I will never forget the American premiere of KRISTINA which we presented 30 years ago with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus in the audience! It was an amazing experience to perform this work (in Swedish!) with Sveriges Television here making a documentary of the event. In the years since I have heard from many of you—“when will you bring KRISTINA back to us?” So, I am pleased that we can perform this timely work again—in English this time!

Unlike other ABBA works, KRISTINA’s melodies are based on Swedish folk music and the story from Vilhelm Moberg’s The Emigrants—of the Nilsson family who leave the harsh realities of mid-18th century Sweden for the Minnesota Territory and the St. Croix River Valley. I am pleased that we have a wonderful cast of Minnesota singers to present this marvelous music along with an orchestra of Minnesota instrumentalists!

I hope you will take time to experience the immigrant presentation in the lobby. We all have stories to tell of our ancestors and this display is a fascinating way for you to see how immigration is an international experience.

Tack för att du kom och njut av showen!

—Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director, VocalEssence

OVERTURE, Narrator

PATH OF LEAVES AND NEEDLES, Kristina
Kristina is waiting for Karl Oskar.

WHERE YOU GO I GO WITH YOU, Karl Oskar and Kristina
Karl Oskar comes to Kristina, but never in such a hurry…He should now propose!

THE WEDDING, Nils, Marta, Kristina, Karl Oskar, and choir

STONE KINGDOM, Karl Oskar and Kristina

DOWN TO THE SEA, Robert
Karl Oskar’s brother, Robert, goes to his first farmhand job.

A BAD HARVEST, Kristina, Karl Oskar, Anna, and choir
Kristina is expecting a baby. Soon there will be eight people at Korpamoen. But the arable acres can never be more than seven.

NO!, Karl Oskar, Kristina, and Robert
Robert wants his inheritance. He intends to go to North America. Karl Oskar has the same plans, the same thoughts…but Kristina says no.

HE’S OUR PILOT, Danjel and choir
Like the first Christians, a small group gathers for communion at the home of Kristina’s uncle Danjel.

NEVER, Ulrika
Village whore Ulrika is humiliated by the authorities for the last time.

GOLDEN WHEATFIELDS, Kristina, Nils, Marta, Karl Oskar, and choir
Since Kristina’s daughter Anna died of starvation, Kristina understands that they must leave Sweden…

WE OPEN UP THE GATEWAYS, Brusander, Karl Oskar, Kristina, Robert, Danjel, Ulrika, Inga-Lena, Elin, Arvid, and choir
The farmers acquire the necessary emigration papers, and pay their respects for the last time.

PEASANTS AT SEA, Kristina and choir
The brig Charlotta sails from Karlshamn towards New York.

LICE, Kristina, Ulrika, Fina Kajsa, Karl Oskar, Danjel, Inga-Lena, and choir
Kristina finds a louse on her body and accuses Ulrika for having brought lice on board.

IN THE DEAD OF DARKNESS, Karl Oskar
Karl Oskar keeps watch over his sick wife’s bed—his vigil is the longest night of his life…

A SUNDAY IN BATTERY PARK, Arvid, Danjel, Fina Kajsa, Robert, and choir
The immigrants’ first steps on American soil are uncertain, unsteady, and precarious.

HOME, Kristina and choir
Kristina dreams of a home for her and her family.

DREAMS OF GOLD, Robert, Arvid, and Karl Oskar
Robert and Arvid forge plans to dig for gold in California.

AMERICAN MAN, Kristina, Ulrika, Elin, Fina Kajsa, and Pastor Jackson
Pastor Jackson in Stillwater, Minnesota, greets the lost immigrants as if they were his dearest and nearest relatives.

SUMMER ROSE, Kristina and choir
After her thousand mile journey across sea and land, Kristina gives birth to her first child in America.

EMPERORS AND KINGS!, Ulrika, Danjel, Fina Kajsa, Karl Oskar, Kristina, and choir
No one bows here to any superiors! Here life begins from scratch on the shores of Ki-Chi-Saga.

