Learning and Engagement Manager emma@vocalessence.org Emma Jirele joined the team at VocalEssence in the summer of 2023. As Learning and Engagement Manager, Emma provides operational leadership and logistical support to community and school initiatives, such as VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, WITNESS, the Longfellow School Program, and additional school partnerships. Emma was first exposed to… Read More →
Philip Brunelle: This month has been full of celebrations for Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director. On August 14, the rain stopped and the clouds parted as 120 of Philip’s closest friends joined him in celebrating his 80th birthday at the home of Marilyn Carlson Nelson. It was a wonderful celebration of food, singing,…
FEATURING: Moira Smiley, guest artist VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Sonja Thompson, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
As he approaches his 80th birthday, Philip Brunelle’s impact in the world of choral music is astonishing! If you were to ask Philip Brunelle what his favorite things to do are, he would say “Celebrating rarely heard music and sharing it with the world, of course!” So, that’s what we plan to do! In honor of…
“INSPIRED”—was the word used most frequently by patrons to describe their engagement with VocalEssence during the 2021-2022 season. Inspiration was at the center of everything we did this year: Our Chorus and Ensemble Singers were inspired to return to singing in person at venues ranging from Orchestra Hall to the Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit…
FEATURING: Joe Davis and The Poetic Diaspora VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age VocalEssence Vintage Voices Kristianna Marks, soprano soloist Mary Jo Gothmann, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
FEATURING: VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age VocalEssence Vintage Voices Brass and Percussion Ensemble Mary Jo Gothmann, piano and organ Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE, ARTIST JOE DAVIS AND THE NEW RENAISSANCE TO BEAR WITNESS IN SHOW HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITNESS: Reawakening Love Will Fuse Musical Styles into a Joyous Celebration at Orchestra Hall on Feb. 26 MINNEAPOLIS—December 8, 2022—Stories of struggle, resilience and celebration come to musical life through an… Read More →
FEATURING: VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age VocalEssence Vintage Voices Brass and Percussion Ensemble Mary Jo Gothmann, piano and organ Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
FEATURING: Montserrat Boy Choir (Escolania de Montserrat) Llorenç Castelló, conductor Mercè Sanchis, organ and piano
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com CELEBRATE MUSICAL SIBLINGS FELIX AND FANNY WITH VOCALESSENCE 2022-23 SEASON OPENER—“THE MENDELSSOHNS” Two prolific Romantic-era composers, one extraordinary program of music—October 15 MINNEAPOLIS—August 1, 2022—This fall, VocalEssence will feature compositions by siblings Felix Mendelssohn and Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel side by side in a single program, The Mendelssohns. The… Read More →
by John Birge YourClassical | February 28, 2022 https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2022/02/28/send-in-the-voices A world of great voices comes to the Land of 10,000 choirs this week. Honored with the title “Choir of the World” at the World Choir Games in 2017, The Aeolians is a student choir from Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville Alabama. They inspire you… Read More →
Executive Assistant phone 612-547-1472 azure@vocalessence.org Azure Anderson joined the VocalEssence team in October 2021 as the Executive Assistant. Azure provides direct administrative support to VocalEssence leadership, facilitating the success of the artistic and administrative goals of the organization. She works with the Artistic Director, Associate Artistic Director, and Executive Director to ensure effective organization wide operation.… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Charles Wood. Charles Wood 1866-1926 Charles Wood was an Irish composer and teacher primarily remembered and performed as an Anglican church music composer. Wood received his early education at the Cathedral Choir School in Dublin… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Josef Rheinberger. Josef Rheinberger 1839-1901 Josef Rheinberger was a Liechtenstein composer and teacher whose organ sonatas are among the finest 19th-century works for the instrument. At age five he received lessons in theory, pianoforte, and… Read More →
