Press Releases

Stewart Copeland

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week

by Chris Riemenschneider, Jon Bream, Rob Hubbard and Britt Robson Star Tribune | MAY 4, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/10-concerts-twin-cities-justin-bieber-interpol-snoh-aalegrea-stewart-copeland-janiva-magness/600170378/?refresh=true  Concert highlights for May 5-11 include the Biebs, Interpol, Snoh Aalegrea, Tai Verdes and the Under the Canopy series kickoff. Thursday, May 5 Under the Canopy kickoff: Conceived and warmly received as a safe, diverse, community-oriented outdoor music option…  Read More

Stewart Copeland

Weekend Best Bets: May 5-8

By Kaitlyn Doolittle Minnesota Monthly | May 4, 2022 https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/travel-recreation/recreation/weekend-best-bets-may-5-8/?utm_campaign=Minnesota%20Monthly%20Newsletter%20-%20Daily&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=212168440&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–Ov7IxP03CvQAsxDNVhod32itjRV_loo5KMn_ydx9qykE2F00vTvv6bQjsfpkxhlaQgquxhhbAqwnNO71Buj6IEXmOmEwJD_vNTuOp3SrRmjfN14A  A circus, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, a plant sale, and more are happening this weekend in the Twin Cities area Everything Is…Fine  What: Preview Performance of “Back to Workshop, or Everything is Fine!” When: May 5-May 7, May 11-May 13; 7:30 p.m. Where: Brave New Workshop, 824…  Read More

Stewart Copeland

The Police’s drummer heads to Minneapolis to deliver a message in an oratorio

By Jon Bream Star Tribune | May 05, 2022 https://m.startribune.com/the-police-stewart-copeland-minneapolis-oratorio-sting-vocalessence-mall-of-america-andy-summers/600170658/?clmob=y&c=n Stewart Copeland is going choral with VocalEssence and says no more Police reunions. Stewart Copeland has written scores for movies and TV shows, composed operas and oratorios and music for ballets and video games. He’s directed a rockumentary, authored a memoir and performed with orchestras. This year,…  Read More

VocalEssence revisits Bob Dylan classics as tour hits North Country, Red Wing

By Rob Hubbard  Star Tribune | March 29, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-revisits-dylan-classics/600160297/  The choral group will perform the bard’s songs in Detroit Lakes Friday, Grand Rapids Saturday and Red Wing April 30. VOCALESSENCE VocalEssence’s “Bob Dylan Revisited” Tour will include the choir, accompanied by a string quintet and piano. Well, if you’re traveling in the north country…  Read More

VocalEssence and Famed Rock Drummer Stewart Copeland of the Police Present Paradise Lost-Inspired Oratorio “Satan’s Fall”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE AND FAMED ROCK DRUMMER STEWART COPELAND OF THE POLICE PRESENT PARADISE LOST-INSPIRED ORATORIO “SATAN’S FALL” Regional premiere at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis—May 8 MINNEAPOLIS—March 31, 2021—VocalEssence will present the regional premiere of Satan’s Fall, the choral work composed by famed British rock drummer Stewart Copeland and…  Read More

Diverse High School Choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Celebrate Community in “Choosing Love” Concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com DIVERSE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE CELEBRATE COMMUNITY IN “CHOOSING LOVE” CONCERT Young singers with uplifting message of acceptance perform at the Ordway in St Paul, April 24 MINNEAPOLIS—March 31, 2022—Reimagining our community as a beloved source of acceptance, affirmation, and love for every…  Read More

VocalEssence takes the music of Bob Dylan on a Minnesota Tour

Grand Rapids Herald Review | March 18, 2022 https://www.grandrapidsmn.com/news/vocalessence-takes-the-music-of-bob-dylan-on-a-minnesota-tour/article_f3180904-a4a9-11ec-aa15-a795169a94f8.html From Jimi Hendrix to the Kronos Quartet, Bob Dylan’s music has been covered by just about everyone. Members of the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers will present their own take on Minnesota’s native son.  “The Times They Are A-Changin’: The Words and Music of Bob Dylan,”…  Read More

Celebrating Black Choral Music All Year Long

Mike Rowan  Chorus America | February 25, 2022 https://chorusamerica.org/node/17948 Black History Month was first celebrated in 1924 as “Negro History Week,” founded by Black historian Carter G. Woodson with the aim that Black students in particular would be formally taught about their own heritage and the contributions of African Americans in their schools. As Black History Month…  Read More

A vocal witness

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…  Read More

Our Friday best: Minnesota Dance Theatre turns 60, Dua Lipa, ‘Waitress’ and a fairy tale for adults

By Star Tribune Staff Star Tribune | March 4, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/our-friday-best-minnesota-dance-theatre-turns-60-dua-lipa-waitress-and-a-fairy-tale-for-adults/600152411/ Critics’ picks for entertainment in the week ahead. CAROLINE YANG Minnesota Dance Theatre premiered “Chichester Psalms” with VocalEssence last fall at Orchestra Hall. Dua Lipa After collecting the Grammy for best new artist in 2019, the British pop star backed up the accolades with…  Read More

‘Midwinter’ heats up with plethora of weekend events

By Sheila Regan MinnPost | March 3, 2022 https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2022/03/midwinter-heats-up-with-plethora-of-weekend-events/?fbclid=IwAR0tuVjmxPdbyAK319SueeYnXugY5Lns98LMibnlx4rUYX24uoEBDh2EveI There’s flamenco happening in St. Paul at Park Square, and gallery reception happening at Macalester with four really interesting artists that are looking at history and memory in unusual ways. Congratulations. We’ve gotten past the direst cold months and welcome a reprieve as we officially enter “midwinter.”…  Read More

Send in the voices

by John Birge YourClassical | February 28, 2022 https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2022/02/28/send-in-the-voices A world of great voices comes to the Land of 10,000 choirs this week. Honored with the title “Choir of the World” at the World Choir Games in 2017, The Aeolians is a student choir from Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville Alabama. They inspire you…  Read More

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week

By Chris Riemenschneider, Jon Bream and Rob Hubbard  Star Tribune | March 2, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/the-big-gigs-10-concerts-to-see-in-the-twin-cities-dua-lipa-connie-han-kiss-the-tiger-rick-wakeman/600152050/ Live music highlights for March 4-9 include Dua Lipa, First Ave’s Best New Bands, the Beths, VocalEssence and more. Friday, March 4 First Avenue’s Best New Bands: Don’t worry, the two-month postponement of this annual roundup of Minnesota buzzmakers didn’t take away any of…  Read More

Performers pivoted and voices rose, sounding notes of optimism on the classical scene

By Rob Hubbard Special to the Star Tribune | December 23, 2021 https://www.startribune.com/performers-pivoted-and-voices-rose-sounding-notes-of-optimism-on-the-classical-scene/600129797/  KYNDELL HARKNESS, STAR TRIBUNE G. Phillip Shoultz III led a rehearsal for the “Voices Rising” concert. 1. “Voices Rising: A Choral Affirmation of Black Lives,” June 16: VocalEssence’s G. Phillip Shoultz III led singers from 12 Twin Cities choirs in a powerful program of new…  Read More