By Rob Hubbard November 24, 2018—9:00AM | UPDATED: November 28, 2018—12:28PM: https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/24/holidays-have-plenty-of-sweets-sweet-vocal-harmonies-that-is/ If Yuletide carols being sung by a choir sounds like your ideal holiday elixir, then this is the December for you in the Twin Cities. Vocal harmonies abound, as all of our best groups have their own concerts … and a couple of them hook up… Read More →
by Pamela Espeland November 1, 2018: https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2018/11/american-composers-forum-names-leader-prince-before-the-rain-book-release/ VocalEssence: Singing with the stars VocalEssence – the choral music organization founded by Philip Brunelle, now celebrating its 50th anniversary year – is making friends in high places. First they sang with the Rolling Stones. Then they opened for Idina Menzel on Nicollet Mall during Super Bowl Live –… Read More →
by Terry Blain October 8, 2018: http://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-sounds-festive-at-50th-anniversary-concert/495932081/ Review: A high-energy anniversary concert revisited the ensemble’s greatest hits. In the beginning, there was Aaron Copland. Fifty years ago, Philip Brunelle invited the iconic American composer to conduct his newly formed choir at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. The great composer accepted. And the rest, as they say, is… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com “STAR OF WONDER REIMAGINED” CONCERTS WELCOME YOUNG LISTENERS VocalEssence holiday shows for families move to Mia—Dec. 8 MINNEAPOLIS—October 23, 2018— “Concert manners” don’t apply when you’re filled with the holiday spirit, right? That’s why VocalEssence created Star of Wonder, a seasonal concert especially for families with toddlers… Read More →
VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III surprised Artistic Director Philip Brunelle at the 50th Anniversary Concert on October 7, 2018 with a new song arranged by a self-proclaimed “biggest fan” Alice Parker. Read the lyrics below. An Ode to Philip Brunelle and Vocal Essence on the Celebration of their Fiftieth Anniversary (sung to the refrain… Read More →
The 50th Anniversary Concert and Dinner on October 7, 2018 was an evening filled with special moments. Governor Dayton proclaimed it VocalEssence Together We Sing Day. Senator Tina Smith began the festivities with a beautiful tribute to the organization. Acclaimed composer Alice Parker wrote an arrangement to surprise Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. Read the lyrics… Read More →
October is off to a rousing start for Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. He’s launched the second season of the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, as they prepare for their Identity concert on November 8, 2018. He spent two days training VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! composer, Pablo Mendoza, for workshops in our partner schools. This past… Read More →
by Kathy Berdan October 4, 2018: https://www.twincities.com/2018/10/04/vocalessence-50th-anniversary-concert-ordway-st-paul-philip-brunelle-aaron-copland-cantare/ Harmony through harmony. That’s a good description of what Twin Cities choral stalwart VocalEssence has been doing for half a century. Founder and director Philip Brunelle and the group’s 30-member professional Ensemble Singers recently returned from a trip to Mexico City, where they performed with 30 Mexican singers and a… Read More →
Music for a Grand Cathedral Sunday, October 28, 2018 from 2-4 PM Cathedral of Saint Paul Tickets start at $10
I’m Catherine Dehoney, President of Chorus America, the research, professional development, and advocacy organization for choruses in North America. Philip asked me to keep my remarks “short and profound, like the Gettysburg Address”. I’m not sure I can achieve ‘profound’, so I’ll try for ‘short’! Two score and 10 years ago, Philip Brunelle brought forth… Read More →
VocalEssence has just returned from conducting some “choral diplomacy” in Mexico. The trip to Mexico City—from Aug. 26 to Sept. 3— was a historic one. For ten years, Philip Brunelle has been visiting Mexico to meet and audition composers willing to fly up to Minnesota multiple times during the school year for VocalEssence ¡Cantaré!, staying a… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle started the month of September by conducting the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers in Mexico City for an amazing week of concerts and workshops. They performed solo concerts and also joined 30 professional Mexican singers in concerts of Brahms and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Orquesta Symphonica de Minería. September is the month… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com IT’S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS—WITH VOCALESSENCE! This year, the Minneapolis-based choral ensemble’s beloved annual Welcome Christmas concert will include a special 50th Anniversary Season retrospective and new pieces by composer Nico Muhly MINNEAPOLIS — September 18, 2018 — The VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers’ annual… Read More →
SEPTEMBER 14, 2018 — 5:40PM http://www.startribune.com/readers-write-vocalessence-in-mexico/493346251/ Recently, it was the privilege of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers to be invited to Mexico City as guests of the Symphonic Orchestra of Minería and the National University of Mexico funded by Fomento Educacional. The 30 professional Minnesota singers joined forces with 30 professional Mexican singers for a week… Read More →
By Pamela Espeland | 10:05 am August 31, 2018 https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2018/08/vocalessence-on-tour-in-mexico-peter-lorre-series-at-the-trylon/ The news about U.S.-Mexico relations continues to seesaw. After threats, tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, there’s a new free-trade deal in the works. There’s endless talk about a border wall and who will or won’t pay for it. ICE raids keep netting Mexican nationals. But this… Read More →
