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Twin Cities Ensembles Offer Christmas Concerts in Rochester

by Tom Weber weber@postbulletin.com | PostBulletin Published: December 10, 2019, https://www.postbulletin.com/life/lifestyles/twin-cities-ensembles-offer-christmas-concerts-in-rochester/article_08f28392-16ab-11ea-ad07-978e1f6ac6f9.html The Rose Ensemble will perform a concert of early American music Saturday in Rochester. (Contributed photo) Two of Minnesota’s iconic music groups, the Rose Ensemble and VocalEssence, will perform back-to-back holiday concerts this weekend in Rochester. In the case of the Rose Ensemble, which…  Read More →

The 10 concerts that shone brightest in 2019 on Minnesota’s classical scene

By Terry Blain | Star Tribune Published: December 20, 2019 — 8:20AM http://www.startribune.com/the-10-concerts-that-shone-brightest-in-2019-on-minnesota-s-classical-scene/566373282/ 1. “Candide,” VocalEssence, March 21: Leonard Bernstein’s Voltaire operetta is tough to stage, but Theater Latté Da’s Peter Rothstein recast it brilliantly as a 1930s radio broadcast. VocalEssence made the music sparkle, with Bradley Greenwald narrating. 2. St. John Passion, Oratory Bach Ensemble,…  Read More →

‘All Is Calm’ is filmed for PBS; ‘Dog Act’ at Gremlin Theatre

By Pamela Espeland | MinnPost PUBLISHED: December 13, 2019 ww.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/12/all-is-calm-is-filmed-for-pbs-dog-act-at-gremlin-theatre/?fbclid=IwAR3d67FHcl0-DNebJRQ8ox8Jc32orIvL_NonUv7M8IDnM8Bi3snSwre2Vr0 Photo by Joseph Scheller Theater Latté Da spent part of this week with a film crew from New York Public Media (WNET). They were there to film Peter Rothstein’s award-winning “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” for national broadcast on PBS in 2020. For three days,…  Read More →

Review: VocalEssence ably enhances the choral carol canon

By ROB HUBBARD | Special to the Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: December 8, 2019 at 4:35 pm | UPDATED: December 8, 2019 at 5:18 pm Link to article can be found here. Big and intimate. Traditional and fresh. These are the paradoxes with which the singers of VocalEssence wrestle. While 143 voices unite when their two main choirs combine, they’re often…  Read More →

A hot debut and a Bach alternative to ‘Messiah’: The week’s best classical concerts

By Terry Blain | Star Tribune Published: December 1, 2019 — 2:00PM http://www.startribune.com/a-hot-debut-and-a-bach-alternative-to-messiah-the-week-s-best-classical-concerts/565610352/ Alt-Bach Christmas inevitably means “Messiah,” and this week’s Minnesota Orchestra performances will please those who like an annual dose of Handel’s masterpiece. For a refreshing alternative, why not try Bach’s Christmas Oratorio? It covers many of the same biblical events, and the…  Read More →

Where in the World are the Conductors – October 2019

October 28, 2019

After conducting the opening Divine Light concerts of the season, Artistic Director Philip Brunelle traveled to Toronto for meetings with several composers as well as former MPR favorite, Eric Friesen, back in his native Canada.  The Ensemble Singers are now busy working on music for both November and December concerts including the world premiere of…  Read More →

Celebrate Musical Siblings Felix and Fanny with VocalEssence Event—“THE MENDELSSOHNS”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com CELEBRATE MUSICAL SIBLINGS FELIX AND FANNY WITH VOCALESSENCE EVENT—“THE MENDELSSOHNS” Two prolific Romantic-era composers, one extraordinary program of music — April 4, 2020 MINNEAPOLIS—October 21, 2019—This spring, VocalEssence will feature compositions by siblings Felix Mendelssohn and Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel side by side in a single program, The Mendelssohns.…  Read More →

Honor the Musical Foundations that Gave Rise to 30 Years of Song with Deep Roots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com HONOR THE MUSICAL FOUNDATIONS THAT GAVE RISE TO 30 YEARS OF SONG WITH DEEP ROOTS A galaxy of incredible artists and a special 30th Anniversary Community Choir will join the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers and VocalEssence Singers Of This Age—Feb. 23 at Orchestra Hall             …  Read More →

Behind the Music for Divine Light

October 4, 2019

Artistic Director Philip Brunelle carefully selected each piece for the Divine Light concert on Sunday, October 13th. Watch and read more about why below and purchase your tickets today! The Ensemble Singers are an amazing group—certainly Minnesota’s finest!  I want them to sing for you a program that gives you, the listener, an idea of…  Read More →

VocalEssence Gala 2020 Sponsors

Sponsoring the VocalEssence Gala 2020 has many advantages: Visibility to audience of more than 600 prominent business and community leaders Opportunity to support and partner with VocalEssence, an organization with decades of experience presenting concerts and education programs that engage, inspire, and entertain more than 30,000 people of all ages annually Brand equity in THE…  Read More →

Where in the World are the Conductors – September 2019

September 17, 2019

Returning from a VERY successful series of 4 concerts in Mexico City with the Ensemble Singers, Philip Brunelle immediately plunged into rehearsals for his 51st VocalEssence season as well as planning a number of special events for the fall and winter (with lots of meetings!).  Following the opening Retreat rehearsal the Ensemble Singers presented a…  Read More →

Postcards from Mexico-Days 8 & 9

September 5, 2019

SUNDAY 9/1/2019 and MONDAY 9/2/2019 The End and the Beginning   We are home, and after the whirlwind of Saturday and Sunday, the dust has settled.  I’m late in writing about our last days of our trip because I’m dazed, and it all seems like a dream.  But then I open my Facebook page, and…  Read More →

Where in the World are the Conductors – August 2019

August 22, 2019

The end of July found artistic director Philip Brunelle in Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong Children’s Choir celebrated its 50th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of VocalEssence. He also found time to stop in London and Gloucester for the Three Choirs Festival, where he enjoyed a Bob Chilcott premiere, and met with composer James…  Read More →

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers to Present a Homecoming Concert

August 22, 2019

The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers under the direction of Philip Brunelle will present a Homecoming Concert featuring music from their Mexico tour on Saturday, September 7, at 7 PM at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake. The concert is free of charge, but a free-will offering will be taken at the event. VocalEssence…  Read More →