Watch as Philip Brunelle and Lise Houlton, Artistic Director of Minnesota Dance Theatre, discuss the partnership between Minnesota Dance Theatre and VocalEssence. Philip asks what it is like to dance to live singing, to which Lise responds, “Sublime.” Lise and Philip talk about how the dancers create a physical representation of Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,”… Read More →
Watch as Philip Brunelle gives you a sneak peek into “We Are the Saints”, a new commission by Gabriel Kahane that will be featured on the VocalEssence 2021-2022 season opener, Hope Lives Here. The piece is in three movements, approximately ten minutes in length and will be sung by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers. The first… Read More →
Current members of VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (including a few graduating seniors) spent a week together building community, learning, and creating. The Choosing Love Creators Camp kick-started the year and was focused on creative collaboration. The first portion of the week was comprised of 15 hours of workshops led by guest artists including: Joe… Read More →
Philip Brunelle: August has been a busy month of planning for Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle. He has been working on finalizing repertoire for the season, ordering orchestral music, confirming concert dates and details, and (of course) continuing to do fundraising! This month also included attending a Board member’s wedding, finishing the edits for… Read More →
VocalEssence was fortunate to have two fantastic interns this summer: Aaron Schondorf and Blake Wieseler. Each and every voice that contributes to, or participates in our mission is an essential part of our community. We are thrilled to share the projects these two have worked on during their time at VocalEssence. Aaron Schondorf, a Carleton… Read More →
Philip Brunelle: Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle is in the midst of a “planning month” as he prepares for the upcoming 53rd season—lots of meetings with composers, artists, and finalizing the season announcement for each of you! The final Plymouth Summer Concert occurred on July 20 when Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele gave us their… Read More →
In 1950 the Department of the Treasury gifted each of the 50 states their own Liberty Bell—full sized replicas of the bell in Philadelphia. Each bell, created by the Christoph Paccard Bell Foundry in France, weighs approximately 2,080 pounds. The Minnesota Liberty Bell is rung on four occasions throughout the year and Philip Brunelle was given… Read More →
Philip Brunelle: Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle is working on creating a digital library of all the composers featured on Musical Moments with the help of intern Blake Wieseler from St. Olaf College. Since Musical Moments began in March of 2020, almost 300 composers who have been central to the success of VocalEssence have… Read More →
Philip Brunelle Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle will be working with Phillip Shoultz to determine the roster of singers during late May and early June. With these very flexible days concerning audience sizes for fall concerts, we are preparing several plans to accommodate our options. The good thing is that we have the repertoire… Read More →
Philip Brunelle Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle will be spending the last part of April and early May concluding plans for the 53rd VocalEssence season and also hearing many, many singers for their spring auditions. This is always an important part of the year, inviting wonderful voices to be part of the upcoming VocalEssence… Read More →
For Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle, the month of March is for “Call of the North.” Having finished two full days of recording and videotaping at the IDS Crystal Court with the Ensemble Singers, the coming weeks will be devoted to editing sessions leading to the March 28 premiere at 4PM. At the same… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III are hard at work this month preparing for a multitude of upcoming performances. Philip Brunelle The month of February is filled with rehearsals for our next concert, Call of the North; how wonderful to have the Ensemble Singers back together! The concert (to be… Read More →
A pandemic didn’t stop these singers in their eighties at Trillium Woods from bringing a little joy to their lives. Together with the leadership of VocalEssence Vintage Voices artistic director Robert Graham and help from the brand new virtual choir recording platform SongAlong, these singers created a mini choir concert! After 10 weeks of Zoom… Read More →
This Christmas Eve, gather the family (in person and virtually) for a LIVE sing-along and a broadcast of Welcome Christmas. CHRISTMAS EVE LIVE STREAM Thursday, December 24th at 6:30 PM CST Join Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III for a LIVE Christmas Eve edition of Take 5 with GPS. Usher in the magic by… Read More →
As we close out the most challenging year in our 52 year history, we are hearing some shining stories of resilience and moments of joy. Liza and Jim Ervin are singers in the VocalEssence Vintage Voices choir at Trillium Woods. It was December 2015 when they moved to the Twin Cities from Connecticut. Fortunately, friends… Read More →
