Jeff Wheeler
Instagram and Star Tribune Metro Section  | March 4, 2022

 

Members of The Aeolians, including Laila Darville, center, sang during rehearsal with the VocalEssence Chorus and VocalEssence Singers of This Age, a choir made up of Twin Cities high school kids Tuesday night at Orchestra Hall ahead of their concert this Sunday afternoon.

 

Choral stars The Aeolians, the celebrated choir from Oakwood University, the historically Black college in Huntsville, Alabama, have come to Minnesota for the first time this week as part of the VocalEssence WITNESS program, which celebrates Black contributions to American arts. The Aeolians were declared “Choir of the World” at the 2017 World Choir Games.

 

 

G. Phillip Shoultz, III, VocalEssence associate artistic director conducted the combined choirs consisting of The Aeolians, the VocalEssence Chorus, and, seated on the stage, the VocalEssence Singers of This Age, during their combined rehearsal.

 

Members of VocalEssence Singers of This Age, including, from left, Erin Tetter, Ella Wright, and Sylvia Morris, sang during rehearsal with the Aeolians and the VocalEssence Chorus.

 

Soliyana Woldu had a solo turn while she and the VocalEssence Singers of This Age, a choir made up of Twin Cities high school kids, rehearsed Tuesday night.

 

Though he had no role vocalizing in the program, AnnaLisa Anderson’s service dog, Owen, paid close attention nonetheless as the VocalEssence Chorus and VocalEssence Singers of This Age rehearsed together.

 

Members of VocalEssence Singers of This Age, including Yee Choua Thao, center, waved good bye to The Aeolians as they left the stage at the conclusion of their portion of the rehearsal. #theaeolians #vocalessence #choralmusic