choral

Thank you for joining us on Arts Advocacy Day; voice your support for music education

January 26, 2015

On Arts Advocacy Day, February 19, VocalEssence staff members gathered with like-minded art lovers and shared with legislators the importance of the arts to our lives, communities and economy. Senator Bill Weber from southwestern Minnesota was one of many legislators visited by arts advocates including Katrina Wallmeyer, director of development and communications at VocalEssence, pictured with the senator.

Each year, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, which works to increase arts funding, organizes a rally at the Minnesota History Center Auditorium in St. Paul in the morning; the group then breaks into teams with experienced leaders and visits legislator offices to educate them about the arts in their communities and to seek their support for arts funding. You can read more about Arts Advocacy Day and plan to join us next year.

VocalEssence has a long history of advocating for the choral arts: We foster emerging high school talent through our apprentice programs and recognize choral leaders in our school communities with awards for groundbreaking work. Our staff members serve in leadership roles in Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and VocalEssence supports emerging composers by commissioning and premiering new works.

PrintMusic Makes Us Whole

Now we have partnered with other Minnesota nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations in Music Makes Us Whole, an initiative that advocates for rich music education “because of music’s intrinsic value in the human experience, and also for the whole-brain and whole-life benefits to the child as well as his or her community.” The website launched early in January and is full of information and resources to help individuals and organizations make their voices heard, including a school locator, email templates and phone scripts.

Why now? Many school budget decisions are made in February, so it is important that people who care about music education contact district superintendents and school principals this month and urge them to make strong music programs a high priority. Much research has demonstrated the value of music education; here are just two of many published articles that highlight some of the benefits:

From the effects of music training on complex math and abstract-thinking skills to more qualitative values, music education is essential. Visit Music Makes Us Whole and voice your support for music education.

 

Posted in: Together We Sing
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Caroling with Resonate at the Grand Meander

Dec 6, 2014 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Resonate carolingJoin Resonate and friends for a heart-warming vocal experience, caroling for families and residents of the Twin Cities on Grand Ave in St. Paul! Bring your cheer, ready to spread to all ages, great and small!

Come to sing along or listen.

Youthful Excellence: Francisco J. Núñez and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City® Will Engage Twin Cities on Many Levels

November 5, 2014

You may have seen them on national television—“From the Top at Carnegie Hall,” NBC’s Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, and “Good Morning America” for starters. And their founder and conductor, MacArthur “genius” Fellow Francisco J. Núñez, was recently profiled on Fox & Friends and interviewed on a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works Media podcast. But on November 22 you can enjoy the energy and excitement, movement and musicality of the Young People’s Chorus of New York City® (YPC) here in the Twin Cities, sponsored by Travelers.

YPC is a multicultural youth chorus renowned for its superb sound and electrifying performances. Frequent performers at Carnegie Hall, YPC has performed with such guest artists as Joshua Bell, American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, and NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis. From classical to gospel, pop and world music, they perform with an energy that leaps from the stage. VocalEssence Presents: Young People’s Chorus of New York City® will be a rich program that includes some local influences—pieces by Stephen Paulus, Dominick Argento, and an arrangement by Timothy C. Takach, a VocalEssence board member—along with traditional songs, spirituals and popular selections. You can hear YPC performing “Rikitikitavi” and check out videos of YPC performing “Vere Languores Nostros” and “Take This Hammer.”

The concert is on Saturday, November 22 at 8 pm, Roseville Lutheran Church, with a Pre-Concert Conversation at 7 pm with conductor Francisco J. Núñez. Tickets are on sale now.

Education and engagement

When Francisco and the YPC arrive in the Twin Cities on November 20, they will hop right on a bus to work with select Saint Paul high schools. Over 200 students from three schools—Central High School, Como Park Senior High School, and Johnson Senior High School—will participate. They will share music, as the choirs sing for each other with Francisco at the helm, demonstrating new ways to interpret the music and teaching new music to the singers. VocalEssence is grateful for Travelers’ sponsorship of this activity, as well as the tickets they have provided for the YPC concert for participating students and their families.

YPC and Francisco will also work with choirs at Roseville High School, whose families will provide lodging for the YPC singers. “I had the opportunity to sing under Francisco Núñez at the 2007 National ACDA Multicultural Honor Choir, and I know what a gifted and passionate conductor he is,” said Roseville High School choir director Jami Lercher. “I am thrilled to bring his expertise and enthusiasm to our students at Roseville!”

YPC’s adventures will continue through Sunday, November 23, with other organizations in the Twin Cities, including a recording for “Performance Today” at Minnesota Public Radio, an American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota Fall Conference presentation, and a performance at the 10:30 am worship service at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. Thank you to Francisco, YPC and Travelers for bringing this energetic music education and engagement to the Twin Cities.

 

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