devotion,
and presented their gifts: gold, myrrh, and frankincense.
Let us go and so celebrate our Christmas feast;
wishing that Jesus himself would be our guest!
Then we shall not be wrong either in speech or deed
when he will share with us his love and grace.
A wonderful comfort that he who is our Savior
shall one day be our judge, a wonderful comfort
when he shall come in heaven with power and wonder
and give his faithful ones his wages for ever. —Translation by Stefan Sylvander
AUDIENCE SING: 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, Traditional English Carol
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
On the ______ day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
1. A partridge in a pear tree
2. Two turtle doves
3. Three French hens
4. Four calling birds
5. Five gold rings
6. Six geese a-laying
7. Seven swans a-swimming
8. Eight maids a-milking
9. Nine ladies dancing
10. Ten lords a-leaping
11. Eleven pipers piping
12. Twelve drummers drumming
AUDIENCE SING: O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL, arr. John Rutter
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels:
Refrain:
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
Fain we embrace thee, with awe and love;
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly? Refrain
Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exaltation,
Sing all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God in the highest: Refrain
Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to thee be glory giv’n;
Word of Creation, now in flesh appearing: Refrain
TSHELA MOYA—KE NNA MOYA, Traditional Sesotho Songs, arr. Michael Barrett
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age
(Sung in Sesotho)
Pour the Holy Spirit down upon us
Lord, Messiah
Still, still, still
one can hear the falling snow.
For all is hushed,
the world is sleeping,
Holy Star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still
one can hear the falling snow.
Sleep, sleep, sleep
‘tis the eve of our Savior’s birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
close your eyes,
let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep
‘tis the eve of our Savior’s birth.
Dream, dream, dream
of the joyous day to come.
While guardian angels without number
watch you as you sweetly slumber.
Dream, dream, dream
of the joyous day to come.
CHILDREN, GO WHERE I SEND THEE, Negro Spiritual, arr. Kevin Philip Johnson
VocalEssence Chorus & Singers Of This Age
Soliyana Woldu, soprano; Brianna Hill, spoken word
Children go where I send thee!
How shall I send thee?
I’m gonna send thee ten by ten,
ten for the ten commandments.
Nine for the nine that dressed so fine,
eight for the eight that stood at the gate,
seven for the seven that went up to heaven,
six for the six that never got fixed,
five for the gospel preachers,
four for the four that stood at the door,
three for the Hebrew children,
two for Paul and Silas
one for the little bitty baby
wrapped in a swaddlin’ clothin’
layed down in a manger that’s
born in Bethlehem.
Born to us a child is born
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And they will call Him Wonderful Counselor
Almighty God! Everlasting Father!
WE THREE KINGS, arr. Stuart Nicholson
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers
We three kings of orient are;
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar,
Field and fountain,
Moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain.
Gold I bring to crown him a gain.
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign. Refrain
Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a deity nigh;
Praer and praising, voices raising,
Worshiping God on high. Refrain
Myrrh is mine its bitter perfume.
Breathes a life of gathering gloom.
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying
Sealed in a stone cold tomb. Refrain
Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice.
Heaven sing Alleluia,
Alleluia the earth replies. Refrain
YULETIDE HAS ARRIVED, Ēriks Ešenvalds from Three Latvian Yuletide Folksongs
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
(Sung in Latvian)
Yuletide has arrived
In a decked out sleigh.
Hurry out good people
Greet and receive Yuletide.
Make kindling, blow on flame,
Invite God to come inside.
God is standing by the gate
With his tired horse.
Silence, young ones, silence oldsters—
God then entered our house.
God then entered our house
Asking for the householder.
The householder is over there,
Sitting at the table end,
Sitting at the table end,
In a linen shirt of white.
Yuletide has arrived in a decked out sleigh.
If snow falls on the far field
where travelers
spend the night,
I ask you, cranes,
to warm my child in your wings. —Anonymous, Japanese, translated by Willis Barnstone
JINGLE BELLS, J. David Moore
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers
Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh,
O’er the fields we go, laughing all the way;
Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight!
