CHORALIA
FUNDRAISER TO SUPPORT ARTS EDUCATION

Twin
Cities choral group, VocalEssence, celebrates May 18 at the Radisson
Blu

MINNEAPOLIS—March 3, 2014—Guests are invited to enter the
whimsical world of Choralia and raise their voices to benefit
VocalEssence Community Engagement programs at the VocalEssence
biennial spring gala — Sun., May 18 at 4:30 p.m. at the Radisson
Blu at the Mall of America.

Singing will be infused in all areas and aspects of the gala –
including a singing honor guard as guests enter and singing
troubadours on the hotel escalators – with the VocalEssence Chorus
& Ensemble Singers as the highlighted performers. Assistant
Artistic Director Tesfa Wondemagegnehu is leading a Choralia anthem
to be premiered at the event. More than 500 community and business
leaders are expected to attend. Guests will participate in a
not-so-silent auction, sing for their supper, and even help break the
Guinness World Record for the largest nose flute orchestra!

All proceeds from the evening will benefit the innovative
educational programs of VocalEssence, including WITNESS
and ¡Cantaré!,
which promote cultural diversity through music education. Each year,
more than 5,000 Twin Cities-based youth are exposed to the choral
arts with the help of teaching artists, artist residencies and school
group tickets, all funded by VocalEssence.

               “Our
mission is to engage audiences of all ages and actively foster new
talent through a culturally rich educational menu,” says Philip
Brunelle, founder and artistic director, VocalEssence. “Choralia is
one of my favorite events of the year—it’s a great way to
celebrate with and entertain our biggest supporters while raising
funds to make our aspirations reality.”

               The
not-so-silent auction will commence at 4:30 p.m., followed by a
dinner prepared by award-winning Executive Chef Paul Lynch from the
Firelake Restaurant, performances throughout the evening by the
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers, exciting live auction
with auctioneer Glen Fladeboe, and a Resonate live band after party
sing-along with local cabaret performers Erin Schwab and Jay Fuchs.

Single tickets are available for $150 until April 1, and $175
thereafter. Table sponsorships are also available from $1,500 to
$5,000. For more information about this event and to purchase
tickets, visit https://www.vocalessence.org/gala2014.

VocalEssence is comprised of the 100-voice VocalEssence Chorus, the
32-voice professional Ensemble Singers, as well as guest soloists and
instrumentalists, and offers audiences a broad series of concerts.
Called “one of the irreplaceable music ensembles of our time”
by Dana Gioia, past chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts,
VocalEssence was founded in 1969 by artistic director Philip
Brunelle. VocalEssence has championed the vocal experience in
unconventional ways through concerts, commissions, and community
engagement, and has debuted more than 150 commissions and world
premieres. Beyond performances and recordings, VocalEssence impacts
thousands of students, singers, and composers each year through its
initiative programs, contests, and support for innovative art. For
more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.