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VocalEssence singers make a ‘Welcome’ return in video holiday concert

By Rob Hubbard | Star Tribune PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 7, 2020 — 11:42AM https://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-singers-make-a-welcome-return-in-video-holiday-concert/573318241/ REVIEW: VocalEssence returns in a video concert. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VOCALESSENCE Members of VocalEssence masked up to tape their streaming “Welcome Christmas” concert.   Keeping gatherings small was recommended months ago by public health experts seeking to curb COVID. So what’s a…  Read More →

A PANDEMIC DIDN’T STOP THIS CHOIR FROM SINGING

By Amy Melin | Twin Cities PBS https://www.tptoriginals.org/a-pandemic-didnt-stop-this-choir-from-singing/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post-mno&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=pandemic-choir&fbclid=IwAR2LJLX2MpMIUFD5wdvl5ZE14vBdo3yLwlQ1kiBk-HRTvUhaCOWkHNlSljA When COVID-19 first showed up in the U.S., G. Phillip Shoultz III, like many Americans, had no idea what was ahead. “All of us naively thought this is just going to be a few weeks and we’ll get back to our lives,” he reflects. But the director of…  Read More →

Composers Datebook: “Welcome Christmas” Carol Contest

By John Birge | Your Classical Published: Sunday, December 6 “Welcome Christmas” Carol Contest Synopsis On today’s date in 1998, two brand-new Christmas carols debuted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the “Welcome Christmas” choral concert of VocalEssence conducted by Philip Brunelle. The two carols, “Sweet Noel” by Joan Griffith and “The Virgin’s Cradle Hymn” by Richard…  Read More →

Christmas concerts coming up; Louise Erdrich at One Book, One Minnesota

By Pamela Espeland | MINNPOST PUBLISHED: December 4, 2020 Christmas concerts coming up; Louise Erdrich at One Book, One Minnesota Dr. Anton Armstrong conducting the Massed Choirs and St. Olaf Orchestra during the 2019 Christmas Festival. Courtesy of St. Olaf College And suddenly it’s December. Hard to believe almost nine months have passed since the first…  Read More →

Liza and Jim Ervin find Joy On Demand

December 4, 2020

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 →

Holiday Arts Guide: From Blenders to Brickman, music traditions continue online

By ROSS RAIHALA | rraihala@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: November 29, 2020 at 5:28 a.m. | UPDATED: November 29, 2020 at 9:48 a.m. https://www.twincities.com/2020/11/29/holiday-arts-guide-from-blenders-to-brickman-music-traditions-continue-online/ Nearly all of this year’s holiday concerts are virtual, but many familiar faces both local (the Blenders, Lorie Line, the SPCO) and national (Jim Brickman, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) have planned online events…  Read More →

Making of Welcome Christmas 2020 with TPT

November 25, 2020

Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III shared their experience recording the Welcome Christmas concert this year in partnership with Twin Cities PBS (TPT). It took more than $75,000 to fund this partnership with TPT, and to date we have raised $64,506! If you are interested in continuing to support the…  Read More →

Black Friday Weekend Deals – 20% Off

November 24, 2020

Buy local this weekend to support your favorite choir! Use code SALE20 for 20% off the items listed below. Offer expires on Monday, November 30th at 11:59 PM.   Imagine Single Stream Find JOY and HOPE as the voices of our youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age help you imagine a world where the…  Read More →

Imagine Performances Premieres Saturday, Nov. 28

November 24, 2020

  Discover beauty in diversity, and imagine a world where the spirit of kindness, generosity, and love for our neighbors lives in us all year. Join the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age as they usher in the season of hope and love through songs, spoken word, and poetry from winter celebrations around the world, including Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Hmong New Year, Kwanzaa, and Las Posadas. …  Read More →

VocalEssence Releases Holiday Box

November 16, 2020

Ring (or sing) in the holiday season with a custom box delivered to you or your loved-one’s door! The box includes a custom VocalEssence branded campfire mug and cozy chenille blanket, goodies from Minnesota-made companies Folly Coffee and Chunky Funky Popcorn, and a songbook to follow along with as you watch the VocalEssence Welcome Christmas…  Read More →

VocalEssence Welcome Christmas on Twin Cities PBS

This year our beloved Welcome Christmas concert is available on VocalEssence On Demand AND will be televised across Minnesota on Twin Cities PBS (TPT) three times during the peak of the holiday season, and making it available to stream on their family of platforms. Relevant dates include:  December 19th: Welcome Christmas becomes available to stream…

Artist Workshops

VocalEssence Teaching Artists explore the yearly program theme through the lens of their artistic discipline, creating an integrative academic experience for students combining the study of African American culture with art, music, social studies, literature, character building, and other areas of school curriculum. VocalEssence Teaching Artists Timothy Berry, Vocalist/Composer/Percussionist Patricia Brown, Dance Instructor/Choreographer Traiveon (Trai)…