by Louisa Castner and Jon Bream | Star Tribune MAY 18, 2019 — 12:23AM: http://www.startribune.com/pick-six-praise-for-vocalessence-lizz-wright-david-crosby-more/510034112/ Louisa Castner of Minneapolis: 1 VocalEssence, “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” Conductors Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz III showcased Minnesota-made music, with the visionary song cycle by Steve Hackman and bold new arrangements of iconic Bob Dylan tunes. 2…  Read More →

by El Minnesota de Hoy | El Minnesota de Hoy abril 23, 2019: http://www.elminnesotadehoy.com/21-de-mayo-vocalessence-cantare-celebra-en-el-ordway-el-sonido-de-mexico/ VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! invita a un compositor mexicano a escuelas de las ciudades gemelas para un enriquecedor programa de residencia artística y cultural. Minneapolis, MN. Un concierto en el Ordway celebrando la música de México cerrará este año el programa VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! y…  Read More →

By Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider | Star Tribune APRIL 26, 2019 — 11:30AM: http://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-concerts-of-the-week-snoop-dogg-chris-koza-vocalessence-does-dylan-prince-tributes/509061512/ This week’s big gigs for April 26-May 2, also including Neko Case, Kodak Black, Arturo Sandoval, Foals and more. Snoop Dogg (Photo by Paul R. Giunta/Invision/AP) Snoop Dogg: With the Roots headed to Mystic Lake this summer, Snoop’s show this week…  Read More →

By: Patty Dexter | SUN Thisweek Published: April 11, 2019 https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/community/apple_valley/vocalessence-music-program-comes-to-westview-elementary/article_6c0cac8c-5bd5-11e9-8b5b-477346985913.html Two local musicians visited Westview Elementary School in Apple Valley on April 4 as part of the school’s participation in VocalEssence’s Witness program. VocalEssence is a Minnesota arts organization that “uses the power of choral music to enhance our community by producing innovative vocal…  Read More →

By Pamela Espeland MinnPost FEBRUARY 28, 2019 — 08:24AM https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/02/vocalessence-to-present-witness-times-two-joffrey-ballet-to-perform-anna-karenina/   VocalEssence was born in 1969 as the Plymouth Church Music Series. Just another concert series at a local church, founded by an ambitious, tireless and hypercreative choir director and organist named Philip Brunelle. In 2002, the Plymouth Music Series became VocalEssence. Today, Brunelle and his singers are…  Read More →

By Ross Raihala | rraihala@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press February 25, 2019 at 7:00 am https://www.twincities.com/2019/02/25/vocalessences-51st-season-includes-family-concerts-festivals-and-a-moana-singalong/ A “Moana” movie singalong, the addition of a second Witness concert and a celebration of the music of Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn are on tap for VocalEssence’s newly announced 51st season. Season tickets are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 5.…  Read More →

by Ross Raihala | Pioneer Press February 21, 2019 at 1:00 pm https://www.twincities.com/2019/02/21/vocalessences-witness-concert-honors-ilhan-omar-hallie-q-brown-other-trailblazers/  Back in 2017, VocalEssence associate conductor G. Phillip Shoultz III was starting to plan the group’s annual Witness concert and was thinking about influential women who changed everything. “I was struck by what is going on in our society with the rise and…  Read More →

By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune DECEMBER 27, 2018 — 6:00PM: http://www.startribune.com/13-minnesota-arts-and-entertainment-events-we-can-t-wait-to-see-in-2019/503577762/?fbclid=IwAR0szEUvKgQVVyMrF_HyLRvc-oBbQibYD1BDX28m0YE9MuYumoyks-4ZWt0 Star Tribune critics and editors anticipate most promising art and entertainment. ‘Candide,’ Cowles Center, March 21-24 A world gone crazy, full of unpredictable perils and reverses of fortune. Sound familiar? It’s the back story to Leonard Bernstein’s operetta “Candide,” a rambunctious treatment of Voltaire’s…  Read More →

A musical visionary and tireless self-promoter, VocalEssence founder Philip Brunelle is a world-renowned force.