Six of the most prestigious area choral ensembles join VocalEssence for world premiere

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (February 5, 2009) – VocalEssence concludes its 40th anniversary season with a massive choral collaboration entitled "Everybody Sing!" celebrating the incredible choral tradition in our community. For the first time, six of the most prestigious professional and community choirs in Minnesota will join forces with the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers on Sunday, May 3, 2009 (4 pm) at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.

Everybody Sing! features Kantorei, Magnum Chorum, Minnesota Chorale, National Lutheran Choir, The Singers, and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus who will each perform a work premiered or commissioned by VocalEssence during its 40 year history, and also a work of their own choosing. Then, over 500 magnificent voices will join forces for the world premiere of The Choirmaster’s Burial-an a cappella setting of Thomas Hardy’s poem, composed for this occasion by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Dominick Argento.

A former teacher of VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director Philip Brunelle, Dominick Argento received the first-ever commission by VocalEssence in 1973, composing Jonah and the Whale. Argento has since written three additional commissions for VocalEssence: A Thanksgiving to God, for His House (1979), Spirituals and Swedish Chorales (1994), and Sanctus (new orchestration in 2002).

Everybody Sing! performance tickets ($20-$40, service charges apply), are available by calling 612-371-5656 or by visiting www.vocalessence.org. Student and group discounts are available.

For press information and photographs related to Everybody Sing!, contact Jennifer Bauer (612-547-1459, jbauer@vocalessence.org).