Accompanist phone 612-547-1451 fax 612-547-1484 info@vocalessence.org Pianist Casey Rafn enjoys a varied career as a collaborative pianist both in the United States and abroad, in Europe and Latin America. He is a member of ‘Trés’, whose saxophone-piano trio was just nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album for their new album “Romance al… Read More →
When a co-worker suggested to Jenny Wade in 2011 that she might be a good fit to take his place on the VocalEssence board of directors, he didn’t know that she enjoyed singing and was in her church choir—a good fit indeed. So that Jenny might get a better feel for what VocalEssence is about,… Read More →
A new VocalEssence program is working wonders for senior singers and their communities! Vintage Voices, which integrates the arts into the lives of older adults by creating choirs in assisted living communities and senior centers, has inspired older adults at Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood (shown above in their spring concert video), Sabathani Community Center Senior… Read More →
I agree to purchase one (1) item for each score that I intend to distribute. The price of the item represents one (1) copy of the item. Example: A chorus needs 30 copies of a PDF score that costs $1.95 and orders 30 items for a total cost of $58.50. The purchaser receives a link… Read More →
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 →
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 →
The VocalEssence WITNESS School Program offers partner schools the opportunity for students to interact with one of our WITNESS Teaching Artists, who explore the yearly program theme through their artistic discipline. Teaching Artists create an integrative academic experience for students combining the study of African American culture with art, music, social studies, literature, character building… Read More →
From the full houses for six performances June 23-28, 2015, to relaxation on the water and community engagement, the River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain: Alexandria Tour offered the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers a wonderful time in residence at Theatre L’Homme Dieu in Alexandria, Minnesota. The Star Tribune published an in-depth article on the theater… Read More →
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 →
Members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Magnum Chorum, led by guest conductor Mark Stover, artistic director of Magnum Chorum, engaged the audience with “Blessed Assurance” during the sing-along portion of their performance at Lyngblomsten Mid-Summer Festival in St. Paul on Saturday, July 11, 2015. The performance and sing-along of hymns, spirituals and choral classics… Read More →
By Graydon Royce Star Tribune July 2, 2015 — 3:00 pm Video (03:27): It takes Don Shelby two hours to transform into Mark Twain for the L’Homme Dieu Theatre production of River Songs with Mark Twain in Alexandria, Minn. Alexandria, Minn. – The show started about midnight. High above the campfire audience at Theatre L’Homme… Read More →
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 →
For just about as long she can remember, Judy Drobeck has been singing. It started as it does for many children, “singing rounds and part songs with my family as we rode in the car or did the dishes—as early as 2 or 3 years old,” according to Judy. “My older sisters had learned some… Read More →
VocalEssence performed with the Rolling Stones on stage during their one-night-only performance June 3 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, a stop on the 15-city North American ZIP CODE Tour. VocalEssence Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor Phillip Shoultz both conducted. “It was an amazing experience,” Philip Brunelle told MPR News, when… Read More →
Jon Collins · Jun 4, 2015 Listen Story audio 3min 54sec Mick Jagger in Minneapolis Jeff Wheeler | Star Tribune via AP VocalEssence artistic director Philip Brunelle didn’t hesitate when the Rolling Stones asked if his choir would perform on the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” at the band’s Minneapolis show. “I said,… Read More →