TWILIGHT IMAGES CALLING, Kristina and Karl Oskar

QUEEN OF THE PRAIRIE, Karl Oskar, Kristina, Ulrika, Danjel, Fina Kajsa, Thomassen, children, Nöjd, and choir
It’s Christmas Eve morning. Kristina receives a surprise.

WILD GRASS, Karl Oskar, Nöjd, and choir
Fur trapper Nöjd accuses Karl Oskar of stealing land from Indigenous People.

GOLD CAN TURN TO SAND, Robert, Kristina, and Marta
One evening a stranger comes down to the lake shore. It is Robert who has come back from the gold fields. He is mortally ill. Robert tells Kristina what has happened to Arvid.

WILD CAT MONEY!, Karl Oskar, Robert, and pop choir
All Robert’s money turns out to be worthless.

TO THE SEA, Robert
As a river seeks out the sea, Robert makes his last trip…

DEAR ULRIKA, SAY YOU WILL BE MINE, Nöjd, Thomassen, and Abbot
Ulrika has many suitors…but it is with Pastor Jackson that she has found love.

MIRACLE OF GOD, Ulrika and Kristina
Ulrika and Kristina make up.

DOWN TO THE WATERSIDE, Choir
Pastor Jackson baptises Ulrika in the waters of the St. Croix River.

MISCARRIAGE, Ulrika, and Karl Oskar
Kristina loses the child she is expecting.

YOU HAVE TO BE THERE, Kristina
Kristina struggles with her God.

HERE I AM AGAIN, Kristina and Karl Oskar
Kristina decides to share Karl Oskar’s bed again.

WITH CHILD AGAIN, Karl Oskar, Kristina, and choir
Civil war breaks out in Minnesota, the Great Sioux Uprising. Kristina is pregnant once again.

RISING FROM MYTH AND LEGEND, Choir
The settlers flee.

I’LL BE WAITING THERE, Kristina, Karl Oskar, and choir
Karl Oskar watches over his wife. For the first time in three days, she recognizes him. Kristina says goodbye…

Kristina’s experiences of love, loss, and hope resonate as deeply today as they did over a century ago. We invite you to arrive early and join us in the lobby for an interactive, pre-concert experience. Be guided through one of eight immigrant journeys, learn about the current largest immigrant populations in Minnesota, and engage with some of the original Swedish settlers in the state.

EVENT TIMELINE:

3-4 PM: Immigrant Experiences open in the lobby 
• Learn about the current largest immigrant populations in Minnesota.

• Take an immigrant’s journey-follow their paths, and see how you would respond to the choices they faced. Click the button below to start your journey.
The Immigrant Experience

• Engage with Swedish settlers and learn more about Swedish immigration to the Chisago Lakes region of Minnesota. Special thanks to the Karl Oskar House!

4 PM: The Concert Version of the Musical Kristina concert begins.

INTERMISSION: Immigrant Experiences open in the lobby

6:30—7 PM: Immigrant Experiences open in the lobby post-performance

The story of Kristina and Karl Oskar has been shared through the decades since Vilhelm Moberg first wrote The Emigrants in 1949, first appearing in musical form in 1995. Shortly after Kristina från Duvemåla premiered in Sweden, VocalEssence (then Plymouth Music Series) brought the concert version to Minneapolis and Lindström–where much of the story is based.

In the time since we first performed The Concert Version of the Musical KRISTINA, our world has changed significantly. While this tale of an immigrant’s journey may still resonate with the immigrants of today, our awareness of absent narratives and need for greater historical context has evolved.

Over the past several months as we prepared to mount this production, taking advantage of the newly available English translation of the work, we recognized a need to reach beyond the story we have the privilege to share with you–and explore the stories that aren’t shared with the same frequency, scale, or intention.

We invite you to join us in this journey–not only to revel in the story of Kristina Nilsson and her family–but to honor the stories of the Dakota, Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), and Ho-Chunk people whose lives were uprooted by treaties that were broken and whose land was forcibly taken as white settlers were recruited to move in so that Minnesota could meet the requirements for statehood.