Refrain:
Oh, Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!
Day or two ago, I thought I’d take a ride,
Soon Miss Fannie Bright was seated by my side.
The horse was lean and lank, misfortune seemed his lot
He got into a drifted bank and we, we got upsot! Refrain
Now the ground is white, go it while you’re young;
Take the girls tonight and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bobtailed nag, two forty for his speed,
Then hitch him to an open sleigh and crack! You’ll take the lead. Refrain
—James Pierpont
SILENT NIGHT, Patrick Vu
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
’Round yon Virgin Mother and Child.
Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heav’nly hosts sing, “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!”
Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!
Silent night! —Franz Joseph Mohr, translated by John F. Young
AUDIENCE SING: WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, arr. Nils Lindberg
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
And bring some out here.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
Aaron David Miller, Organist
Aaron David Miller is an acclaimed organ improviser and composer having won numerous international awards and given concerts across the country. Dr. Miller was recently a featured performer for Pipedreams 40th Anniversary Concert hosted by Michael Barone. Recent awards have included the 2021 Ronald G. Pogorzelski and Lester D. Yankee Annual Composition Competition and the 2019 Weiger Lepke-Sims Family Sacred Music Award.
Dr. Miller’s orchestra works have been performed by such ensembles as the Seattle Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Zurich Symphony, and Houston Symphony Orchestra. His organ, choral and orchestra compositions are published by Augsburg Fortress, Paraclete Publishing and Oxford University Press. Aaron is currently Music Director at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, MN. He is also a Forensic Musicologist for Donato Music, Scarsdale, NY.
Instrumentalists
TRUMPET
John Koopmann
Eli Ross
Steven Garcia
FRENCH HORN
Neal Bolter
Jenna McBride-Harris
TROMBONE
Kirsten Lies-Warfield
Jeff Rinear
Collin Hough
TUBA
Jacob Grewe
PERCUSSION
David Hagedorn
Will Kemperman
HARP
Anna Koopmann
About Northrop
Situated at the heart of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus and a state historic landmark, Northrop has served as the University’s primary gathering place for the performing arts, world-renowned dance performances, concerts, academic ceremonies, and major civic events for nearly 100 years. From touring international and favorite local dance companies, musicians, and film screenings to the hottest comedy acts, renowned speakers, celebrated authors, and prestigious UMN lectures, Northrop offers opportunities for all ages to explore, learn, and engage.
Northrop Advisory Boards
THE NORTHROP ADVISORY BOARD
The Northrop Advisory Board is committed to the growth and awareness of Northrop’s mission, vision, and the continued future of presenting world-class dance and music in our community. If you would like more information about the advisory board and its work, please contact Cynthia Betz, Director of Development, at 612-626-7554 or betzx011@umn.edu.
THE NORTHROP ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Cynthia Betz
Jeff Bieganek, Chair
Kristen Brogdon
Dr. Robert Bruininks
Deb Cran
Susan DeNuccio
Benjamin Eng
Karen Hanson
Cari Hatcher
Jill Hauwiller
Holly Kellar
Kelly McQueen
Bob McMaster
Katheryn Menaged
Jim Moore
Robyne Robinson
Toni Pierce-Sands
Kari Schloner
Kao Lee Vang
Donald Williams
THE NORTHROP ORGAN ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
J. Michael Barone
Cynthia Betz
Dean Billmeyer
Kristen Brogdon
Dr. Robert Bruininks
Dee Ann Crossley
Laura Edman
Nils Halker
Cari Hatcher
Pamela Neuenfeldt
Emily Roth
Kari Schloner
Lindsey Siders
Greg Zelek
About VocalEssence
For 56 years, VocalEssence has provided opportunities for singers from the Twin Cities area to create incredible music together and build connections as part of the vibrant arts community in Minnesota.
