From time to time VocalEssence has invited a composer of international esteem to spend a week with us, sharing something of what has made them such an important figure in choral music with a need to be heard in our community. Our guests have included Rodion Shchedrin (Russia), Billy Taylor (USA), Einojuhani Rautavaara (Finland), William Bolcom (USA), and Gerald Finzi (England) in absentia, represented by his English colleagues.

This year it is our delight to welcome Sir James MacMillan for a week of concerts, classes, and conversations. Sir James has composed music for many of the world’s major orchestras, choirs, and soloists. It is an honor for us to perform the US premiere of The Sun Danced, to present the world premiere of Haec Dies, and to celebrate the many other choral works that have made his music so important and recognized around the world. And—how wonderful to have Sir James with us as conductor!

In addition to his outstanding composition and conducting work, Sir James has a life-long passion for working with young people. We are pleased that he has been able to spend time this week with high school and college students, encouraging them to improvise and helping them with their conducting technique.

When I met Sir James MacMillan 4 years ago in Gloucester, England at a lecture he gave at the Three Choirs Festival, I immediately knew that VocalEssence would want him to come to Minnesota for a festival of his music. We are honored that he responded favorably to my invitation. Welcome, Sir James, to Minnesota—we are thrilled to have you in our midst for these memorable days!

—Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and Founder, VocalEssence

All works composed by Sir James MacMillan

SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS (1994)
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and University Singers
String Orchestra

15 MINUTE INTERMISSION

OS MUTORUM (MOUTH OF THE DUMB) (2008)
Jennifer Bevington and Carey Shunskis, sopranos
Anna Koopman, harp
Philip Brunelle, conductor

O VIRGO PRUDENTISSIMA (O VIRGIN MOST WISE) (2018)
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers

THE SUN DANCED* (2016)
Goitsemang Lehobye, soprano
VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers
Orchestra

* US Premiere

SEVEN LAST WORDS FROM THE CROSS

Note: The traditional text of the Seven Last Words from the Cross is based on a compilation from all four gospels to form a sequential presentation of the last seven sentences uttered by Christ.

I.
Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
—Luke 23:24

Hosanna to the Son of David,
blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
The King of Israel, Hosanna in the Highest!
—The Palm Sunday Exclamation

The life that I held dear I delivered into the hands of the
unrighteous and my inheritance has become for me like a lion in the
forest. My enemy spoke out against me, ‘Come gather together and
hasten to devour him.’ They placed me in a wasteland of
desolation, and all the earth mourned for me. For there was no one
who would acknowledge me or give me help. Men rose up against
me and spared not my life.
—From the Good Friday Responsories for Tenebrae

II.
Woman, behold thy Son!… Behold thy Mother!
—John 19:26-27

III.
Verily, I say unto you, today thou shalt be with me in Paradise.
—Luke 23:43

Behold the Wood of the Cross
on which the Savior of the world was hung:
Come let us adore him.
—Good Friday Versicle

IV.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
—Matthew 27:46

V.
I thirst.
—John 19:28

I gave you to drink of life-giving water from the rock:
and you gave me to drink of gall and vinegar.
—From the Good Friday Reproaches

VI.
It is finished.
—John 19:30

My eyes were blind with weeping,
for he that consoled me is far from me:
consider, all you people,
is there any sorrow like my sorrow?
All you who pass along this way take heed
and consider if there is any sorrow like mine.
—From the Good Friday Responsories for Tenebrae

VII.
Father, into Thy hands I commend my Spirit.
—Luke 23:46

OS MUTORUM (MOUTH OF THE DUMB)

Sung in Latin
Mouth of the dumb, light of the blind,
foot of the lame, stretch out a hand to the fallen;
strengthen the unreliable and correct the mad.
O Columba, hope of Scots,
by the intervention of your kindness,
make us companions of the blessed angels. Alleluia.
—Translation by Isobel Woods Preece

O VIRGO PRUDENTISSIMA

Sung in Latin
O Virgin most wise,
whom Gabriel, sent from heaven,
messenger of the highest king,
called to witness the one full of grace.

Your son calls you the wife of the maker of all
and the mother of God,
and the blessed spirit
calls you to be a dwelling place.

You are called the star of the sea,
that in between cliffs
and the dark whirlwinds
shows us a haven of salvation.

