Press Releases

VocalEssence Founder Philip Brunelle Celebrates Two Milestones with Concert Featuring Music of His Most Beloved Composers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com  VOCALESSENCE FOUNDER PHILIP BRUNELLE CELEBRATES TWO MILESTONES WITH CONCERT FEATURING MUSIC OF HIS MOST BELOVED COMPOSERS “Philip’s Favorites” concert features music from Dominick Argento, John Rutter, Libby Larsen, and more old friends–at the American Swedish Institute, Feb. 4th MINNEAPOLIS—October 2, 2023—Singing and birthday celebrations go together like…  Read More

Share in Bach’s Joyous Christmas Oratorio with VocalEssence and the Bach Society of Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Jennifer Weismann VocalEssence 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com Pam McCarthy-Kern Bach Society of MN 612-360-0647 pam@becausecollective.com SHARE IN BACH’S JOYOUS CHRISTMAS ORATORIO WITH VOCALESSENCE AND THE BACH SOCIETY OF MINNESOTA Two concerts, in St. Louis Park and St. Paul, celebrate Bach’s masterwork with thrilling vocals and stunning instrumentation–Dec 15 & 16  MINNEAPOLIS—September 27, 2023—Old…  Read More

The Best Sound of the Season? Four VocalEssence Choirs Bidding One and All to ‘Welcome Christmas’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com THE BEST SOUND OF THE SEASON? FOUR VOCALESSENCE CHOIRS BIDDING ONE AND ALL TO ‘WELCOME CHRISTMAS’! Holiday concert of familiar carols and new compositions returns to Northrop–Dec. 9 & 10 MINNEAPOLIS—August 24, 2023—The vast space of Northrop might find itself struggling to contain the Christmas spirit growing…  Read More

VocalEssence and the St Olaf Choir in Concert Performance Opening Celebrated Choral Organization’s 55th Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE AND THE ST OLAF CHOIR IN CONCERT PERFORMANCE OPENING CELEBRATED CHORAL ORGANIZATION’S 55TH SEASON Program features Requiem by José Maurícío Nuñes-García and the premiere of a composition in memory of Sigrid Johnson—October 29 MINNEAPOLIS—July 24, 2023—VocalEssence will open its 55th concert season this fall with the…  Read More

Executive Director of VocalEssence Announces Retirement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VOCALESSENCE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Mary Ann Aufderheide to step down after two decades of growth and success for internationally celebrated choral organization  MINNEAPOLIS—September 15, 2023—After two decades as executive director of internationally renowned choral organization VocalEssence, Mary Ann Aufderheide is retiring, marking the end of…  Read More

VocalEssence Announces 2023-2024 Season: “Together We Sing”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE ANNOUNCES 2023-2024  SEASON: “TOGETHER WE SING” VocalEssence will not slow down in season 55 with a celebration of longstanding musical partnerships. MINNEAPOLIS—May 12, 2023—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations, is gearing up for its “speed limit” season—55 years of making music and celebrating the joy…  Read More

Poet Joe Davis is ‘Reawakening Love’

Cathy Wurzer and Melissa Townsend Minnesota Now, MPR | February 22, 2023 https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2023/02/22/joe-davis-is-reawakening-love Artist Joe Davis gives a spoken word performance during the 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration: Building Black Wealth event on Jan. 16. Tim Evans for MPR News Minneapolis-based artist, speaker and educator Joe Davis is having a breakout year. He tours…  Read More

Weekend Picks: Celebrate Black History Month in song and essays; a night in Havana; and more

By Sheila Regan MinnPost | February 23, 2023 https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2023/02/weekend-picks-celebrate-black-history-month-in-song-and-essays-a-night-in-havana-and-more/ A world of Twin Cities art and culture awaits this weekend after the snowstorm. VocalEssence celebrates Black History Month with Joe Davis and The New Renaissance, in the choral performance, “WITNESS: Reawakening Love.”   Snowstorm? What snowstorm? After this madness has passed, the world of Twin…  Read More

Critics’ picks: The 11 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

By Star Tribune Staff Star Tribune | February 23, 2023 startribune.com/muse-chapel-hart-vocalessence-dona-peron-bob-weir-resurgence-kahlil-robert-irving-evanescence/600253755/?refresh=true Critics’ picks for entertainment in the week ahead. Muse & Evanescence Minneapolis is the second stop on a tour that kicks off Saturday in Chicago, so it’s impossible to say what the arty, Rush-channeling British rockers in Muse will have up their sleeves. Their…  Read More

Joe Davis and G. Phillip Shoultz, III Interviewed on WCCO

A.J. Hilton and Heather Brown interview G. Phillip Shoultz, III and Joe Davis on WCCO On Monday, February 20, Joe Davis, artist, and G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director were interviewed on WCCO. They shared information about the collaboration between Joe Davis and VocalEssence and what to expect at WITNESS: Reawakening Love on Saturday,…  Read More

VOCALESSENCE, ARTIST JOE DAVIS AND THE NEW RENAISSANCE TO BEAR WITNESS IN SHOW HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com   VOCALESSENCE, ARTIST JOE DAVIS AND THE NEW RENAISSANCE  TO BEAR WITNESS IN SHOW HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH  WITNESS: Reawakening Love Will Fuse Musical Styles into a Joyous Celebration  at Orchestra Hall on Feb. 26  MINNEAPOLIS—December 8, 2022—Stories of struggle, resilience and celebration come to musical life through an…  Read More

VOCALESSENCE YOUTH CHOIR—‘SINGERS OF THIS AGE’—TO MOTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE AUDIENCES WITH “CHANGE SINGS,” A DYNAMIC INVITATION TO ACTIVISM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com   VOCALESSENCE YOUTH CHOIR—‘SINGERS OF THIS AGE’—TO MOTIVATE AND ENCOURAGE AUDIENCES WITH “CHANGE SINGS,” A DYNAMIC INVITATION TO ACTIVISM New music is inspired by the writings of Presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman MINNEAPOLIS—December 8, 2022—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations, presents Change Sings, April 22,…  Read More

VOCALESSENCE AND FAMED SINGER/COMPOSER MOIRA SMILEY PREMIERE NEW WORKS IN “SINGING THE WORLD AWAKE” 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com   VOCALESSENCE AND FAMED SINGER/COMPOSER MOIRA SMILEY  PREMIERE NEW WORKS IN “SINGING THE WORLD AWAKE”  Celebrate the joy of collaboration and singing together at Ordway Concert Hall on May 12 MINNEAPOLIS—December 8, 2022—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations, has commissioned two new works from innovative…  Read More

8 great holiday concerts by Twin Cities area classical groups

By Rob Hubbard Star Tribune | December 8, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/8-great-holiday-concerts-by-twin-cities-area-classical-groups/600234050/?refresh=true From a couple of different renditions of “Messiah” to choirs to “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” there’s something for everyone. Hallelujah! One of America’s best versions of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” will rise again for the first time since 2019. And Yuletide carols will be…  Read More

Preview: The Montserrat Boy Choir’s Minnesotan Adventure

by Amy Donahue Twin Cities Arts Reader | October 31, 2022 PREVIEW: The Montserrat Boy Choir’s Minnesotan Adventure The Montserrat Boy Choir. One of the most-anticipated performances coming to the Twin Cities is coming all the way from Catalonia. The Montserrat Boy Choir, an elite choir from one of Spain’s oldest music schools, will perform at…  Read More