In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Paul Manz. Paul Manz 1919-2009 Composer and organist Paul Manz is known for his widely-admired motet “E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come” and for the hymn festivals he organized and led. Manz attended Concordia River… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Undine Smith Moore. Undine Smith Moore 1904-1989 American composer Undine Smith Moore composed in a variety of different forms and genres, but is best known for her arrangements of spirituals and other choral compositions and… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Conrad Susa. Conrad Susa 1935-2013 American composer Conrad Susa is best known for his choral music, incidental music, and operas. Susa studied at Carnegie Mellon University and The Juilliard School and his teachers included Nikolai… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor | Learning and Engagement Director G. Phillip Shoultz, III are finding inspiration from so many places during this time. Read a few words from them below. Philip Brunelle I have found these words from Dr. Randall Bradley, Professor Church Music at Baylor University very uplifting: “I long for… Read More →
VocalEssence is excited to launch the Singer Pen Pal Initiative, a program that pairs members of our adult VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers with singers from one of our three older adult Vintage Voices choirs. The VocalEssence Vintage Voices program sends a professional conductor and pianist into a senior community to create choirs that promote positive… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Stephen Paulus. Stephen Paulus 1949-2014 Prolific American composer Stephen Paulus composed over six hundred works, including four hundred choral pieces. He obtained his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Minnesota, where he… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Francis Poulenc. Francis Poulenc 1899-1963 Francis Poulenc was a renowned French composer best known for his religious music and compositions of mélodie. He was born into a wealthy, musical family and began studying piano at… Read More →
Our radically representative youth choir VocalEssence Singers of This Age is creating Sounds of Hope, a singing challenge for all ages, where they will be choosing songs that give them hope. They will be posting videos of those songs that will begin with short inspirational messages. Learn more about VocalEssence Singers Of This Age by… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Libby Larsen. Libby Larsen b. 1950 Minneapolis composer Libby Larsen is one of the most frequently performed living composers, with over five hundred works in nearly every genre. Larsen was born in Delaware and studied… Read More →
While VocalEssence is physically distancing, we continue to look for ways to use the healing power of music to socially connect and keep people thinking positively. Click on the links to learn more. Musical Moments with Philip Brunelle: Every week day, Philip shares a little insider information and beautiful music about an important composer. Take 5… Read More →
Our radically representative youth choir VocalEssence Singers of This Age is creating Sounds of Hope, a singing challenge for all ages, where they will be choosing songs that give them hope. They will be posting videos of those songs that will begin with short inspirational messages. Learn more about VocalEssence Singers Of This Age by… Read More →
We hope you are safe and find ways to make the best of this pause that we are experiencing. Below is a status update of our upcoming events. Sing with Us Virtually While VocalEssence is physically distancing, we continue to look for ways to use the healing power of music to socially connect and keep… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer André Thomas. André Thomas b. 1952 As a composer, arranger, conductor, author, pianist, and educator, André Thomas is very active in the choral world. Thomas recently retired after many years as a professor and as… Read More →
Our radically representative youth choir VocalEssence Singers of This Age is creating Sounds of Hope, a singing challenge for all ages, where they will be choosing songs that give them hope. They will be posting videos of those songs that will begin with short inspirational messages. Learn more about VocalEssence Singers Of This Age by… Read More →
VocalEssence is thrilled to announce that Philip Brunelle has been selected for this year’s Chorus America Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes a member whose long-term service to the choral field significantly furthers Chorus America’s mission “to empower singing ensembles to create vibrant communities and effect meaningful change.” https://www.chorusamerica.org/node/13581