Through you our ancient fathers
burst forth from the vile prison;
through you the star-bearing gates
are flung wide for us.

Hear, O child-bearing virgin
and mother, who alone are chaste.
Mary, hear your servants
as they pray, we beseech you.

Dispel the gloom of our mind,
break through the ice of our heart.
Under your protection
keep us safe who seek refuge in you.

Alleluia.
—Translation by Edward Tambling

THE SUN DANCED

Note: Composed in 2016 for the centennial of the Apparitions and
commissioned by the Shrine of Fátima, the text comes from the
Apparitions of the Angel and of Our Lady and from the Miracle of
the Sun at Fátima. English, Latin, and Portuguese texts are woven
into the vocal parts.

Goitsemang Lehobye, soprano soloist, performed in various
productions while studying opera at the University of Cape Town’s
College of Music including La Traviata and Dominick Argento’s
Postcard from Morocco which was conducted by Philip Brunelle. It
was after he heard her that he knew there would be a future role for
her with VocalEssence!

Sung in Portuguese
CHORUS:
Do not fear! I am the angel of peace.
Pray with me:
My Lord, I believe, adore, wait and love You.
I ask You forgiveness for those who do not believe,
do not adore, do not wait and do not love You.
—First apparition of the Angel, Spring 1916

I am your guardian angel, the angel of Portugal.
—Second apparition of the Angel, Summer 1916, translation by Eduardo Ganilho

Sung in Latin
O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, of the most Holy Trinity, I heartily
adore you and I bring to you the most precious body, blood, soul and
divinity of Jesus Christ, in all holy things of the present earth, to
repair the insults, acts of sacrilege and works of apathy, to which he
himself gives great offence. And through the infinite merits of his
Most Holy Heart, and also of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the
conversion of miserable offenders, I beseech you.
—Translation by Edward Tambling

SOPRANO SOLO:
Do not be afraid; I will not harm you.

I am of Heaven.

I have come to ask you to come here for six months on the
thirteenth day of the month, at this same hour. Later I shall say who
I am and what I desire. And I shall return here yet a seventh time.

Are you willing to offer yourselves to God?
—Words spoken by Mary at Fátima, 13 May 1917

Pray the Rosary every day to bring peace to the world and an end to
the war.
—Words spoken by Mary at Fátima, 13 June 1917

Continue to pray the Rosary every day in honour of Our Lady of the
Rosary in order to obtain peace for the world and an end of war.

You have seen hell… If what I say to you is done, many souls will be
saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end, but if people
do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out… When you
see the night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the
great sign given by God.

Continue to pray the Rosary in order to obtain the end of the war.
—Words spoken by Mary at Fátima, 13 July 1917

Have two litters made. One is to be carried by you and Jacinta and
two other girls dressed in white; the other one is to be carried by
Francisco and three other boys.
—Words spoken by Mary at Fátima, 19 August 1917

I want to tell you that a chapel is to be built here in my honour. I am
the Lady of the Rosary. Continue… The war is going to end and the
soldiers will soon return to their homes.
—Words spoken by Mary at Fátima, 13 October 1917

In the last month I will perform a miracle…
—Words spoken by Mary at Fátima, 19 August 1917

CHORUS:
Look!
Miracle!
Look at the sun!
Beautiful sun! What a beautiful thing!
—Miracle of the Sun on the 13th of October 1917, documented verbal expressions

SOPRANO SOLO:
I received your Word in my Immaculate Heart. I conceived Him
in my womb, and gave birth to the Creator of the world. At the foot
of the Cross I received all men and women as my children, born to
eternal life through the death of my Son. When the Apostles were
awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, the promised one, I united
my supplications to their prayers and became the model for a
supplicant people. Finally elevated to the glory of heaven, I
surround with my eternal love the pilgrim people, and lovingly
direct their steps to the heavenly dwelling place, until the glorious
coming of the Lord.
—James MacMillan

CHORUS:
Hail, O bearer of Jesus!
Hail, O Mother of God!
Hail Mary!
—Translation by Edward Tambling

SIR JAMES MACMILLAN
Sir James MacMillan is one of today’s most successful composers and performs internationally as a conductor. His musical language is flooded with influences from his Scottish heritage, Catholic faith, social conscience, and close connection with Celtic folk music, blended with influences from Far Eastern, Scandinavian, and Eastern European music.

