Events Search and Views Navigation
June 2015
TOUR: River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain, Sunday, June 28
Members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Don Shelby as Mark Twain go on the road to Alexandria, Minnesota to celebrate life on the Mississippi River. Through choral music and the spoken word, VocalEssence takes listeners on a musical journey of the past and present—choral masterpieces, favorite folksongs, traditional spirituals, and Americana—all paired with the words of Mark Twain. VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Don Shelby, actor Tesfa Wondemagegnehu, conductor Sara Pajunen, fiddle Jon Cranney, director
Find out more »July 2015
PERFORMANCE AND SING-ALONG: VocalEssence at Lyngblomsten Mid-Summer Festival
Join members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and guest conductor Mark Stover for a performance and sing-along of hymns, spirituals and choral classics on the Chapel Mainstage at Lyngblomsten's "celebration of arts for all ages." The musicians will engage attendees at the festival, which is designed to accommodate special needs and various levels of mobility. Complete information about entertainment and activities is available on the website or you can download a festival guide.
Find out more »August 2015
VINTAGE VOICES: Seasons Sunshine Singers Concert
Come and experience the sounds of the Seasons Sunshine Singers, Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood’s new choir, in an exciting journey down Broadway! From Tin Pan Alley to Rogers & Hammerstein, you will hear a variety of some of the greatest hits from the golden age of musical theater. The concert is free and open to the public, with a reception following in the Cafe. Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood is part of a new VocalEssence community engagement program called Vintage Voices,…
Find out more »October 2015
CONCERT: Dreams of the Fallen
Our 47th season will open with a special tribute to U.S. military Veterans. Join us on the soldier’s journey from survival to hope and healing through Samuel Barber’s beautiful Adagio for Strings, Ralph Vaughan Williams’s mystical Toward the Unknown Region, Jocelyn Hagen and Dessa's Controlled Burn and the Midwest premiere of Minnesota composer Jake Runestad’s poignant Dreams of the Fallen, with special guests soprano Maria Jette, pianist Jeffrey Biegel and the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. Jake discusses his work in a…
Find out more »November 2015
Voz en Punto at the Minnesota History Center
Enjoy an hour-long performance by a cappella Mexican vocal ensemble Voz en Punto at the Minnesota History Center, introduced by Head Consul Alberto Fierro from the Mexican Consulate in Saint Paul. Founded in 1990, Voz en Punto builds upon traditional Mexican folk songs to create thrillingly inventive vocal jazz arrangements. Its founder, director, and baritone, José Galván, first forged a relationship here in Minnesota during his time as a composer-in-residence for ¡Cantaré!, a VocalEssence educational initiative that brings the talents…
Find out more »CONCERT: VocalEssence Presents: Voz en Punto
¡Viva México! Come and enjoy what critics call “a feast for the senses” with a cappella Mexican vocal ensemble Voz en Punto. Earning the admiration of Bob Chilcott and Bobby McFerrin, Voz en Punto wows audiences not only with their technical perfection, but also their infectious, sophisticated, and humorous performance (see “BésameMucho” and "Tilingolingo"). A mix between The Real Group, Manhattan Transfer, and The King's Singers, Voz en Punto sings spirited and juicy arrangements of Mexican folk songs that will…
Find out more »VINTAGE VOICES: Augustana Open Circle of Apple Valley Concert
Come and experience the sounds of the Vintage Voices Choir, Augustana Open Circle of Apple Valley's new chorus, in Songs of Love and Life, an exciting program featuring selections of jazz, blues, spirituals, folk songs and more! The concert is free and open to the public, with a reception following. Augustana Open Circle of Apple Valley is part of a new VocalEssence community engagement program called Vintage Voices, an exciting choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of…
Find out more »REMIX: VocalEssence ReMix Premieres
Register for the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota State Conference and you can attend the VocalEssence ReMix concert featuring four new choral works by Minnesota emerging composers Emily Feld, Michael Maiorana, Liam Moore and Daniel Smith, performed by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers with Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. Special Thanks This program is made possible through the generous support of the Jerome Foundation.
Find out more »VINTAGE VOICES: The Waters of Edina Concert
Come and experience the sounds of The Waters of Edina’s new choir in Songs of Love and Life, an exciting program featuring selections of jazz, blues, spirituals, folk songs and more! The concert is free and open to the public, with a reception following. The Waters of Edina is part of a new VocalEssence community engagement program called Vintage Voices, an exciting new choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of older adults by fostering the creation…
Find out more »VINTAGE VOICES: Walker Methodist Highview Hills concert
Come and experience the sounds of the Vintage Voices Choir, Walker Methodist Highview Hills' new chorus, in Songs of Love and Life, an exciting program featuring selections of jazz, blues, spirituals, folk songs and more! The concert is free and open to the public, with a reception following. Walker Methodist Highview Hills is part of a new VocalEssence community engagement program called Vintage Voices, an exciting choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of older adults by…
Find out more »December 2015
CONCERT: Welcome Christmas, Apple Valley
Advance ticket sales are closed, but tickets will be available for purchase at the door beginning at 7 PM. Swing in the holiday season with VocalEssence and Nils Lindberg’s A Christmas Cantata for chorus and big band. Blending jazz-infused style with traditional melodies, Lindberg’s cantata is an “iridescent medley that invigorates, inspires and swings in equal measure” (allaboutjazz.com). World premieres of two contest-winning carols for choir and trumpet will blow you away, and familiar carols for voices and brass will…
Find out more »CONCERT: Welcome Christmas, Minneapolis
Advance ticket sales are closed, but tickets will be available for purchase at the door beginning at 2:30 PM. Swing in the holiday season with VocalEssence and Nils Lindberg’s A Christmas Cantata for chorus and big band. Blending jazz-infused style with traditional melodies, Lindberg’s cantata is an “iridescent medley that invigorates, inspires and swings in equal measure” (allaboutjazz.com). World premieres of two contest-winning carols for choir and trumpet will blow you away, and familiar carols for voices and brass will have…
Find out more »CONCERT: Welcome Christmas, Minneapolis
Advance ticket sales are closed, but tickets will be available for purchase at the door beginning at 2:30 PM. Swing in the holiday season with VocalEssence and Nils Lindberg’s A Christmas Cantata for chorus and big band. Blending jazz-infused style with traditional melodies, Lindberg’s cantata is an “iridescent medley that invigorates, inspires and swings in equal measure” (allaboutjazz.com). World premieres of two contest-winning carols for choir and trumpet will blow you away, and familiar carols for voices and brass will have…
Find out more »CONCERT: Welcome Christmas, Wayzata
Advance ticket sales are closed, but tickets will be available for purchase at the door beginning at 7 PM. Swing in the holiday season with VocalEssence and Nils Lindberg’s A Christmas Cantata for chorus and big band. Blending jazz-infused style with traditional melodies, Lindberg’s cantata is an “iridescent medley that invigorates, inspires and swings in equal measure” (allaboutjazz.com). World premieres of two contest-winning carols for choir and trumpet will blow you away, and familiar carols for voices and brass will…
Find out more »FAMILY CONCERT: Star of Wonder
Come listen, clap, dance, and sing at Star of Wonder, our annual one-hour family Christmas concert. Kids sit up close as members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers perform familiar holiday music, including a rousing (if a little goofy) “Twelve Days of Christmas” sing-along. Bring the whole family. Baby bottles and teddy bears welcome! VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Dancers from Folwell School, Performing Arts Magnet Philip Brunelle, conductor A fee of $3.50 per ticket is included in listed prices; all orders will incur…
Find out more »