Four Performances Saturday, December 7, 2019 from 7:30-9:30 PM – Completed Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN Sunday, December 8, 2019 from 4-6 PM – Completed Plymouth Congregational Church 1919 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis, MN Friday, December 13, 2019 from 7:30-9:30 PM Plymouth Congregational Church 1919 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis,… Read More →
“Life after 50” could be a challenge for some, but not for VocalEssence! We are moving from one anniversary to the next. This season marks 30 years since we began our VocalEssence WITNESS program honoring the contributions of African Americans to the arts. We are celebrating with two WITNESS-themed performances this season—What a Mighty God… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann Jennifer@owl-marketing.com 612-716-0556 PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR VOCALESSENCE 2019-2020 SEASON Choral and community-building organization celebrates 30 years of VocalEssence WITNESS, honoring the contributions of African Americans to the arts MINNEAPOLIS — February 25, 2020—Heading into its second half-century stronger than ever, VocalEssence is ready to reveal the program for its… Read More →
by Ross Raihala | Pioneer Press February 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm https://www.twincities.com/2019/02/21/vocalessences-witness-concert-honors-ilhan-omar-hallie-q-brown-other-trailblazers/ Back in 2017, VocalEssence associate conductor G. Phillip Shoultz III was starting to plan the group’s annual Witness concert and was thinking about influential women who changed everything. “I was struck by what is going on in our society with the rise and… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com CLASSIC DYLAN GOES CHORAL IN MIDWEST PREMIERE FROM VOCALESSENCE “The Times They Are A-Changin’: The Words and Music of Bob Dylan” interprets some of the Nobel Prize-winning Minnesotan’s best-loved songs—April 27 at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul MINNEAPOLIS — February 10, 2019 — VocalEssence is… Read More →
Don Lee | Chorus America January 10, 2019 https://www.chorusamerica.org/node/9195 North American choruses are anticipating a wave of major anniversaries in the coming years, and their leaders are hard at work preparing to mark the occasions. The most thoughtful celebrations honor a chorus’s past achievements, while laying the groundwork for an even stronger future. Brace yourself. In… Read More →
Thank you to the 275 people who took the Welcome Christmas 2018 Survey. The VocalEssence staff analyzes the results and uses the information to plan for better performances in the future. Below is a summary of the results. 23% of attendees were attending their very first VocalEssence concert, and 32% of respondents attended VocalEssence concerts… Read More →
For Artistic Director Philip Brunelle, January began with meetings in Washington DC with Senator Tina Smith and Congressman Dean Phillips—both of them very supportive of VocalEssence! He also met with the Norwegian Cultural Consul, with Alberto Fierro (Executive Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute), with Ann Meier Baker of the NEA Music Division and our dear… Read More →
A musical visionary and tireless self-promoter, VocalEssence founder Philip Brunelle is a world-renowned force.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com LYRIC AND WIT! VOCALESSENCE AND THEATER LATTÉ DA! CUNEGONDE AND….CANDIDE! Local arts powerhouses combine forces to bring Leonard Bernstein’s famed operetta to life in a theatrical concert performance—March 21-24 at the Cowles Center MINNEAPOLIS — January 3, 2019 — VocalEssence and Theater Latté Da will join voices this March… Read More →
DEAR SANTA, HAVE YOU HAD THE MEASLES? Frank Kells, Al Arland, & Al Vann For a number of years the Ensemble Singers appeared with Philip Brunelle on Minnesota Public Radio each December with a program of humorous Christmas music that no one hears—this being one of the ‘gems.’ (SWEET ANGIE) THE CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL M.K.… Read More →
byAlaina Rooke | December 5, 2018: https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_post/community/a-measured-breath-but-no-rest-for-golden-valley-music/article_74816f46-f75e-11e8-9af1-b771ceaf37f4.html Top Minnesota choir director and longtime resident Philip Brunelle looks to 50th year “One of my mottos is you don’t know if you don’t ask,” explained Philip Brunelle of attracting top guest talent to VocalEssence, a premier choral organization he founded in 1969. “You have a 50-percent chance of… Read More →
By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune December 5, 2018 — 1:50PM: http://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-wishes-listeners-a-contemporary-christmas-with-annual-holiday-concert/501996531/ MUSIC REVIEW: VocalEssence looks to the future with its holiday concert. Looking back over half a century, there’s an understandable tendency to get all dewy-eyed and sentimental. But that was hardly the impression left by “Welcome Christmas,” the annual VocalEssence holiday… Read More →
By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune November 30, 2018 — 2:52PM: http://www.startribune.com/10-best-concerts-to-mark-the-holidays-in-choir-crazed-minnesota/501646651/ With so many Minnesota choirs, it can be difficult selecting the perfect concert. Here are 10 great options for the holidays. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but music lovers have floated a new state motto: Land of 10,000… Read More →
By Rob Hubbard | Special to the Pioneer Press December 2, 2018—4:30PM | UPDATED: December 2, 2018—4:43PM: https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/02/review-vocalessences-welcome-christmas-best-when-ringing-in-the-new/ It never gets old. Such could be said of the repertoire at VocalEssence’s annual “Welcome Christmas” concerts. If you want to hear a choir singing familiar carols at this time of year, you’d best look elsewhere, for this Minneapolis-based choral… Read More →