MacMillan first became internationally recognized after the extraordinary success of The Confession of Isobel Gowdie at the BBC Proms in 1990. His prolific output has since been performed and broadcast around the world. His major works include the percussion concerto Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, which has received close to 500 performances, a cello concerto for Mstislav Rostropovich and five symphonies. Recent major works include his Percussion Concerto No. 2 for Colin Currie, Violin Concerto No. 2 for Nicola Benedetti and his Symphony No. 5, written for the Sixteen, which was premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2019, as part of a major feature to celebrate his 60th birthday year.

MacMillan enjoys a successful career as conductor of his own music alongside a range of contemporary and standard repertoire, praised for the composer’s insight he brings to each score. He has conducted orchestras such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Danish Radio Symphony, Gothenburg Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and NHK Symphony Orchestra among others. He was principal guest conductor of the Netherlands Radio Kamer Filharmonie until 2013 and composer/conductor of the BBC Philharmonic until 2009.

Highlights of the 2023-24 season included conducting the U.K. premiere of MacMillan’s Fiat Lux with BBC Symphony and Chorus and the Scottish premiere of his Christmas Oratorio with Royal Scottish National Orchestra; elsewhere he conducted the Estonian National Symphony, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony. A number of new works received premieres, including Ordo Virtutum with MDR Radio Choir in Leipzig, a new work for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, and commissioned specially to celebrate Sir Mark Elder’s final concerts as music director, the Hallé Orchestra gave the U.K. premiere of a major choral-orchestral work Timotheus, Bacchus and Cecilia.

GOITSEMANG LEHOBYE
Goitsemang Lehobye, a soprano born in Ga-Rankuwa, South Africa, was introduced to opera through the South African Black Tie Opera Ensemble. Inspired by this encounter, she embarked on a journey from the Ensemble’s “Incubator” Scheme to solo performances on grand stages, mastering the art of opera singing. In 2011, she earned a scholarship to study singing at the University of Cape Town’s College of Music under Hanna van Niekerk and Prof. Kamal Khan. Her repertoire includes Mimì (La Bohème), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Violetta (La Traviata), and Lady with a Cake Box (Postcard from Morocco), conducted by Maestro Philip Brunelle.

In 2017, she continued her musical education at the University of Michigan under Professor Daniel Washington. Her achievements include receiving the University of Michigan Friends of the Opera Anna Chapekis Award and performing in productions such as Dinner at Eight, Rise for Freedom, and Orpheus in the Underworld.

In 2018, she performed as a soloist with the Minnesota Orchestra during its tour to South Africa, singing Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and premiering Bongani Ndodana-Harmon’s Harmonia Ubuntu. In 2019, she performed Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Osvaldo Golijov’s Three Songs for Soprano and Orchestra and Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem.

In January 2024, she performed in the Strauss concert at the Finnish National Opera, and in April 2024, she covered the role of Tosca with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. That summer, she graduated with her Doctor of Voice Performance degree and performed in Rappahannock County and Aida with Opera Maine. In August 2024, she made her Carnegie Hall debut, marking another milestone in her flourishing career.

She looks forward to her upcoming tour to South Africa, ending at Carnegie Hall in May 2025, with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra.

UNIVERSITY SINGERS, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
The University Singers is the flagship choral ensemble of the University of Minnesota. This auditioned ensemble, conducted by Dr. Matthew Mehaffey, performs both as a large choir and divides into smaller chamber ensembles. Singers explore a variety of classical and global repertoire for mixed chorus from the Renaissance through the 21st century.

MATTHEW MEHAFFEY, conductor
American conductor and educator Matthew Mehaffey enjoys a national reputation in the field of choral/orchestral music through his engaging artistry, collaborative spirit, affirming pedagogical style, and entrepreneurial approach to concert programming.

