Bridge to the Future Campaign

We have met our goal of $4.5 Million! Click here to join our wonderful group of donors!

For more than half a century, VocalEssence has inspired our community through innovative choral concerts and engagement programs, but now we must do more to meet the rapidly changing needs of our community. The time has come for VocalEssence to harness the power of singing together and channel it into solutions to address some of our greatest challenges, including the widening achievement gap, dramatically changing demographics and racial and socioeconomic inequities.

Here are some of our accomplishments already through the Bridge to the Future Fund:

VocalEssence SOTA (Singers Of This Age)

Expanded work with VocalEssence SOTA (Singers Of This Age) High School Choir to include more family services, neighborhood work, and alumni connections and mentorship.
Established a scholarship stipend for graduating SOTA members to continue their creative education after graduation.
Expanded touring for SOTA with two tours to Southwestern Minnesota and Chicago.
Expanded the Urban Choral Initiative to include open-sings for Middle School students to increase opportunities for Middle and High School students to sing together.

Vintage Voices

Created more inter-generational programming with all four VocalEssence ensembles, including opportunities for all four choirs to sing together in concert for the first time!
Developed a new Vintage Voices location in Saint Paul in collaboration with Keystone Community Services.

Engaging Other Cultures

Continued to work to ensure VocalEssence constituencies reflect the vibrant diversity of our community, including appointing the first female Latina as president of the VocalEssence Board of Directors.
Started a weekly music class for mothers and their babies. Singing from the Heart initiative engages Black and Latina mothers at Longfellow Alternative High School in Minneapolis.
Reimagining school initiatives by implementing new ways to deliver our legacy programs (WITNESS and ¡CANTARÉ!) with more in-depth interactions between cultural diverse teaching artists and students.
Exploring potential expansion of ¡Cantaré! to San Diego.
Invested in Chorus America Executive Leadership Program for emerging leaders from global majority communities.
Produced Neighborhood Block Parties, led by SOTA, which allowed the organization to develop meaningful relationships with individuals and organizations in the Harrison Neighborhood of N. Minneapolis and the West side of St. Paul.
VocalEssence was a leading force behind “Let Freedom Ring: Celebrating the 60^th Anniversary of the March on Washington.”
Plans for recording with artists Joe Davis and The New Renaissance and Jovonta Patton in the near future.

Singers of Culture Quartet

Continued work on increasing inclusion, access, and equity at VocalEssence through intercultural development work with board, staff, and singers.
Revitalized the VocalEssence mission, vision, and values and created a new strategic plan that aligns current programming with BTTF initiatives to support the future of VocalEssence.
Invested in the Emerging Artist Program of the Bach Roots Festival with GPS serving lead Mentor.
Researching other programs with similar goals.
In process of completing cultural competency and racial healing work with the staff, singers, and board so that the organization is fully prepared for the official launch of the initiative.

Learn more about our work by watching the videos below, or make your pledge by submitting a pledge form to VocalEssence.

Introduction to the Campaign

VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

VocalEssence will continue support for young people from Twin Cities high schools to create incredible music, expand their cultural horizons, gain important leadership skills, develop enduring friendships and foster lifelong arts participation. The organization will establish youth-focused singing opportunities in Saint Paul and North Minneapolis to build lasting relationships and increase arts participation in these communities.

Hear Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III speak about what our intentionally diverse youth choir has been up to during the pandemic and watch an inspiring story about Isaiah's journey through VESOTA.

Singers Of Culture Quartet

Engage professional singers from a variety of cultures to join the Ensemble Singers and work as VocalEssence Teaching Artists across all Learning and Engagement programs. These positions will provide artists the opportunity for sustained employment.

Watch Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle talk about his plan to create positions for our Singers of Culture Quartet.

Vintage Voices Neighborhood Choirs

VocalEssence will expand Sabathani Vintage Voices to become a year-round program open to all residents in South Minneapolis. Inaugurate additional older adult neighborhood choirs in community centers, offering sustainable long-term singing opportunities for older adults where they live.

Hear Vintage Voices conductor Rob Graham talk about how he connects with his older adult choir from Sabathani Senior Center during a pandemic.

Engaging Culturally Rich Audiences

VocalEssence is committed to Inclusion, Access, and Equity, ensuring our programs represent
the voices of many cultures. VocalEssence will expand work in diverse neighborhoods and with non-White artists and organizations, create connections and partnerships, share resources, include voices of non-dominant cultures in our programs to ensure the choral artform represents our state’s many rich cultures.

Watch G. Phillip Shoultz, III talk about our plans to connect with African American professionals in the Twin Cities.

VocalEssence Bridge to the Future Case for Support

For More Information

If you would like more information about how you can get involved with the Bridge to the Future Campaign, please contact:

Mary Ann Aufderheide, Executive Director
maryann@vocalessence.org
612-547-1454