Press Releases

2013-2014 Announcement: VocalEssence Crescendos Into Tremendous 45th Season

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann612-716-0556Jennifer@owl-marketing.com   Twin Cities choral organization celebrates nearly half a century of musical innovation with another epic season MINNEAPOLIS — March 5, 2013 —VocalEssence, the acclaimed Minneapolis-based choral ensemble recognized internationally for its innovative exploration of music for voices and instruments and beautiful sound, this week announces its 45th season. 45 years is…  Read More →

Star Tribune: Singer Marian Anderson is celebrated in the 24th annual ‘Witness’ concert in Minneapolis

REVIEW: The legendary 20th-century contralto Marian Anderson is profiled at annual Witness concert. By Rohan Preston, Star TribuneFebruary 18, 2013Link to original story For 24 years, VocalEssence, one of the Twin Cities’ premier singing ensembles, has shone a light on African-American musical genius and ingenuity through its Witness concert series. Last year, the Philip Brunelle-led…  Read More →

Classical MPR: VocalEssence celebrates the legendary Marian Anderson

by John Birge, Classical Minnesota Public Radio February 15, 2013 ST. PAUL, Minn. — Marian Anderson is twice a legend: classical singer, and civil rights icon. When Toscanini first heard Marian Anderson in 1935, he said: “A voice like hers is heard only once in a hundred years.” But four years later, she was forbidden…  Read More →

Welcome the holidays with “Welcome Christmas 2012” on Classical MPR

Welcome Christmas American Public Media and Classical Minnesota Public Radio will present the annual Welcome Christmas broadcast, hosted by John Birge. The one-hour program will run twice on 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities and online at classicalmpr.org: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 7pm Christmas Day, December 25, 2012 at 5pm This year’s VocalEssence Welcome…  Read More →

VocalEssence Welcomes Spring with University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble and Pianist Thelma Hunter for March 2013 Concert

Concert to Feature Music by Legendary Composer Percy Grainger News ReleaseContact: Becky Bailey or Katrina Vander Kooi612-309-7149 or 612-547-1472bbailey@carrerainc.com orkvanderkooi@vocalessence.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MINNEAPOLIS – Dec. 3, 2012 — VocalEssence will welcome spring with its English Garden concert featuring the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers and the University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble performing works…  Read More →

2013 VocalEssence “WITNESS: Marian Anderson” concert celebrates Black History Month with Music, Theater

News ReleaseContact: Becky Bailey or Katrina Vander Kooi612-309-7149 or 612-547-1472bbailey@carrerainc.com orkvanderkooi@vocalessence.org Order WITNESS Concert Tickets Download High Res Photos MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Nov. 21, 2012) — VocalEssence is proudly continuing its rich 23-year tradition of celebrating diversity and honoring African American artists with its popular WITNESS program.  This year VocalEssence celebrates the inspiring story of musical…  Read More →

VocalEssence, Cantus sing together for ACDA-MN 50th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, November 16, 2012 at 8 pmBenson Great Hall, Bethel College, St. Paul VocalEssence and Cantus will join forces to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota in this special concert! Minnesota’s wealth of choral music will be explored in a wide ranging program that covers generations of our state’s…  Read More →

Star Tribune: Cuban chorus offers diverse and beautiful music

November 12, 2012 By William Randall Beard, Special to the Star Tribune For almost 20 years, Schola Cantorum Coralina has been the one of the foremost choruses in Cuba. The 20-member ensemble is on its first-ever U.S. tour, performing here under the auspices of VocalEssence. Their program, “An Evening in Havana,” naturally focused on contemporary Cuban…  Read More →

VocalEssence launches mobile version of website

October 23, 2012: VocalEssence has added a mobile version of its website to enhance visitors’ on-the-go experience. Now when you go online to vocalessence.org via a smart phone, you will see mobile-friendly navigation to 2012-2013 concerts plus links to online giving, venues and email. Besides concert information, each concert page features: a direct dial link…  Read More →

Star Tribune: “Choral mass shows German conductor, 79, in top form”

Article by: WILLIAM RANDALL BEARD , Special to the Star Tribune, October 20, 2012 The stars aligned on Friday night at St. Paul Cathedral for an evening of stellar music-making. Seventy-nine-year-old German conductor Helmuth Rilling, one of the leading interpreters of German choral music for almost 60 years, led VocalEssence in works by Bruckner and…  Read More →

Minnesota Original debuts feature story about VocalEssence on October 7

Watch the VocalEssence feature online! On Sunday, October 7, Minnesota Original, the award winning weekly arts television series, will debut its feature story about the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers. Learn more about the group through interviews and enjoy performances shot in HD video with studio-quality sound.   Minnesota Original is tpt‘s award winning weekly arts series…  Read More →

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers invited to sing at the State Fair for MPR Day

Who: VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, Conductor Philip Brunelle and Host John Birge What: Minnesota State Fair Performance Where: Carousel Park Stage (near the Grandstand) When: Friday, August 31, 2012 from 2-3 pm Why: It’s Minnesota Public Radio Day at the Fair and VocalEssence will be there to celebrate! Join us for a very special show with…  Read More →