VIOLIN I
Allison Ostrander
Laurie Petruconis
Alastair Brown
Brittany Quinn
Julia Persitz
Elise Meichels Parker
Claire Louden

VIOLIN II
Lydia Lui
Kseniya Khvashchynskaya
Jesus Guzman
Renata Steve
Chuck Krenner
Mikki Johnston
Francis Bolitor

VIOLA
Anne Ainomae
Susan Janda
Annalee Wolf
Sean Dostal

CELLO
Sally Dorer
Rebecca Arons
Ruth Marshall
Ben Osterhouse

BASS
Josh Schwalbach
Michael Eastwood

FLUTE
Erica Bennett
Charles Gibb

OBOE
Allyssa Jermiason

ENGLISH HORN
Sarah Carmack

CLARINET
Jennifer Gerth
Paul Schulz

BASSOON
Matthew Bertrand

CONTRABASSOON
Laurie Merz

HORN
Patrick Pridemore
Neal Bolter
Charles Hodgson
Gina Goetll

TRUMPET
Jonathan Brandt
Christopher Volpe

TROMBONE
Phillip Ostrander
Alex Wolff
John Tranter

TUBA
Jacob Grewe

TIMPANI
William Kemperman

PERCUSSION
Caitlyn Lucic

HARP
Anna Koopmann

For 56 years, VocalEssence has provided opportunities for singers from the Twin Cities area to create incredible music together and build connections as part of the vibrant arts community in Minnesota.

VocalEssence is known for introducing audiences to music and artists who are not yet known, often welcoming guest artists, composers, and conductors who are emerging, have unknown works, or represent a variety of cultures. Welcoming all members of the greater community, VocalEssence embodies the motto: Together We Sing.

VOCALESSENCE MISSION
VocalEssence draws upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the influence of choral music.

PHILIP BRUNELLE
Artistic Director and Founder
Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder of VocalEssence 56 years ago, is an internationally-renowned conductor, choral scholar, and visionary. Philip has conducted symphonies, choral festivals, and operas on six continents. He holds five honorary degrees, served 9 years as Vice President of IFCM (International Federation for Choral Music), and has been recognized for his commitment to choral music by the governments of Norway, Hungary, Sweden, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. In 2019, he was awarded the American Prize in Choral Conducting and, in 2020, was given the Honorary Member Award by the Society for American Music. Last fall Philip was appointed a National Arts Associate of the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity. Philip is also Organist-Choirmaster at Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis. During the pandemic Philip recorded 300 “Musical Moments” which can be accessed at vocalessence.org/category/musical-moments and his thoughts on music are at RenaissanceManpodcast.com. Philip and his wife Carolyn, a studio artist, have 3 children (Tim, Christopher, and Elise) and 7 grandchildren.

G. PHILLIP SHOULTZ, III
Associate Artistic Director
G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director, inspires action and fosters community among people of all ages and abilities through song and spoken word. He is Artistic Director of Sing Democracy 250, a national initiative of the Together In Hope Project, and the University of Minnesota Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert. Phillip is Cantor for Worship, Music, and the Arts at Westwood Lutheran Church and serves on the faculty of the University of St. Thomas, where he leads the Graduate Choral Conducting program. Phillip gives voice to the Songs of Freedom series on Minnesota Public Radio and hosts concerts for the Minnesota Orchestra. He creates content for SonoVoice (the Fitbit for voice) and is founder of “Table for More”, a platform addressing issues of innovation, equity, racial justice, and belonging in the arts. Phillip is engaged across the U.S. and beyond as a conductor, clinician, and worship curator/leader. He is published with Galaxy Music and is the winner of numerous honors, including the ACDA Graduate Conducting Competition and multiple Teacher of the Year awards. Phillip lives in St. Louis Park with his wife, Michelle, and their two children (Malachi and Lydia Grace).

ROBERT GRAHAM
Learning and Engagement Manager
Conductor, Vintage Voices
Robert Graham is the Learning and Engagement Manager at VocalEssence where he serves as the conductor for the VocalEssence Vintage Voices choirs, and oversees the renowned VocalEssence WITNESS School Program. Robert has a Master of Music degree in both vocal performance and choral conducting from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and a B.A. in vocal performance from Xavier University of Louisiana. Robert currently serves as a section leader of the adult choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, sings second tenor in the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and also
performs around the Twin Cities as a solo and chamber musician.

CASEY RAFN
Accompanist
Pianist Casey Rafn enjoys a varied career as a collaborative pianist both in the United States and abroad, in Europe and Latin America. He is a member of ‘Trés’, whose saxophone-piano trio was just nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album for their new album “Romance al Campesino Porteño.” Casey often collaborates in concert or recordings with members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and University of Minnesota School of Music faculty. As a piano soloist he took top prizes at the International Liszt-Garrison Competition in Baltimore, has appeared with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and has taught at both the University of Minnesota School of Music and the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts.

