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VocalEssence Brings Mark Twain Back to Life—Again

  CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE BRINGS MARK TWAIN BACK TO LIFE—AGAIN Minneapolis-based choral ensemble and Don Shelby reunite for “River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain” Jan. 29 in Moorhead, Minn. MINNEAPOLIS — January 1, 2016 — Ever dreamed of journeying down the Mississippi River just like Huckleberry Finn? Grab your paddle for the…  Read More →

VocalEssence Pays Homage to the Male Chorus—With Help from Morehouse College Glee Club

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE MALE CHORUS — WITH HELP FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE GLEE CLUB Renowned choral ensemble and historic all-male glee club join forces for VocalEssence WITNESS: Morehouse College Glee Club concert—Feb. 21  MINNEAPOLIS—December 17, 2015—What happens when the internationally-renowned Morehouse College Glee Club partners with nationally acclaimed choral ensemble…  Read More →

VocalEssence Presents Work from Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PRESENTS WORK FROM GERTRUDE STEIN AND VIRGIL THOMSON Local choral ensemble stages opera “Four Saints in Three Acts” alongside award-winning dance troupe Black Label Movement MINNEAPOLIS—December 17, 2015—On Saturday, Mar. 19, nationally acclaimed choral ensemble VocalEssence will re-imagine the groundbreaking and distinctly American opera—Four Saints in Three Acts—assisted by director…  Read More →

Danish Pioneer: VocalEssence in Minnesota Features Swedish Composer Nils Lindberg’s ‘A Christmas Cantata’

November 11, 2015 VOCALESSENCE GOES BIG (BAND) THIS CHRISTMAS! Choral ensemble in Minnesota puts a swinging twist on traditional Christmas carols—and delivers “A Christmas Cantata.” Nationally acclaimed choral ensemble VocalEssence swings into the holiday season with its annual concert series—Welcome Christmas. This year the series features Swedish composer Nils Lindberg’s A Christmas Cantata, an “iridescent…  Read More →

Star Tribune: Minneapolis composer Jake Runestad connects with veterans’ struggles

Young Minneapolis composer Jake Runestad connects with the struggles of war veterans in “Dreams of the Fallen.” By Kristin Tillotson, Star Tribune OCTOBER 4, 2015 — 2:00PM Photos by RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII • rtsong.taatarii@startribune.com Minneapolis composer Jake Runestad, a rising figure on the national classical scene, ties topical issues to his music. On Sunday VocalEssence performs…  Read More →

Nordic Nativity

VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers Sara Pajunen, fiddle Philip Brunelle, conductor Released in October 2015, Nordic Nativity is a wonderful exploration of beautiful music from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark—some of it familiar and some of it new. The Nordic composers have a marvelous way of spinning a melody that gets inside you and stays there!…  Read More →

VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Series

Celebrating rich Mexican musical traditions, VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! is a cross-cultural exchange program connecting composers from Mexico with students of all ages across the metropolitan area. Beginning in 2008, VocalEssence began offering the ¡Cantaré! program to Minnesota school, church and community choruses. More than 60 new works have been commissioned and premiered through ¡Cantaré! — and…  Read More →

VocalEssence to Release Newest Holiday Album: ‘Nordic Nativity’ Celebrates the Season with Nordic Cool

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE TO RELEASE NEWEST HOLIDAY ALBUM: “NORDIC NATIVITY” CELEBRATES THE SEASON WITH NORDIC COOL Compilation of songs from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark includes Christmas favorites old and new MINNEAPOLIS—July 28, 2015—Glaedelig jul! Joyous Christmas! Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence will release its newest album, “Nordic Nativity,” featuring traditional holiday music…  Read More →

VocalEssence Performs ‘Dreams of the Fallen’ to Open 47th Season

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PERFORMS “DREAMS OF THE FALLEN” TO OPEN 47th SEASON Acclaimed choral ensemble delivers work of veteran and poet in Midwest premiere Oct. 11 MINNEAPOLIS—JULY 28, 2015—What does it mean to live through 21st-century war? Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence will stage the Midwest premiere of Dreams of the Fallen, an…  Read More →

New VocalEssence Program Ends Inaugural Season—on Broadway

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com NEW VOCALESSENCE PROGRAM ENDS INAUGURAL SEASON — ON BROADWAY Assisted living facility hosts public concert featuring Vintage Voices choir—Aug. 25 MINNEAPOLIS — JULY 28, 2015 — VocalEssence invites all to take a trip down Broadway on Tues., Aug. 25, with the Seasons Sunshine Singers—a new choir composed of residents from…  Read More →

And the Winners Are … Four Chosen for VocalEssence ReMix Composer Mentorships

May 7, 2015

Four talented, emerging composers/songwriters have been selected to have a six-month one-on-one composer mentorship through VocalEssence ReMix as they each write a choral work. Each has been paired with a Composer Mentor, and on Saturday, June 6, they will gather for a One-Day Summer Workshop where they will meet with VocalEssence Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle, their…  Read More →