In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 1875-1912 The gifted English composer, conductor, and professor Samuel Coleridge-Taylor achieved great popularity during his life. He was the son of a Sierra Leone doctor and an English woman. Coleridge-Taylor studied… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer John Rutter. John Rutter b. 1945 Prolific composer John Rutter captures audiences around the world with his choral compositions and arrangements. Rutter attended Highgate School in London and went on to study at Clare College,… 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 →
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 →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Peter Schickele, also known by his alternate persona: P.D.Q. Bach. Peter Schickele b.1935 Born to a musical family in Ames, Iowa in 1935, Peter Schickele demonstrated his musical talents at a young age. Schickele grew… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer David Evan Thomas. David Evan Thomas b. 1958 The music of Minneapolis composer David Evan Thomas, born in Rochester, New York, has been described as playful, warm, expressive, and radiant. Thomas has degrees from Northwestern… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Alice Parker. Alice Parker b. 1925 Parker’s impressive body of over five hundred compositions and arrangements includes operas, cantatas, choral pieces, and song cycles. After attending Smith College, Parker completed her master’s program in choral… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Dominick Argento. Dominick Argento 1927-2019 American composer Dominick Argento, born in York, Pennsylvania and based for much of his life in Minneapolis, is perhaps best known for his solo vocal and operatic works. He has… Read More →
The VocalEssence Gala 2020—Better Together is designed to be a fun and interactive experience for guests. The reception will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2020 with a silent auction featuring amazing entertainment. You will have the opportunity to help create a community created mural with visual artist Ta-coumba Aiken, enjoy a custom… Read More →
Engaging one of our choirs provides a meaningful experience for your guests, gives our singers unique performance opportunities and supports our ability to continue transforming lives by singing together, assuring a place for everyone’s voice. All of our choirs are available for engagement: VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Chorus—Our 110-voice chorus was called “one of the irreplaceable… Read More →
By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune Published: FEBRUARY 18, 2020 — 10:57AM http://www.startribune.com/for-30-years-vocalessence-s-witness-program-has-celebrated-black-music/567972202/ G. Phillip Shoultz III brings the Witness program to 40 schools each year. “Thirty years ago, Black History Month was just a mention on Minnesota Public Radio, and maybe a concert here or there. There wasn’t anything sustained here… Read More →
By Pamela Espeland | MINNPOST Published: FEBRUARY 18, 2020 — 9:17AM ‘Twelfth Night’ at the Guthrie is pure joy; Russian Renaissance at Aria Photo by Dan Norman Emily Gunyou Halaas, Sun Mee Chomet and Michael Hanna in “Twelfth Night.” The Guthrie’s new production of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy “Twelfth Night” is pure joy. Filled with live music, movement and color,… Read More →
Who is your inspiration? On February 24, 3,462 students from 34 schools will hear our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age at the WITNESS Young People’s Concerts. But here is the catch… In order to make the concerts possible for all, we need to raise $25 per student. Sponsor a seat (or two)… Read More →
It looks like you have ticket(s) to the Moana Movie Sing-Along this Saturday at 1 PM. Bravo! Read below for more information about this event. What to Expect We will be watching the movie Moana with sing-along assistance from members of our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age. After the movie, you will receive… Read More →
It looks like you have ticket(s) to the Moana Movie Sing-Along this Saturday at 10 AM. Bravo! Read below for more information about this event. What to Expect We will be watching the movie Moana with sing-along assistance from members of our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age. After the movie, you will receive… Read More →
