MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (September 29, 2008) — VocalEssence, the Minneapolis-based non-profit choral ensemble, is pleased to announce the election of John Geelan, Assistant General Counsel and Vice President at Piper Jaffray & Co., to the organization’s board of directors. He was elected at the quarterly board meeting on September 22, 2008 to serve a three-year term.

Raised in a small town in Iowa, John Geelan graduated cum laude from the University of St. Thomas, majoring in both in Economics and Classical Guitar Performance. He earned a law degree at Notre Dame, again graduating with honors. John’s career brought him to Minneapolis in 2000, where he served as an associate in the Corporate Finance group at Faegre & Benson LLP for four years. There he represented public and private companies in corporate governance matters as well as military veterans in a variety of cases on a pro bono basis.

In 2005, John was hired as Corporate Counsel, Assistant Vice President at Piper Jaffray & Co. He was promoted to Vice President in 2006, then Assistant General Counsel in 2007. He now serves as principal counsel for corporate securities and public company matters.

“John’s wide ranging experience in economics and background in law will make him a very valuable asset to Board of VocalEssence, particularly in today’s economic climate,” stated VocalEssence Board Chair Dorene Wernke. “To find these attributes along with his background and experience as a classical musician is very exciting. I am delighted he is willing to serve.”

For more information, contact VocalEssence Communications Manager Katryn Conlin (612-547-1457) or email kconlin@vocalessence.org.

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