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SIR JAMES MACMILLAN VISITS MINNESOTA FOR TWO WEEKS OF INCREDIBLE MUSIC WITH VOCALESSENCE AND THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA, MARCH 28-APRIL 6 
Famed Scottish composer will conduct his work—including a world premiere commission—at Orchestra Hall, the Cathedral of Saint Paul, and the Ordway

MINNEAPOLIS—March 10, 2025—Sir James MacMillan, esteemed Scottish choral composer and conductor, is coming to Minnesota for two weeks of incredible musical and educational experiences supported by VocalEssence and the Minnesota Orchestra.

MacMillan will conduct the Minnesota Orchestra playing a concert program including two of his own works on March 28 and 29 at Orchestra Hall. On April 4, seven Twin Cities church choirs will perform Voices for a Cathedral, a free concert of MacMillan’s music—including a world premiere composition conducted by MacMillan himself!—at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. On April 6, MacMillan and Philip Brunelle will conduct Sacred Voices, a concert of MacMillan’s works performed by the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers and the U of M’s University Singers, with guest soprano Goitsemang Lehobye, accompanied by an orchestra at the Ordway.

Press images are available here.

“From the moment when I met Sir James MacMillan in England four years ago, I was determined to lure him to Minnesota, and I’m so excited about what his visit means for our state,” says Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence artistic director and founder. “It’s a true privilege to have an internationally-known composer of his stature here for a healthy stretch of time and events, allowing our ‘choral country’ citizens to connect to the man and his music. The VocalEssence mission is just as much about community as artistry, and the breadth of programming for MacMillan’s visit has something for everyone, from the casual concertgoer to the teen singer to the choral connoisseur. And it reminds the national and global music community that Minnesota is a place music finds passionate support.”

“The Orchestra has performed Sir James MacMillan’s music frequently over the last twenty years, so we were immediately intrigued when Philip Brunelle came forward with a big idea that would bring James’ orchestral and choral music to audiences across arts organizations,” said vice president of artistic planning Erik Finley, Minnesota Orchestra. “His compositions are brilliantly crafted and emotionally vivid, and these two weeks of performances are going to be memorable.”

The leading contemporary composer for voices and orchestra in the United Kingdom, a profound thinker, and committed educator, MacMillan is known for drawing inspiration from his Scottish Catholic faith and the traditions of sacred music. His anthem Who Shall Separate Us? was commissioned for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

His visit to Minnesota includes:

• Sir James MacMillan with the Minnesota Orchestra,Friday March 28 at 8 PM and Saturday March 29 at 7 PM, at Orchestra Hall, featuring MacMillan’s own Woman of the Apocalypse and Kiss on Wood performed with cellist Sonia Mantell as well as pieces from Wagner, Rachmaninoff, and Rimsky-Korsakov.
• Workshops with high school students, encouraging their skills in improvisation—something he regularly fosters in Scotland—occur in schools across the Twin Cities metro during the week of March 31-April 4.
• Masterclasses for graduate students in composition and conducting at the University of Minnesota.
• A class for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, on April 3 at 2:30 PM, a vibrant learning community for people aged 50+ to learn more about MacMillan’s work and inspiration.
• Voices for a Cathedral, April 4 at 7:30 PM, an evening of sacred choral music at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, where seven Twin Cities church choirs will each perform one of his anthems, culminating in a newly commissioned anthem premiered by all 250 voices. Choirs include the Basilica of St. Mary Cathedral Choir, Central Lutheran Choir, House of Hope Presbyterian Motet Choir, St. Mark’s Cathedral Choir, St. Paul Cathedral Choir, Plymouth Congregational Church Choir, and Westminster  This event is free and open to all.
• Sacred Voices on April 6 at 4 PM, a grand finale concert at the Ordway Concert Hall, including two major works—Seven Last Words from the Cross and The Sun Danced—featuring South African soprano Goitsemang Lehobye, the University Singers from University of Minnesota, VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers, and a 45-piece orchestra conducted by Sir James MacMillan and Philip Brunelle.

About the Minnesota Orchestra
Founded in 1903, the Grammy Award-winning Minnesota Orchestra is known for acclaimed performances in its home state and around the world; award-winning educational programs; and a commitment to building the orchestral repertoire of tomorrow, all based on the belief that music is for everyone. Each year, Minnesota Orchestra concerts and recordings are seen and heard by more than two million people via live performances, television, radio, digital streaming, and on-demand platforms. Led by Music Director Thomas Søndergård, the Orchestra makes its home in the heart of downtown Minneapolis at Orchestra Hall, a venue renowned for its brilliant acoustics and modern design.

About VocalEssence
VocalEssence, the choral organization Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the impact of choral music. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and through its performance series has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs help people of all ages bridge, create, and learn across cultures by connecting them with renowned choral experts to provide exceptional role models, grow community self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.

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