Artistic Director Philip Brunelle just returned from England meeting with John Rutter, Sir Stephen Cleobury (just knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours), Simon Halsey and Katie Rowan—the person helping us with the U.S. premiere in October of Ina Boyle’s music. He and his wife Carolyn also enjoyed a week’s vacation in Wales and on the Isle of Man.
On Tuesday, June 18, Philip will be conducting the concert honoring Dominick Argento—a memorial event at the University of Minnesota, Ted Mann Hall. The Ensemble Singers will participate along with members of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and special friends of Argento: Vern Sutton, Jeffrey Van, Maria Jette and Michael Sutton. Later in June Philip will attend the Chorus America annual conference in Philadelphia— delighted that VocalEssence will receive one of the special awards for Singers Of This Age (VESOTA) completing its 2nd season.
At the end of June the Lake Harriet Pops Orchestra (which Philip conducted for 10 seasons) will celebrate its 70th anniversary and Philip will be guest conducting music of Bernstein and Liszt. July will be filled with plans for the 2019-2020 season as well as the Ensemble Singers’ return visit in August to Mexico City appearing with the Orchestra Minería.
Even though summer has hit, Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III continues to lead our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age. The group just completed a studio recording session at Minnesota Public Radio, is currently running their first personal Voice Camp this week at Augsburg University, and is preparing for performances with Global Minnesota as well as performing as part of the Minnesota Orchestra Musica Juntos Sommerfest series in July. Phillip also will be accepting an award at the Chorus American Conference for VocalEssence Singers Of This Age – more information soon!
In addition to his work with VocalEssence, Phillip will be teaching a Graduate Choral Conducting Sequence at the University of St. Thomas, taking an online course in Diversity and Inclusion through Cornell University, and serving as the headliner clinician for the Kansas American Choral Directors Association Summer Conference and presenting three sessions for teachers and conductors. He and his wife Michelle will also be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary on July 4.