“Life after 50” could be a challenge for some, but not for VocalEssence! We are moving from one anniversary to the next. This season marks 30 years since we began our VocalEssence WITNESS program honoring the contributions of African Americans to the arts. We are celebrating with two WITNESS-themed performances this season—What a Mighty God in November featuring Dr. André Thomas and Deep Roots in February showcasing homegrown talent.
In Divine Light, our Ensemble Singers are celebrating exquisite chamber music from around the world. Welcome Christmas will feature a premiere by Norway’s hot young composer, Kim André Arnesen, commissioned in honor of the 125th anniversary of Sons of Norway. We will end the Concert Series with The Mendelssohns, an exploration of the music of sibling musical geniuses Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn.
This is the year to experience the Together We Sing Festival! It’s a free event all about bringing our community together to sing and give back. Save the date for our spectacular VocalEssence Gala on May 17, 2020, and watch for information about our Get Minnesota Singing Tour next April and May 2020.
Our inaugural Family Series last season was a huge hit! This season Tales & Tunes celebrates National Literacy Month and we are welcoming an acclaimed author to join us in this musical story time. Star of Wonder has become Winter Wonder, and we have added a third performance at Mia. To warm you up in the midst of winter, we are journeying to Polynesia for a Moana Movie Sing-Along in February at the American Swedish Institute. VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Community Concert returns to the Ordway, and we end the season with our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age in their pre-tour concert Voices Calling.
Join us in song. Together we sing, and you are a key part of our chorus.
Philip Brunelle G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Artistic Director & Founder Associate Conductor | Director of Learning and Engagement
Thank you to our 2019-2020 Season Sponsors
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