VocalEssence is known for introducing audiences to music and artists who are not yet known, often welcoming guest artists, composers, and conductors who are emerging, have unknown works, or represent a variety of cultures. Welcoming all members of the greater community, VocalEssence embodies the motto: Together We Sing.
VOCALESSENCE MISSION VocalEssence draws upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the influence of choral music.
PHILIP BRUNELLE Artistic Director and Founder
Philip Brunelle, Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder of VocalEssence 56 years ago, is an internationally-renowned conductor, choral scholar, and visionary. Philip has conducted symphonies, choral festivals, and operas on six continents. He holds five honorary degrees, served 9 years as Vice President of IFCM (International Federation for Choral Music), and has been recognized for his commitment to choral music by the governments of Norway, Hungary, Sweden, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. In 2019, he was awarded the American Prize in Choral Conducting and, in 2020, was given the Honorary Member Award by the Society for American Music. Last fall Philip was appointed a National Arts Associate of the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity. Philip is also Organist-Choirmaster at Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis. During the pandemic Philip recorded 300 “Musical Moments” which can be accessed at https://www.vocalessence.org/what-we-do/virtual-projects/musicalmoments-with-philip-brunelle/ and his thoughts on music are at RenaissanceManpodcast.com. Philip and his wife Carolyn, a studio artist, have 3 children (Tim, Christopher, and Elise) and 7
grandchildren.
G. PHILLIP SHOULTZ, III Associate Artistic Director G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director, uses the power of the voice, through spoken word and song, to foster community and inspire action among people of all ages and abilities. He is the Artistic Director of Sing Democracy 250, a national initiative of the Together In Hope Project, and the University of Minnesota Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert. Phillip serves on the faculty of the University of St. Thomas, where he leads the Graduate Choral Conducting program, and guides the Ministries of Worship, Music, and the Arts at Westwood Lutheran Church. His most recent ventures as content creator for SonoVoice (the Fitbit for voice) and host with Minnesota Public Radio further expand his already diverse portfolio of projects, which also includes “Table for More”, a conversation and consulting platform founded in the summer of 2020 to help organizations address issues related to innovation, equity, racial justice, and belonging in the arts. Phillip is regularly engaged across the U.S. and beyond as a conductor, workshop facilitator, and worship curator/leader. He is a published arranger and has a new choral series with National Music Publishers. The winner of numerous honors, including the ACDA Graduate Conducting Competition and multiple Teacher of the Year awards, Phillip lives in St. Louis Park with his wife, Michelle, and their two children (Malachi and Lydia Grace).
ROBERT GRAHAM Learning and Engagement Manager Conductor, Vintage Voices
Robert Graham is the Learning and Engagement Manager at VocalEssence where he serves as the conductor for the VocalEssence Vintage Voices choirs, and oversees the renowned VocalEssence WITNESS School Program. Robert has a Master of Music degree in both vocal performance and choral conducting from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and a B.A. in vocal performance from Xavier University of Louisiana. Robert currently serves as a section leader of the adult choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, sings second tenor in the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and also performs around the Twin Cities as a solo and chamber musician.
CASEY RAFN Accompanist
Pianist Casey Rafn enjoys a varied career as a collaborative pianist both in the United States and abroad, in Europe and Latin America. He is a member of ‘Trés’, whose saxophone-piano trio was just nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album for their new album “Romance al Campesino Porteño.” Casey often collaborates in concert or recordings with members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and University of Minnesota School of Music faculty. As a piano soloist he took top prizes at the International Liszt-Garrison Competition in Baltimore, has appeared with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and has taught at both the University of Minnesota School of Music and the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts.
JOHN JENSEN Accompanist, VocalEssence Vintage Voices
John Jensen received his music degrees in Southern California, where he attended Occidental College and University of Southern California. While there he free-lanced as a studio musician, playing on the Andy Williams show and touring the country with prominent singers through Columbia Artists Management. He moved to Iowa and taught for 15 years at Grinnell College as an artist-in-residence. In 1990, John moved to St. Paul and has played with VocalEssence, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. In November 2022, John appeared with the Yale Symphony Orchestra at Yale University to play and record a piano concerto by the late Paul Reale, for Naxos records (released in 2023).