The following suggestions for futher reading come from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS): 

• Research Guide for Native Community Members —This guide suggests various strategies for learning more about Native culture, governments, land, and more. 

• US Dakota War of 1862 —This guide overviews different sources related to the conflict, ranging from books to archival records and more. 

MNOpedia articles (MNOpedia is a website run by MNHS): 

• The Land, Water, and Language of the Dakota, Minnesota’s First People 

• The Ojibwe: Our Historical Role in Influencing Contemporary Minnesota 

• Swedish Immigration to Minnesota 

Healing Minnesota Stories: This effort from the Minnesota Council of Churches, led by Jim Bear Jacobs and Kelly Sherman Conroy, strives to create understanding and healing between Native American and non-Native people, particularly those in various faith communities through their Healing Minnesota Stories effort. We encourage you to participate in their Sacred Sites Tours and get more deeply involved through support and conversation. Learn more at mnchurches.org.

Native Lights: Hosted by Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe members and siblings Leah Lemm and Cole Premo, this weekly podcast provides a space for people in Native communities around Mni Sota Mkoce—a.k.a. Minnesota—to tell their stories. In particular, we recommend the episode featuring Amber Annis, a Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe citizen who is currently the director of Native American Initiative at the Minnesota Historical Society where they discuss nurturing and protecting authentic narratives. This episode can be found at minnesotanativenews.org/amber-annis.

We also encourage you to plan a visit to Hoċokata Ṫi, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community’s new Cultural Center, whose mission is to interpret and encourage traditional Mdewakanton Dakota cultural heritage, language, and history by sustaining this inherent knowledge through exhibitions, preservation and education. We recommend experiencing and learning from the Mdewakanton: Dwellers of the Spirit Lake exhibition, which provides visitors with a cultural experience that enhances their knowledge and understanding of the Mdewakanton Dakota people and their history. The exhibit is open to the public and both individual and group tickets are available for purchase.

VIOLIN 1
Leslie Shank
Connor O’Brien
Alastair Brown
Zachary Saathoff
Brenda Mickens
David Mickens
Claire Loudon
Lydia Lui

VIOLIN 2
Elizabeth York
Stephanie Skor
Susan Crawford
Jesus Guzman
Erika Hoogeveen
Renata Steve

VIOLA
Chuck Krenner
Emily Wolf
Matthew Mindeman
Elizabeth Cregan
Valerie Little

CELLO
Ruth Marshall
Diane Tremaine
Patricia Ryan
Charles Asch

STRING BASS
Irving Steinberg
Joshua Schwalbach
ELECTRIC BASS
Charles Block

FLUTE
Bethany Summersgill
Karen Baumgartner (piccolo)

OBOE
Sarah Carmack

CLARINET
Jennifer Gerth
Paul Schulz (bass clarinet)

BASSOON
Matthew Bertrand

HORN
Patrick Pridemore
Neal Bolter

TRUMPET
Jonathan Brandt (flugelhorn)
Graham Taylor

TROMBONE
Alex Wolf
Larry Zimmerman (bass trombone)

DRUM SET
Dave Hagedorn

TIMPANI
Will Kemperman

PERCUSSION
Caitlin Lucic

ELECTRIC GUITAR
Kris Anderson

KEYBOARD
Casey Rafn

KATHRYN RUPP, Kristina
Kathryn Rupp is a Minnesota-based soprano whose vocal versatility, skilled technique, and intimate artistic expression bring a unique vibrance to the stage. She has performed with Source Song Festival, Edvard Grieg Society of Minnesota, with the Southwest Minnesota Orchestra, and the Dakota Valley Symphony. Kathryn can also be seen performing as a member of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and as the soprano soloist at Plymouth Congregational Church under the direction of Philip Brunelle. She looks forward to performing the role of Carrie Mae in Libby Larsen’s The Silver Fox with the Schubert Club this November. kathrynruppsoprano.com