JOHN JENSEN
Accompanist, VocalEssence Vintage Voices
John Jensen received his music degrees in Southern California, where he attended Occidental College and University of Southern California. While there he free-lanced as a studio musician, playing on the Andy Williams show and touring the country with prominent singers through Columbia Artists Management. He moved to Iowa and taught for 15 years at Grinnell College as an artist-in-residence. In 1990, John moved to St. Paul and has played with VocalEssence, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. He plays jazz and classical piano around the area, including performances with the Bloomingtones, a traveling senior choir based in Bloomington, MN. In 2023, John recorded a piano concerto by the late Paul Reale with the Yale Symphony Orchestra at Yale University which was released by Naxos records.

VOCALESSENCE CHORUS

The VocalEssence Chorus is a group of talented and enthusiastic singers from many different walks of life, united by their love of singing and community. Performing a wide variety of musical styles, premiering new works, and sharing the stage with a diverse array of guest artists, the Chorus is a welcome home for singers who wish to continue making music throughout their adult lives.

SOPRANO
Ann Ambach
AnnaLisa Anderson
Madison Asher
Jessica Belt
Ashley Brandt
Kate Brinkert
Lorinda Chagnon
Marie Colangelo
Amanda Connolly
Emily Dyrdahl
Eva Gibney-Jones
Lillian Gray
Kristina M. Guiffre
Becca Hovsepian
Claire Huber
Sally Jaffray
Elinor Jones
Christina Pederson
Venessa Rockwell
Emma Schlabach
Ashley Slattery
Leah Sovick
Abbie Sulik
Dana Terres
Amanda Troolin
Jennifer Vickerman
Akaolisa
Dannika Wright

ALTO
Akosua Obuo Addo
Azure Anderson
Johanna Beaupre
Jo Beld
Katelyn Belden
Maria Coughlan
Mary Depew
Maggie Driemeyer
Monica Gagne
Nancy Jo Goettl
Marjorie Rose Hakala
Meg Hanna
McKenzie Hartke
Dee Hein
Grace Alice Herbertz
Brianna Hill
Grace Hjort
Katie Kovacovich
Ruby Lindholm Kramer
Annie Krishnan
Jessica Laven Johnson
Jeenee Lee
Ana Madai Leyva
Carly Lunden
Danica McDonald
Rachel Moniz
Kristi Mueller
Elizabeth Neuenfeldt
Jillian Paulson
Liz Raimann
Marty Raymond
Miriam Sahouani
Erin Sandsmark
Katie Sandsmark
Lisa Kathleen Schalla
Sydney Schoeberle
Alyssa Shapiro
Sarah Taft
Laura Tanner
Allie Wigley

TENOR
Erik Adolphson
Steve Aggergaard
Brett Bacon
Larry J Brandts
Cheryl A. Calloway
Bjorn Christ
Dante Colmenares
Ryan Coopergard
Ben Demaree
Grant Gilbert Dunne
Tim Emery
James Feltes
Reagan Lee
Kurtis Parlin
Thomas Sasdi
Peter Carlson Schattauer
Ona Sussman
Barry Tikalsky

BASS
Robert Atendido
Seth Bresky
Garret Fettig
Adam Hecker
Russ Kaplan
Evan Clay Kelly
Jordan Kiffmeyer
John Kuntz
Phil Lowry
John Mai
Nicholas Marcouiller
Thomas Mondry
Nicholas Mroczek
Declan O’Higgins
Milo Oien-Rochat
David Olson
Brian D. Ruhl
Asher Melech Schreiber
Josh Snapp
Trent Stenoien
Dave Toht
Jacob Hurley Weindling

VOCALESSENCE ENSEMBLE SINGERS

The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers have established an international reputation because of their extensive catalog of recordings and broad range of unique repertoire. This chamber choir, whose members hail from a wide variety of professions, is bound together by their skilled artistry to create what The Times of London has described as a “flawless” sound.

