Our conductors had a great time with VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I Dream and the debut of the new youth choir, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA). But there’s always another adventure around the corner for Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III.

Philip Brunelle will be escaping to warmer quarters early in the month, as he flies off to conduct a choral festival in St. Petersburg, Florida on March 4. But he won’t miss much—he’ll return a few days later to conduct the first of two ReMix Studio Singer concerts, March 6 at the Landmark Center.

On March 7, he leaves for Mexico City to interview composers for the 11th season of VocalEssence ¡Cantaré!. While in Mexico City he will meet with the leaders in the Mexican Foreign Affairs office and the U.S. Embassy about future collaborations. On Friday evening he will attend the annual dinner for past VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! composers at Fondo del Refugio.  

The last half of March will include opening rehearsals for the upcoming Cathedral concert with John Rutter, and completing the plans for the 50th anniversary season of VocalEssence!

Phillip Shoultz, III is visiting Northern Minnesota this week in preparation for the River Songs & Tales Tour with Mark Twain to five communities this April. He also is preparing for another adventure—Phillip and his wife Michelle are expecting their second baby the last week of March. VocalEssence SOTA rehearsals will continue with students preparing to perform new pieces at the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Community Concert this May.