EVAN TYLER WILSON, Karl Oskar
Evan Tyler Wilson is honored to join the cast of Kristina with VocalEssence. Other credits include All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914 (Drama Desk Award, PBS National Broadcast), Star Tribune’s Best Musical of the Decade: Assassins (John Hinckley Jr., Theatre Latté Da), and The Boy Wonder (Harold Stassen, History Theatre). Thank you to Sonja and Philip. evantylerwilson.com

G. PHILLIP SHOULTZ, III, Robert
G. Phillip Shoultz, III is highly regarded for his ability to interpret and perform in a variety of vocal genres and styles. Equally comfortable on the recital stage and at the piano bench, Phillip is often called to lead worship and music liturgy for national conferences and serves as resident guest musician for Luther Seminary. A former winner of NATS state and regional competitions, Phillip has sung professionally in a number of American ensembles including Atlanta based, Coro Vocati, and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra Chorale. He has appeared abroad as a soloist in Estonia, Finland, Germany, and Russia with American choirs, and has been selected to sing with project based choirs in Germany (Weimar Bach Academy) and England (CS Lewis Institute).

CLARA OSOWSKI, Ulrika
Mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski, who sings “from inside the music with unaffected purity and sincerity” (UK Telegraph), is an active soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Europe. Recognized for her excellence in Minnesota, Clara was a recipient of the prestigious 2018-2019 McKnight Artist Fellowships for Musicians administered by MacPhail Center for Music. Recent engagement highlights include Mendelssohn’s Elias with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde for chamber orchestra with Salastina Los Angeles, debuts with Minnesota Opera (Albert Herring), Music of the Baroque, Kansas City Symphony, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and her Wigmore Hall debut recital with pianist Julius Drake. In addition to performing, Clara serves as the Artistic Director of Source Song Festival, a week-long art song festival in Minneapolis, Minnesota. claraosowski.com

SONJA THOMPSON, Repetiteuse
Sonja Thompson enjoys a varied career as a performer, church musician, conductor, vocal coach, and educator. She earned degreescfrom the University of Minnesota and The Juilliard School, and has spent decadescteaching, performing, improvising, collaborating, and assisting with the development of new works. Performing credits include solo work, chamber music, song recitals, Music Theater/Opera, with special interests in Nordic music, new music, and programs that mix genres and styles. In the Twin Cities Sonja has worked with VocalEssence, Nautilus Music Theater, Theater Latte Da, MN History Theater, Frank Theater, Schubert Club, Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, and others.

ERIC MORRIS, Stage Manager
Eric is thrilled to be collaborating with Philip and VocalEssence on this project! Eric and his wife Laura are the owners of The Hive Collaborative in St. Paul, MN, where he is the Artistic Director of Buzz Music Theater; they have conceived projects such as 16 Bar Music Bingo, All About Jane: The Eras of Austen, Mood Swings, and Ella Sings: Her Composer SongBook Series. PERFORMING: Theater Latté Da: Scotland, PA, Falsettos, Assassins; Guthrie Theater: Guys & Dolls; Artistry: Pajama Game, The Bridges of Madison County; History Theatre: A Servant’s Christmas, Runestone, Lord Gordon Gordon; Nautilus Music-Theater: Twisted Apples; The Barn Theatre: Million Dollar Quartet, Seven Brides, The Wedding Singer, 9 to 5, The Who’s Tommy, Big River. DIRECTING/DESIGN: Old Log Theatre: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, Ghost, Tenderly, The Play That Goes Wrong, Escape to Margaritaville; Theatre L’Homme Dieu: Once, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical; The Barn Theatre: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical; Lakeshore Players: I Am My Own Wife, The Three Musketeers. TRAINING: B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. eric-morris.com & thehivecollaborativemn.com

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 https:// www.vocalessence.org/what-we-do/virtual-projects/musical-moments-with-philip-brunelle/ 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, uses the power of the voice, through spoken word and song, to foster community and inspire action among
people of all ages and abilities. He is the 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 serves on the faculty of the University of St. Thomas, where he leads the Graduate Choral Conducting program, and guides the Ministries of Worship, Music, and the Arts at Westwood Lutheran Church. His most recent ventures as content creator for SonoVoice (the Fitbit for voice) and host with Minnesota Public Radio further expand his already diverse portfolio of projects, which also includes “Table for More”, a conversation and consulting platform founded in the summer of 2020 to help organizations address issues related to innovation, equity, racial justice, and belonging in the arts. Phillip is regularly engaged across the U.S. and beyond as a conductor, workshop facilitator, and worship curator/leader. He is a published arranger and has a new choral series with National Music Publishers. 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 Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. In November 2022, John appeared with the Yale Symphony Orchestra at Yale University to play and record a piano concerto by the late Paul Reale, for Naxos records (to be released in 2023).

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
Alison Baker Faul
Jessica Belt
Ashley Brandt
Kate Brinkert
Corey Cellurale
Lorinda Chagnon
Marie Colangelo
Amanda Connolly
McKenna Cromwell
Emily Dyrdahl
Lillian Gray
Kristina M. Guiffre
Becca Hovsepian
Sally Jaffray
Elinor Jones
Magdalena Koebele
Laura Langan
Clara Lind
Christina Pederson
Venessa Rockwell
Emma Schlabach
Emily D. Seifers
Ashley Slattery
Leah Sovick
Abbie Sulik
Dana Terres
Hannah Tilstra
Katherine Tonn Eisinger
Amanda Troolin
Jennifer Vickerman
Dannika Wright

ALTO
Akosua Obuo Addo
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
Tori Hornby
Emma Jirele Sandhurst
Katie Kovacovich
Ruby Lindholm Kramer
Annie Krishnan
Jessica Laven Johnson
Jeenee Lee
Lark Lewis
Ana M. Levya
Carly Lunden
Danica McDonald
Rachel Moniz
Kristi Mueller
Elizabeth Neuenfeldt
Jillian Paulson
Liz Raimann
Marty Raymond
Miriam Sahouani
Erin Sandsmark
Katie Sandsmark
Sydney Schoeberle
Forrest Schrader
Alyssa Shapiro
Sarah Taft
Allie Wigley

TENOR
Erik Adolphson
Steve Aggergaard
Brett Bacon
Larry J Brandts
Bjorn Christ
Dante Colmenares
Ryan Coopergard
Mary Kay Delvo
Ben Demaree
Tim Emery
James Feltes
Reagan Lee
Kurtis Parlin
Thomas Sasdi
Peter Carlson
Schattauer
Ona Sussman
Barry John Tikalsky

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

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 G Meek
Carolyn Nuelle
Kristina Rodel Sorum
Catherine Terres

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

BASS
Dakota Anderson
Joseph Ellickson
David Gindra
Joe Kastner
Erik Krohg
Nathan Petersen-Kindem
Dr. Michael P. Schmidt
Benjamin Shermock

VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE
The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA) 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
Alfred 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

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 Kellum 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

October 26 marks not only the performance of KRISTINA, but also the birthday of Mary Gilbert Lawrence, MD, MPH who comes from a family of medical physicians. Her great-great left Europe to serve as a physician to underserved rural mining communities in Australia. Happy Birthday, Mary!

Anonymous (2)
Bob and Kathie Goodale Legacy Foundation
Marilyn Carlson Nelson
Mary Tjosvold

Cassy Bryant, Manager Cultural Center Operations & Cultural Resources, Hoċokata Ṫi, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

Görel Hanser

Leah Lemm, Minnesota Native News and Native Lights Podcast

Minnesota Historical Society Amelia Foster, Reference Librarian, Gale Family Library, Minnesota History Center

Friends of the Karl Oskar House
Gary Noren
Sven Sjostedt
Marilyn Wahlstrom

Dan Zedek