For Artistic Director Philip Brunelle, January began with meetings in Washington DC with Senator Tina Smith and Congressman Dean Phillips—both of them very supportive of VocalEssence! He also met with the Norwegian Cultural Consul, with Alberto Fierro (Executive Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute), with Ann Meier Baker of the NEA Music Division and our dear VocalEssence WITNESS friend and composer, Ysaÿe Barnwell.
This 50th anniversary season with all the community work and VocalEssence WITNESS planning continues; rehearsals for Candide with the soloists have begun—an amazing cast for our 5 performances at the Cowles Center in March.
Associate Conductor | Director of Learning and Engagement Programs G. Phillip Shoultz, III has had a busy month so far. He led a packed house for the Together We Sing Festival at the Minnesota History Center, curated and conducted an MLK Celebration Concert at the University of Minnesota, and led the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age in a performance on MLK Day at the History Center. Later this month, Phillip will be a guest clinician at the Festival By The Sea in Charleston, South Carolina. He is busy preparing the VocalEssence Chorus and VocalEssence Singers Of This Age for their performances at VocalEssence WITNESS: Yet They Persist in February.