In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Cecilia McDowall. Cecilia McDowall b.1951 Born in London in 1951, Cecilia McDowall’s writing combines rhythmic vitality with expressive lyricism. She has won many awards, been short-listed eight times for the British Composer Awards, and in… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer William Dawson. William Dawson 1899-1990 William Dawson was a leading African-American arranger of spirituals as well as a distinguished choral conductor. At age 13, Dawson ran away from home to enter Tuskegee (Institute) University. He… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Rodion Shchedrin. Rodion Shchedrin b. 1932 Rodion Shchedrin, Russian composer and virtuosic pianist, was born in Moscow into a musical family: his father was a composer and a teacher of music theory. After completing his… Read More →
Associate conductor G. Phillip Shoultz will feature 28 Days of Black Excellence during his 9 a.m. daily “Take 5 with GPS” performance series. Watch Videos Now VocalEssence will showcase Black achievement in the arts and beyond each day of Black History Month as part of its daily pandemic show, Take 5 with GPS. VocalEssence has… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE CELEBRATES “28 DAYS OF BLACK EXCELLENCE” FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH Associate conductor G. Phillip Shoultz will feature Black achievements in the arts and beyond during his 9 a.m. daily “Take 5 with GPS” performance series MINNEAPOLIS—January 27, 2021—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations, will… Read More →
By BECCA MOST | bmost@pioneerpress.com | St. Paul Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: January 14, 2021 at 9:12 p.m. | UPDATED: January 14, 2021 at 10:45 p.m. https://www.twincities.com/2021/01/14/ways-to-celebrate-mlk-day-in-the-twin-cities/ Although the pandemic has prevented many from celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in person this year, many events will still take place virtually. Saturday, Jan. 16 The VocalEssence… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE PRESENT AN MLK-INSPIRED CONCERT THAT WILL MAKE AUDIENCES “BELIEVE” Celebrated Minneapolis-based choral ensemble’s youth choir will present second part of a four-part performance series to inspire change in the world MINNEAPOLIS—January 13, 2021—The VocalEssence ensemble made up of a diverse collection of high school students, Singers Of This Age (VESOTA), will… Read More →
“I am so excited to watch this. Thank you to your entire team for bringing this to our world. As a choir director (middle school and high school), I am facing constant challenges of how to keep my 150 students engaged, motivated, and inspired. Thank you!” —Melanie Brink, music teacher in the Middle East region of Muscat, Oman We are so excited… Read More →
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 →
In this time when so much seems broken or difficult, don’t we all want to feel some joy? Sometimes feeling joy can come from being the person who helps even just one person through the uncharted waters of 2020. Now is your chance. Teachers are tired right now. They are being asked to do so… Read More →
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 Brandon Commodore,…
We asked Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III what they think about voting. Below is what they said. “I have never missed an opportunity to vote–usually in person at the elementary school in our neighborhood. Voting is one of the great privileges we have in our democracy–never take it for… Read More →
By Pamela Espeland | columnist MinnPost Published: OCTOBER 16, 2020 https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2020/10/g-phillip-shoultz-iii-of-vocalessence-stopping-has-never-been-an-option-for-me/ Shoultz leads the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers (32 professional singers), the VocalEssence Chorus (115-120 volunteer singers) and the youth choir VocalEssence Singers of This Age, aka VESOTA. Photo by Kyndell Harkness G. Phillip Shoultz III at the start of the pandemic: “So the first step was triage. Let’s… Read More →
ABOUT VOCALESSENCE VocalEssence, called “one of the irreplaceable music ensembles of our time” by Dana Gioia, past chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts—and the choral ensemble that Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently”—impacts thousands of students, singers, and composers each year through its initiative programs, contests, and support for innovative…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com UPCOMING VOCALESSENCE 2020-2021 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT IS A SEASON IN… AND ON… DEMAND MN Choral Ensemble’s performances will be broadcast in high-definition video to a new website—VocalEssence On Demand. MINNEAPOLIS—September 30, 2020—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations—is announcing its digital 2020-2021 concert season. The new season will available on a new website, VocalEssence On Demand, and includes a Chorus & Ensemble Singers series, a series of… Read More →