VOCALESSENCE CHORUS
The VocalEssence Chorus is a group of talented and enthusiastic singers from many different walks of life, united by their love of singing and community. Performing a wide variety of musical styles, premiering new works, and sharing the stage with a diverse array of guest artists, the Chorus is a welcome home for singers who wish to continue making music throughout their adult lives.
SOPRANO
Ann Ambach
AnnaLisa Anderson
Madison Asher
Alison Baker Faul
Jessica Belt
Ashley Brandt
Kate Brinkert
Corey Cellurale
Lorinda Chagnon
Marie Colangelo
Amanda Connolly
McKenna Cromwell
Emily Dyrdahl
Eva Gibney-Jones
Lillian Gray
Kristina M. Guiffre
Becca Hovsepian
Claire Huber
Sally Jaffray
Elinor Jones
Magdalena Koebele
Laura Langan
Clara Lind
Christina Pederson
Venessa Rockwell
Emma Schlabach
Emily D. Seifers
Ashley Slattery
Leah Sovick
Abbie Sulik
Dana Terres
Hannah Tilstra
Katherine Tonn Eisinger
Amanda Troolin
Jennifer Vickerman Akaolisa
Laura Walket Jacobsen
Dannika Wright
ALTO
Akosua Obuo Addo
Johanna Beaupre
Jo Beld
Katelyn Belden
Maria Coughlan
Maggie Driemeyer
Monica Gagne
Nancy Jo Goettl
Marjorie Rose Hakala
Meg Hanna
McKenzie Hartke
Dee Hein
Grace Alice Herbertz
Brianna Hill
Grace Hjort
Tori Hornby
Emma Jirele Sandhurst
Katie Kovacovich
Ruby Lindholm Kramer
Annie Krishnan
Jessica Laven Johnson
Jeenee Lee
Lark Lewis
Ana Madai Leyva
Carly Lunden
Danica McDonald
Rachel Moniz
Kristi Mueller
Elizabeth Neuenfeldt
Jillian Paulson
Liz Raimann
Marty Raymond
Miriam Sahouani
Katie Sandsmark
Lisa Kathleen Schalla
Sydney Schoeberle
Forrest Schrader
Alyssa Shapiro
Sarah Taft
Laura Tanner
Allie Wigley
TENOR
Erik Adolphson
Steve Aggergaard
Brett Bacon
Larry J Brandts
Cheryl A. Calloway
Bjorn Christ
Dante Colmenares
Ryan Coopergard
Mary Kay Delvo
Ben Demaree
Grant Gilbert Dunne
Tim Emery
James Feltes
Reagan Lee
Kurtis Parlin
Thomas Sasdi
Peter Carlson
Schattauer
Ona Sussman
Barry Tikalsky
BASS
Robert Atendido
Seth Bresky
Garret Fettig
Adam Hecker
Russ Kaplan
Evan Clay Kelly
Jordan Kiffmeyer
John Kuntz
Phil Lowry
John Mai
Nicholas Marcouiller
Thomas Mondry
Nicholas Mroczek
Declan O’Higgins
Milo Oien-Rochat
David Olson
Ron Pearson
Brian D. Ruhl
Asher Melech Schreiber
Josh Snapp
Trent Stenoien
Dave Toht
Jacob Hurley Weindling
Ian WitryJosh Snapp
Trent Stenoien
Dave Toht
Jacob Hurley Weindling
Ian Witry
VOCALESSENCE ENSEMBLE SINGERS
The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers have established an international reputation because of their extensive catalog of recordings and broad range of unique repertoire. This chamber choir, whose members hail from a wide variety of professions, is bound together by their skilled artistry to create what The Times of London has described as a “flawless” sound.