SOPRANO
Jennifer Bevington
Katie Boardman
Elsa Buck
Chloe Johnson
JoAnna Johnson
Kathryn Rupp
Mari Scott
Carey Shunskis

ALTO
Robin Joy Helgen
Patty Kramer
Audrey Lane-Getaz
Judith McClain Melander
Anna George Meek
Carolyn Nuelle
Kristina Rodel Sorum
Catherine Terres

TENOR
Will Berendsen
Ben Brunnette
Jared Campbell
Elijah Gatlin-Baumgartner
Robert J. Graham
Jonah Herzog
Andy McCullough
Phil Reilly

BASS
Dakota Hunter Andersen
Joseph Ellickson
David Gindra
Joe Kastner
Erik Krohg
Dr. Michael P. Schmidt
Benjamin Shermock
Ian Witry

VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE

The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA) is a community of Twin Cities teenagers engaged in expanding what it means to be a choir and, encouraging a wider circle of participation in the artform. Presenting music ranging from classical to hip-hop, they use creativity and collaboration to build an accepting community, equipped with the skills to lead social change in our society.

VOCALESSENCE VINTAGE VOICES

VocalEssence Vintage Voices is an exciting choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of older adults. Guided by a desire to create a welcoming atmosphere and remove barriers for participation, these choirs sing to build community, combat loneliness and isolation, and improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Carolina Maranon-Cobos
President

Daniel Fernelius
President-Elect

Valton Henderson
Vice President

Dan Dressen
Secretary

Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien
Treasurer

Torrie Allen
Anna Boyle
Tanya M. Bransford
Philip Brunelle
Ben Brunnette
Martha Driessen
Cassandra Garnett
Brianna Hill
Daniel Kantor
Lisa Merklin Lewis
Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed
Richard Neuner
Kristine Oberg
Jim Odland
Anna Ostroushko
Doug Parish
Joanne Reeck
G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Jeff Smith
Amanda Storm Schuster
Timothy C. Takach
Bob Thacker
Mary Tjosvold
Elizabeth Truesdell Smith
Amy Jaine Wielunski

LIFETIME DIRECTORS
Ann Barkelew
Ann Buran
Art Kaemmer
Nikki Lewis
Mike McCarthy*
Dave Mona
Fred Moore
Don Shelby
Dorene Wernke

HONORARY DIRECTORS
Dominick Argento*
William Bolcom
Dave Brubeck*
Stewart Copeland
Aaron Copland*
Håkan Hagegård
Louise Heffelfinger*
Eskil Hemberg*
Betty Hulings*
Sigrid Johnson*
James Earl Jones*
Garrison Keillor
Donald Mitchell*
Helmuth Rilling
John Rutter
Peter Schickele
Dr. André J. Thomas
Eric Whitacre
*In remembrance

VOCALESSENCE STAFF

ARTISTIC STAFF
Philip Brunelle
Artistic Director and Founder

G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Associate Artistic Director

Robert Graham
Learning and Engagement Manager | Conductor, Vintage Voices

Casey Rafn
Accompanist

John Jensen
Accompanist, Vintage Voices

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Azure Anderson
Executive Assistant

Jeff Bina
Director of Finance and Operations

Rhiannon Fiskradatz
Learning and Engagement Manager

Laura Holst
Development and Marketing Associate

Emma Jirele Sandhurst
Learning and Engagement Manager | Graphic Designer

Ethan Johnson
Director of Artistic Operations

Amanda Timmer
Director of Marketing and Communications

Elissa Weller
Director of Development

Amy Jaine Wielunski
Executive Director

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VocalEssence has a large group of committed supporters and is honored by the many gifts received in memory, appreciation, and celebration of friends and family that are too many to list in this concert program.

Please click the button below to see a full list of supporters and special tributes.

VocalEssence Supporters

Will and Margee Bracken

Cathedral Heritage Foundation

Gayle Fuguitt and Thomas Veitch

Karen and John Himle

James and Mary Gilbert Lawrence

Polly McCrea

Alfred P. and Ann M. Moore

Nick Nash and Karen Lundholm

The Nash Foundation

James M. and Sonja Devick Odland

Productivity, Inc., Greg and Lisa Buck

Pugsley Fund of HRK Foundation

Mary E. Schaffner in memory of Robert L. Lee

Charles and Julie Zelle

Boosey & Hawkes

Cathedral of Saint Paul
Chris Ganza
Fr. Joseph Johnson

Catherine Gibbs

Minnesota Orchestra Marketing and Communications Staff

Roseville Lutheran Church

Ian Witry