Press Releases

VocalEssence Puts on a Big Show (or Nine) with Diverse 47th Season

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PUTS ON A BIG SHOW (OR NINE) WITH DIVERSE 47TH SEASON Celebrated Twin Cities choral organization announces new season promoting diverse communities—through the voice MINNEAPOLIS—March 14, 2015—Acclaimed Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence—recognized internationally for its innovative explorations of music—announces an intriguing 47th season of concerts. The 2015-2016 lineup celebrates many…  Read More

VocalEssence Associate Conductor Sigrid Johnson announces retirement

CONTACT: Mary Ann Aufderheide 612-547-1454 maryann@vocalessence.org  VOCALESSENCE ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Sigrid Johnson steps down at end of 2014-2015 Season MINNEAPOLIS—February 23, 2015—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations, announces today that its long-time associate conductor, Sigrid Johnson, will be retiring from the organization at the end of the 2014-2015 season. Johnson has…  Read More

VocalEssence Fuses Mexico with Minnesota in ¡Cantare!

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com   VOCALESSENCE FUSES MEXICO WITH MINNESOTA IN ¡CANTARÉ! Minneapolis-based choral ensemble premieres new works by Mexican composers and local students in ¡Cantaré! Community Concert   MINNEAPOLIS—February 16, 2015—VocalEssence invites families to cross the border to a Mexican musical celebration in the ¡Cantaré! (I Will Sing!) community concert on May 21.…  Read More

Gather at the River with Mark Twain to Support Choral Art

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com  GATHER AT THE RIVER WITH MARK TWAIN TO SUPPORT CHORAL ART Twin Cities-based VocalEssence and Don Shelby host fundraiser cruise for music education—May 2 MINNEAPOLIS—February 16, 2015—Join the 32-voice VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and television legend Don Shelby as they travel back in time on the historic Minnesota Centennial Showboat to…  Read More

VocalEssence Celebrates Special WITNESS Anniversary and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE CELEBRATES SPECIAL WITNESS ANNIVERSARY AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Local choral ensemble and high school students team up with Sounds of Blackness in WITNESS: Let Freedom Ring—Feb. 8 MINNEAPOLIS — January 23, 2015 — Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — plus, the…  Read More

VocalEssence Celebrates Bach’s Twenty-First (Out of Twenty) Child—P.D.Q. Bach!

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE CELEBRATES BACH’S TWENTY-FIRST (OUT OF TWENTY) CHILD—P.D.Q. BACH! Minneapolis-based choral ensemble hosts birthday bash for composer and parodist Peter Schickele—Apr. 10 MINNEAPOLIS — February 12, 2015 — The 100-voice VocalEssence Chorus, 32-voice Ensemble Singers and the University of Minnesota’s Wind Ensemble will celebrate the 80th birthday of legendary composer,…  Read More

VocalEssence Dials Back the Clock for The Radio Hour

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE DIALS BACK THE CLOCK FOR THE RADIO HOUR Twin Cities ensemble celebrates the golden age of radio at A Prairie Home Companion’s Fitzgerald Theater—Mar. 14-15 MINNEAPOLIS — February 12, 2015 — The 32-voice Ensemble Singers and acclaimed Minneapolis actress Christina Baldwin will take center stage at the famed Minnesota…  Read More

Star Tribune: VocalEssence and the Singers offer winning Christmas concerts

Review: VocalEssence and the Singers bring new work and traditional carols as highlights of the Christmas choral season   By WILLIAM RANDALL BEARD, Special to the Star Tribune Updated: December 8, 2014 – 9:00 PM The highlight of this holiday season’s choral concerts will likely be “A Light in the Stable,” by English composer Alan Bullard, written…  Read More

Pioneer Press: VocalEssence offers the sounds of Christmas, from the north

  By Rob Hubbard, Special to the Pioneer Press December 5, 2014  An Arctic winter deserves some Christmas music from up around the Arctic Circle. They know something about staying warm on cold nights in the Nordic lands of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark, and Friday night’s first of local choral powerhouse VocalEssence’s “Welcome Christmas” concerts…  Read More

KSTP News: Mpls. Students Rehearse for Biggest Gig Yet with Grammy-Winning Group

Updated: 11/20/2014 5:18 PM Created: 11/20/2014 4:40 PM KSTP.com By: Kate Renner [Please note VocalEssence correction: Gary Hines, not Greg Hines] Students at South High School in Minneapolis are preparing Thursday for a performance they probably won’t forget. Members of the school’s varsity choir program are partnering with Grammy award winning musicians to sing this…  Read More

Welcome Christmas is alight with premieres, Nordic theme

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com A WINTER WELCOME ‘JUL’ LOVE! VocalEssence celebrates the holidays with Nordic traditions, plus new cantata and carols MINNEAPOLIS — November 12, 2014 — ’Tis the season for lutefisk, glögg, rødgrød med fløde and Welcome Christmas 2014 — the beloved annual concert series presented by Minneapolisbased choral ensemble VocalEssence. Get into the holiday spirit…  Read More

VocalEssence Presents: Young People’s Chorus of New York City®

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com AWARD-WINNING YOUTH CHORUS JOINS FORCES WITH VOCALESSENCE Local choral ensemble hosts Young People’s Chorus of New York City®—Nov. 22 MINNEAPOLIS — OCTOBER 30, 2014 — The internationally renowned Young People’s Chorus of New York City® (YPC) is coming to the Twin Cities for a performance that is not to be missed — VocalEssence…  Read More

River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain Tour celebrates life on the Mississippi

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com TV LEGEND DON SHELBY IS MARK TWAIN: VocalEssence brings historic figure to life in November with River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain Tour MINNEAPOLIS—October 29, 2014—Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence will employ choral music and the words of Mark Twain this November to pay homage to life on the Mississippi…  Read More

VocalEssence rebranding transcends new logo and tagline

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE FINDS A NEW VOICE! 46-year-old world-renowned choral ensemble undergoes rebranding — the first since its renaming in 2002 MINNEAPOLIS — SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 — VocalEssence — the iconic choral ensemble that has enchanted audiences for decades — turned 46 this year, and as often happens around this age, the arts organization…  Read More

VocalEssence goes local for season opener of heavy hitters

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com HAIL! MINNESOTA, LAND OF 10,000 LAKES, CHOIRS — AND COMPOSERS VocalEssence opens 46th season with Made in Minnesota, including premiere from hip hop artist Dessa and debut of Dominick Argento’s latest opus MINNEAPOLIS—August 20, 2014—Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence is going local for its 46th season opener Made in Minnesota, a concert…  Read More