Founder and Artistic Director Philip Brunelle will present a class on hope and a look at the music that will be featured at Hope Renewed, the closing concert of the 55th Season. Composer Kyle Pederson will join to discuss his new composition that will be featured on the concert. In order to sign up for… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Johann “Hermann” Schein. Johann “Hermann” Schein 1586-1630 Johann Schein was a German composer, and one of the earliest musicians to introduce the Italian Baroque style into German music. In 1599 Johann Hermann Schein was admitted… Read More →
by: Mary Ann Grossmann Pioneer Press | March 25, 2021 https://www.twincities.com/2021/03/25/vocalessence-uses-poetry-and-music-to-create-call-of-the-north/ VocalEssence features Minnesota music and poetry in “Call of the North.” (Photo by Ethan Johnson) Minnesota poetry and music come together in “Call of the North,” an online-only concert featuring VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, which premieres at 4 p.m. March 28 and will be available… Read More →
Rob Hubbard Special to the Star Tribune | March 18, 2021—10:49AM https://www.startribune.com/once-viewed-as-potential-super-spreaders-minnesota-choirs-are-emerging-again/600035749/?om_rid=1590517193&om_mid=2499842505 One more welcome sign of spring: Minnesota choirs are emerging from hibernation. Dwight Jilek conducted members of Magnum Chorum for their livestream this month. Photo by Flight Creative Media For a state dubbed “The Land of 10,000 Choirs,” the pandemic has been particularly… Read More →
GPS highlights the life and legacy of Sojourner Truth for this Sunday edition of Take 5. In addition, we take a look at the traditional Negro spiritual, “Plenty Good Room.” Learn More https://sojournertruthmemorial.org/sojourner-truth/her-history/ https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sojourner-truth https://www.nps.gov/people/sojourner-truth.htm https://www.nps.gov/articles/sojourner-truth.htm?fbclid=IwAR3AMCWZhp8tbIx8mjKWkza0pHyzVthADFVhfwRogfSv5QjGR_U6mrCeq0M Sponsor Black Excellence Each episode and blog post take $250 to create and produce. Consider sponsoring a day or… Read More →
For this Saturday edition of Take 5, GPS highlights the artistic and administrative accomplishments of dancer, Judith Jamison, and also shares a terrific Duke Ellington standard, “I’m Beginning to See the Light.” Learn More https://www.alvinailey.org/alvin-ailey-american-dance-theater/judith-jamison http://pressroom.alvinailey.org/album?c=25045&t=video&p=24&s=order https://www.ted.com/speakers/judith_jamison Sponsor Black Excellence Each episode and blog post take $250 to create and produce. Consider sponsoring a day… Read More →
It’s Friday, and what better way to celebrate the end of another week than a little bit of singing? Join GPS as he sends us off into the weekend and shares a little about author Zora Neale Hurston. Our musical pairing is “In the Still of the Night,” by Fred Parris as performed by Fred… Read More →
On today’s edition of Take 5, GPS celebrates acclaimed printmaker and sculptor, Elizabeth Catlett, whose work reflects her interest in African art and social issues in the United States and Mexico. Our musical pairing is “I’ll Come Back To You,” as performed by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers. Learn More https://www.elizabethcatlettart.com/bio https://nmwa.org/art/artists/elizabeth-catlett/ https://philamuseum.org/calendar/exhibition/artist-focus-elizabeth-catlett https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/elizabeth-catlett-41… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Kurt Weill. Kurt Weill 1900-1950 The German composer Kurt Weill was one of the most versatile and influential composers of musical theatre in the twentieth century. Weill began his career in the early 1920s, after… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Sir Arthur Bliss. Sir Arthur Bliss 1891-1975 Sir Arthur Bliss was one of the leading English composers of the first half of the 20th century, noted both for his early, experimental works and for his… Read More →
It’s Wednesday and GPS is getting ready for another Wednesday edition of Take 5. Today he’ll be sharing about Wilma Rudolph, the first woman to win 3 gold medals at the Olympic Games. Our musical pairing is “Git On Board, Little Children,” a traditional Negro Spiritual. Learn More https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/wilma-rudolph https://www.biography.com/athlete/wilma-rudolph https://usopm.org/wilma-rudolph/ Sponsor Black Excellence Each… Read More →
On today’s episode of 28 Days of Black Excellence we feature American folk artist and quilter, Harriet Powers, who weaved stories into her art to pass stories to future generations. Our musical pairing is “We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder,” a traditional Negro Spiritual by a hidden figure. Harriet Powers (1837-1910) Notable Achievements: Although not recognized during… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Cary John Franklin. Cary John Franklin b. 1956 Cary John Franklin is a nationally recognized composer with commissions and performances from many of the leading performing ensembles in the United States. Educated in Minnesota at… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information on planning choral music.
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Morten Lauridsen. Morten Lauridsen b. 1943 Morten Lauridsen is a National Medal of Arts recipient and the most frequently performed American choral composer in modern history. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Lauridsen worked as… Read More →