SOPRANO
Jennifer Bevington
Elsa Buck
JoAnna Johnson
Mary Kettlewell
Natalia Romero Arbeláez
Kathryn Rupp
Mari Scott
Carey Shunskis
ALTO
Anna George Meek
Robin Joy Helgen
Patty Kramer
Audrey Lane-Getaz
Judith McClain Melander
Carolyn Nuelle
Catherine Terres
TENOR
Will Berendsen
Ben Brunnette
Jared Campbell
Elijah Gatlin-Baumgartner
Robert J. Graham
Jonah Herzog
Andy McCullough
Phil Reilly
BASS
Dakota Hunter Andersen
Joseph Ellickson
David Gindra
Joe Kastner
Erik Krohg
Nathan Petersen-Kindem
Dr. Michael P. Schmidt
Benjamin Shermock
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age 2024-25, photo credit-Ethan Kellum Johnson
VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE
The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA) 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.
Adra Vang
Alice Weiland
Aurora Silpala
Avery Somdahl
Cloud Sim
Cole Keller
Esme Wright
Everett Thao
Harry Lintner
Henrik Mills
Hser Htoo
Ian Oberheide
Iris Ferris
Jake Rowell
Josh Ramirez
Julip Levy
Kiara Steiner
Lacha Yang
Leah Odegaard-Dunning
Lela Sabin
Lily Hiebert
Lily Yang
MouaKong Thao
Royal Khang
Ruby Atkins
Skyler Vang
Susanna Cowan
Yawn Ye Thao
Zola Ranum
VOCALESSENCE VINTAGE VOICES
VocalEssence Vintage Voices is an exciting choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of older adults. Guided by a desire to create a welcoming atmosphere and remove barriers for participation, these choirs sing to build community, combat loneliness and isolation, and improve physical and emotional wellbeing.
MEMBERS OF THE SABATHANI VINTAGE VOICES
Shirlee Callender
Deb Parker
Vanessa Dillon
Valton Henderson
Wilmetia Henderson
Jean Herron
Arlene Pelayo
Nancey Riley
MEMBERS OF THE TRILLIUM WOODS CHORALE
Jan Cutler
Jim Ervin
Jane Johnston
Joy Pierce
Lyle Rossing
Jean Spong
Chuck Swanson
MEMBERS FROM KEYSTONE CHOIR
Bonnie Alton
Julie Borgerding July
Joy Christiansen
Maureen Davison
Ruthena Fink
Shelley Jensen
Ramona Kaszas
Barbara McKernan
Janie Morissette
Karlene Niva-Colgan
Chris Rosenthal
Torrie Allen
Anna Boyle
Tanya M. Bransford
Philip Brunelle
Ben Brunnette
Martha Driessen
Cassandra Garnett
Brianna Hill
Daniel Kantor
Lisa Merklin Lewis
Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed
Richard Neuner
Kristine Oberg
Jim Odland
Anna Ostroushko
Doug Parish
Joanne Reeck
G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Jeff Smith
Amanda Storm Schuster
Timothy C. Takach
Bob Thacker
Mary Tjosvold
Elizabeth Truesdell Smith
Amy Jaine Wielunski
LIFETIME DIRECTORS
Ann Barkelew
Ann Buran
Art Kaemmer
Nikki Lewis
Mike McCarthy*
Dave Mona
Fred Moore
Don Shelby
Dorene Wernke
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Dominick Argento*
William Bolcom
Dave Brubeck*
Stewart Copeland
Aaron Copland*
Håkan Hagegård
Louise Heffelfinger*
Eskil Hemberg*
Betty Hulings*
Sigrid Johnson*
James Earl Jones*
Garrison Keillor
Donald Mitchell*
Helmuth Rilling
John Rutter
Peter Schickele
Dr. André J. Thomas
Eric Whitacre *In remembrance
VocalEssence has a large group of committed supporters and is honored by the many gifts received in memory, appreciation, and celebration of friends and family that are too many to list in this concert program. Please click the button below to see a full list of supporters and special tributes.
FEATURING:
