It is a delight to send this welcome from Northrop and VocalEssence to you! For many years Welcome Christmas has set the standard celebrating choral music that combines the familiar with the new—and this year’s program continues that tradition…doing it uniquely by greeting all of you at the University of Minnesota’s beloved Northrop.

This is the first year that VocalEssence has been able to present Welcome Christmas with all four of our performing choirs: the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, Chorus, Singers Of This Age and Vintage Voices—230+ voices serenading you! This was not possible for VocalEssence in smaller venues so we are delighted that Northrop, with its grand stage and backstage facilities, could be the home for Welcome Christmas. Of course, the presence of Northrop’s glorious Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ adds an additional luster to these concerts!

VocalEssence and Northrop are about community, continuing to expand our messages through music and dance to a greater Twin Cities populace. We are, therefore, pleased to invite all of you to visit the Northrop lobby and meet our friends who have created tables to share information about their cultural traditions and celebrations that take place during this time of year.

Though VocalEssence has presented at Northrop before (with the music of Rodion Shchedrin, heard in a ballet evening with the Bolshoi Ballet ballerina, Maya Plisetskaya) this is our first—and definitely not our last!—collaboration together. Thank you all for joining us and our best wishes to each of you for a wonderful Holiday Season!

—Kari A. Schloner, Executive Director, Northrop

—Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and Founder, VocalEssence

CHRISTMAS IS COMING
Mack Wilberg
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers

THIS CHRISTMAS
Donny Hathaway and Nadine Theresa
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

GO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
VocalEssence Chorus & Vintage Voices

SILENT NIGHT
Laura Jēkabsone
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

THE DREAM ISAIAH SAW
Glenn Rudolph
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices

TWO CAROLS: DING DONG! MERRILY ON HIGH & GOOD KING WENCESLAS
John Gardner
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers

GLORIA
John Rutter
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS (AUDIENCE SING)
Nils Lindberg
VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, Singers Of This Age, & Vintage Voices

CHRISTMAS IS COMING, Mack Wilberg

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat,
Please do put a penny in the old man’s hat.
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do,
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!
If you haven’t got a penny, don’t wonder what to do,
You are always rich enough to say, ‘Yes, God bless you!’

Christmas is coming, and with a jolly band,
Please do slip a penny in a lonely hand.
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do,
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!
If you haven’t got a penny, don’t wonder what to do,
You are always rich enough to say, ‘Yes, God bless you!’

Christmas is coming, the shop is brim with toys,
Please do give a penny to the orphan boys.
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do,
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!
If you haven’t got a penny, don’t wonder what to do,
You are always rich enough to say, ‘Yes, God bless you!’

If you haven’t got a guinea, or even half a crown,
If you only have a pence or two, then don’t you fret and frown.
Just reflect upon your blessings, and all your kith and kin,
And remember that in giving all, you let the season in!

Christmas is coming, the figgy pudding ’s here,
Please do give a penny with your Christmas cheer!
If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do,
If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!
—Traditional English Carol, additional lyrics by David Warner

THIS CHRISTMAS, Donny Hathaway and Nadine Theresa McKinnor

Hang all the mistletoe
I’m gonna get to know you better
This Christmas

And as we trim the tree
How much fun it’s gonna be together
This Christmas

The fireside is blazing bright
We’re caroling through the night
And this Christmas, will be
A very special Christmas, for me

Presents and cards are here
My world is filled with cheer and you
This Christmas

And as I look around
Your eyes outshine the town, they do
This Christmas

Shake a hand, shake a hand now
Wish your brother Merry Christmas
All over the land, now
Merry Christmas
—Donny Hathaway and Nadine Theresa McKinnor

GO, TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN, Evelyn Simpson-Curenton

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born,
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Savior’s birth.
—Negro Spiritual

SILENT NIGHT, Laura Jēkabsone

Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child!
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing, “Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born!”

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light,
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.
—Franz Xaver Gruber, 1818

GOD IS WITH US, John Tavener

God is with us.

Hear ye people, even to the uttermost end of the earth.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.
The people that dwell in the shadow of death,
Upon them the light has shined.
For unto us a child is born!
For unto us a son is given!
And the government shall be upon his shoulder,
And his name shall be called Wonderful! Counselor!
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.

Hear ye people, even to the uttermost end of the earth.
God is with us. Christ is born!
—Adapted from the Orthodox Great Compline for Christmas Eve

THE DREAM ISAIAH SAW, Glenn Rudolph

Lions and oxen will sleep in the hay,
Leopards will join with the lambs as they play,
Wolves will be pastured with cows in the glade,
Blood will not darken the earth that God made.

Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw,
Life redeemed from fang and claw.

Peace will pervade more than forest and field,
God will transfigure the Violence concealed,
Deep in the heart and in systems of gain
Ripe for the judgment the Lord will ordain.

Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw,
Justice purifying law.

Nature reordered to match God’s intent,
Nations obeying the call to repent,
All of creation completely restored,
Filled with the knowledge and love of the Lord.

Little child whose bed is straw,
Take new lodgings in my heart.
Bring the dream Isaiah saw,
Knowledge, wisdom, worship, awe.
—Thomas H. Troeger

TWO CAROLS, John Gardner
Ding Dong! Merrily on High

Ding Dong! Merrily on High
In heav’n the bells are ringing,
Ding Dong! Verily the sky
Is riven with angels singing.

Refrain:
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E’en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen;
And io, io, io
By priest and people sungen. Refrain:

Pray you dutifully prime
Your matin chime ye ringers.
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers. Refrain:

Ding Dong! Merrily on high
In heav’n the bells are ringing,
Ding Dong! Verily the sky
Is riven with angels singing. Refrain:
—George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1924

Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas look’d out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Tho’ the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight
Gath’ring winter fuel.

“Hither, page, and stand by me
If thou knows’t it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he,
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence
Underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence,
By St. Agnes Fountain.”

“Bring me flesh and bring me wine,
Bring me pine logs hither,
Thou and I will see him dine
When we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch forth they went,
Forth they went together,
Thro’ the rude wind’s wild lament
And the bitter weather.

“Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger,
Fails my heart I know not how;
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, good my page,
Tread thou in them boldly,
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”

In his master’s step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted,
Heat was in the very sod
Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.
—John Mason Neale, 1853

GLORIA, John Rutter

(Sung in Latin)
Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace, good will towards all.
We praise thee. We bless thee.
We worship thee. We glorify thee.
We give thanks to thee for thy great glory.

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, Nils Lindberg

(audience sing)
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
And bring some out here.

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year.
—Arthur Warrell, 1935

 

TRUMPET
Jonathan Brandt
Christopher Volpe
Pam Humphries

FRENCH HORN
Patrick Pride More
Jenna McBride-Harris

TROMBONE
Phillip Ostrander
Collin Hough
Scott Moore

TUBA
Jacob Grewe

PERCUSSION/TIMPANI
William Kemperman
Jarod Bendele

Rooted in the belief that the arts are essential to the human experience, Northrop is committed to cultivating intersections between performing arts and education for the benefit of all participants now and for generations to come.

THE NORTHROP ADVISORY BOARD
The Northrop Advisory Board is committed to the growth and awareness of Northrop’s mission, vision, and the continued future of presenting world-class dance and music in our community. If you would like more information about the advisory board and its work, please contact Cynthia Betz, Director of Development, at 612-626-7554 or betzx011@umn.edu.

THE NORTHROP ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Cynthia Betz
Jeff Bieganek, Chair
Kristen Brogdon
Dr. Robert Bruininks
John Conlin
Deb Cran
Susan DeNuccio
Karen Hanson
Cari Hatcher
Jill Hauwiller
Bob McMaster
Katheryn Menaged
Gary Reetz
Robyne Robinson
Toni Pierce-Sands
Kari Schloner
Kao Lee Vang
Donald Williams

THE NORTHROP ORGAN ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Michael Barone
Cynthia Betz
Dean Billmeyer
Kristen Brogdon
Dr. Robert Bruininks
Dee Ann Crossley
Laura Edman
Cathie Fischer
Nils Halker
Cari Hatcher
David Jenkins
Pamela Neuenfeldt
Emily Roth
Kari Schloner

For more than five decades, 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 54 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. This 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 almost 300 “Musical Moments” which can be accessed HERE and his thoughts on music are at RenaissanceManpodcast.com.

G. PHILLIP SHOULTZ, III
Associate Artistic Director
G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director, uses the power of the spoken word and song to foster community and inspire action among people of all ages and abilities. Phillip conducts festival choirs and leads workshops across the United States and beyond. He serves on the faculty of the University of St. Thomas and guides the ministries of worship, music, and the arts at Westwood Lutheran Church. The Minnesota Orchestra regularly engages Phillip to host their Young People’s Concerts and his online presence continues to grow as his pandemic livestream, Take 5 with GPS, rapidly approaches the 450 episode milestone. The winner of numerous honors, including the ACDA Graduate Conducting Competition and multiple Teacher of the Year awards, Phillip founded “Table for More” in the summer of 2020 to help organizations address issues related to innovation, equity, and belonging in the arts. 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.

MARY JO GOTHMANN
Accompanist
Mary Jo Gothmann joined VocalEssence as staff accompanist in 2015. She enjoys a varied career as a chamber musician, soloist, opera coach, and organist. Mary Jo performs frequently with the Minnesota Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and is a graduate of Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, University of Minnesota, New England Conservatory, and St. Olaf College. Mary Jo is the founder and Artistic Director of the Joya Chamber Music Series at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka.

JOHN JENSEN
Accompanist, VocalEssence Vintage Voices

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
AnnaLisa Anderson
Madison Asher
Jessica Belt
Corey Cellurale
Lorinda Chagnon
Amanda Connolly
McKenna Cromwell
Kristina M. Guiffre
Rebecca Hovsepian
Claire Huber
Sally Jaffray
Clara Lind
Emma Marsh
Lisa Misch
Lisa D. Moncur
Mary Nyhus
Christina Pederson
Emma Schlabach
Ashley Slattery
Leah Sovick
Abbie Sulik
Dana Terres
Amanda Troolin
Jennifer Vickerman
Laura Walklet Jacobsen
Carole Whitney
Dannika Wright

ALTO
Akosua Obuo Addo
Nancy Jo Aldrich
Azure Anderson
Johanna Beaupre
Jo Beld
Katelyn Belden
Grace Dokken-Smith
Autumn Gurgel Valentini
Marjorie Hakala
Meg Hanna
Dee Hein
Grace Alice Herbertz
Katie Kovacovich
Wenie Lado
Jessica Laven Johnson
Jeenee Lee
Rebecca Modert
Kristi Mueller
Elizabeth Neuenfeldt
Liz Raimann
Marty Raymond
Miriam Sahouani
Erin Sandsmark
Katie Sandsmark
Lisa K. Schalla
Sydney Schoeberle
Forrest Schrader
Laura Tanner
Catherine Terres
Allie Wigley

TENOR
Steve Aggergaard
David Ampaabeng
Jason Bendezu
Larry J. Brandts
Justin Clark
Ryan Coopergard
Ben Demaree
Martin Kulstad
Owen Metzger
Kurtis Parlin
Thomas Sasdi
Rabindra Tambyraja
Barry Tikalsky
Justin Vanni

BASS
Robert Atendido
Evan Clay Kelly
Jordan Kiffmeyer
Ben Kucera
Mike LaFleur
Philip Lowry
Noah Lucas
Ken Michael McGurran
Nicholas Mroczek
Declan O’Higgins
Milo Oien-Rochat
David Olson
Ron Pearson
Brian D. Ruhl
Anthony LeVell Sims
Trent Stenoien
Matthew Terhaar
David Toht

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
Elsa Buck
Jennifer French
Chloe Johnson
Kathryn Rupp
Margaret Sabin
Mari Scott
Carey Shunskis

ALTO
Robin Joy Helgen
Patty Kramer
Marita Link
Anna George Meek
Judith McClain Melander
Sadie Nelson
Erin Smith Peters
Kristina Rodel Sorum

TENOR
Peter Aldrich
Elijah Baumgartner
Will Berendsen
Ben Brunnette
Anders Eckman
Robert J. Graham
Nicholas Mattsson
Bill Pederson

BASS
Jimmy Deignan
Joseph Ellickson
David Gindra
Joe Kastner
Erik Krohg
Dr. Michael P. Schmidt
Timothy C. Takach

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.

Alice Weiland
Anastasia Pihvagah
Anna Delaney
Alyssa Witty
Ash Kansara
Avery Somdahl
Curtis Ying
Dede Jones
Ella Wright
Elizabeth (Moxie) Tucker
Emi Sisson
Ethan Cheng
Ian Ronning
Isa Benegas
Jadesola (Ghost) Olatunde
Jerilyn Moya-Hypolite
Jerusha (Ru) Burdette
Kadin Bartlett
Kaija Halvorson
Kayla Gibson
Krista Hines
Lela Sabin
Lily Hiebert
Lotus Deuel
Ma’Kiala Moore
Mahagony Robinson
Molly Sabin
Natalie Goodman
Nick Green
Raegan Brogden
Ricquelle Miles
Ruby Atkins
Skylar Bandelin
Sylvia Morris
Ursula Beitz

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 Gustafson
President

David Myers
Past-President

Torrie Allen
Vice President

Daniel Fernelius
Secretary

Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien
Treasurer

Mary Ann Aufderheide
Tanya M. Bransford
Philip Brunelle
Cassidy McCrea Burns
Barbara Burwell
Mirella Ceja-Orozco
Margaret Chutich
Dan Dressen
Martha Driessen
Anna K. B. Finstrom
Cassandra Garnett
RJ Heckman
Valton Henderson
Daniel Kantor
Lisa Merklin Lewis
Paul H. McDonough
Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed
Fred Moore
Richard Neuner
Jim Odland
Joanne Reeck
Don Shelby
Amanda Storm Schuster
Elizabeth Truesdell Smith
Jeff Smith
Kristina Rodel Sorum
Timothy C. Takach
Rabindra Tambyraja

LIFETIME DIRECTORS
Ann Barkelew
Ann Buran
Art Kaemmer
Nikki Lewis
Mike McCarthy*
Dave Mona
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

Mary Jo Gothmann
Accompanist

John Jensen
Accompanist, Vintage Voices

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Azure Anderson
Executive Assistant

Mary Ann Aufderheide
Executive Director

Jeff Bina
Director of Finance and Operations

Rhiannon Fiskradatz
Learning and Engagement Manager

Laura Holst
Development and Marketing Associate

Ethan Johnson
Director of Artistic Operations

Amanda Timmer
Director of Marketing and Communications

Elissa Weller
Director of Development

We are grateful to these supporters and donors who continue to support programming, education, and community engagement.

Northrop Supporters

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