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Privacy Policy

PRIVACY NOTICE Last updated September 18, 2020 Thank you for choosing to be part of our community at VocalEssence (“Company“, “we“, “us“, “our“). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice, or our practices with regards to your personal information, please contact…  Read More

Honor the Musical Foundations that Gave Rise to 30 Years of Song with Deep Roots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com HONOR THE MUSICAL FOUNDATIONS THAT GAVE RISE TO 30 YEARS OF SONG WITH DEEP ROOTS A galaxy of incredible artists and a special 30th Anniversary Community Choir will join the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers and VocalEssence Singers Of This Age—Feb. 23 at Orchestra Hall             …  Read More

Celebrate our 125th Anniversary with Music from Norway’s Top Composer

Sons of Norway Blog | October 10th, 2019 https://www.sofn.com/blog/celebrate-our-125th-anniversary-with-music-from-norways-top-composer/​​​​​​​ As part of the celebration for our upcoming 125th Anniversary in 2020, Sons of Norway has commissioned a musical work from renowned Norwegian composer Kim Andre Arneson. Just in time for Christmas, this new work will have its world premiere in a series of four performances in…  Read More

Beethoven meets poet Rita Dove: The week’s best classical concerts

By Terry Blain | Star Tribune Published: OCTOBER 6, 2019 — 2:00PM http://www.startribune.com/beethoven-meets-poet-rita-dove-the-week-s-best-classical-concerts/562199432/ Beethoven with a side of poetry “Sonata for a crazy mulatto.” The dedication Beethoven wrote on the score of his towering “Kreutzer” Sonata was presumably meant affectionately, but would not play well today. The dedicatee in question was George Bridgetower, an Afro-European…  Read More

Set Your Soul Free with VocalEssence WITNESS: What a Mighty God

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com SET YOUR SOUL FREE WITH VOCALESSENCE WITNESS: WHAT A MIGHTY GOD Spirituals are in the spotlight as the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers welcome Dr. André Thomas, NaGuanda Nobles, and Christian Mark Gibbs—November 17    MINNEAPOLIS — June 26, 2019 — VocalEssence is honoring the tradition of…  Read More

VocalEssence music program comes to Westview Elementary

By: Patty Dexter | SUN Thisweek Published: April 11, 2019 https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_thisweek/community/apple_valley/vocalessence-music-program-comes-to-westview-elementary/article_6c0cac8c-5bd5-11e9-8b5b-477346985913.html Two local musicians visited Westview Elementary School in Apple Valley on April 4 as part of the school’s participation in VocalEssence’s Witness program. VocalEssence is a Minnesota arts organization that “uses the power of choral music to enhance our community by producing innovative vocal…  Read More

2019 Contest Guidelines

Click Here to Download the 2019 Welcome Christmas Guidelines and Application 2019 Contest Guidelines World premiere: No prior performance of submitted work. Original carol: No arrangements or new settings of existing tunes. Eligibility: Composers of all ages whose permanent residence is North America. Form: Carol (defined as a strophic song, which may or may not…  Read More

Honor the African American Women Who Power Our Journey to Equality with VocalEssence WITNESS: Yet They Persist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com HONOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WHO POWER OUR JOURNEY TO EQUALITY WITH VOCALESSENCE WITNESS: YET THEY PERSIST Atlanta’s Spelman College Glee Club will join the VocalEssence Chorus and VocalEssence Singers Of This Age—February 24             MINNEAPOLIS — November 27, 2018 — VocalEssence will celebrate the accomplishments of…  Read More

VocalEssence plans imaginative 50th-anniversary season; 23rd Annual Art-A-Whirl in northeast

By Pamela Espeland | 08:32 am https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2018/05/vocalessence-plans-imaginative-50th-anniversary-season-23rd-annual-art-whirl-northe If you saw yesterday’s Artscape and Theater Latté Da’s season announcement, you already know part of VocalEssence’s big 50th-anniversary reveal: a collaboration with Latté Da. But that’s the tip of the iceberg (this is the North, after all) of a truly astonishing, wildly imaginative season. Before we get into that, a brief history: In 2015,…  Read More

VocalEssence marks 50th season with greatest hits and a big show with Theater Latté Da

ANALYSIS: VocalEssence’s anniversary season is full of retrospectives, co-presentations and a strong commitment to diversity. By Terry Blain Special to the Star Tribune MAY 15, 2018 — 2:53PM http://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-marks-50th-season-with-hits-premieres-and-a-big-show-with-theater-latt-da/482706891/ It’s been 50 years since an ambitious young Minnesotan named Philip Brunelle was appointed organist and choirmaster at Minneapolis’ Plymouth Congregational Church. One of his first big…  Read More

Interview with Philip Brunelle about John Rutter

In preparation for the Rutter Returns concert on Saturday, April 21, 2018, VocalEssence Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle answered a few questions about John Rutter. When did you first learn about John Rutter (and his music)? I have always been curious about discovering composers new to me from all over the world. It was early in the…  Read More

Last Minute Gift Ideas from VocalEssence

Need to cross a few more names off your holiday list? VocalEssence has concert tickets sure to thrill the music lovers in your life—after all, experiences make the best gifts! More options: Give the gift of music with a recording of recent performances, or honor your loved one by sponsoring a student seat in their…  Read More

Langston Hughes and The Harlem Renaissance Revived in VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I Dream

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com   LANGSTON HUGHES AND THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE REVIVED IN VOCALESSENCE WITNESS: OF SUCH I DREAM Celebrate jazz poet and activist Langston Hughes at the world premiere of William Banfield’s ‘I Trust Harlem Is Still There’ and the debut of new VocalEssence Youth Choir—February 18 MINNEAPOLIS—October 2017—Our dreams inspire our actions and…  Read More

Mortals & Angels

It’s time for another mashup of Minnesota musical genres, as Minnesotan choral legends VocalEssence and bluegrass quintet Monroe Crossing team up for a new recording, Mortals & Angels: A Bluegrass Te Deum. Mortals & Angels: A Bluegrass Te Deum is an original work by Minnesota composer Carol Barnett and librettist Marisha Chamberlain, and is an…  Read More

VocalEssence Hires Jeffrey Bina as Director of Finance and Operations

Nonprofit choral performance and community engagement organization VocalEssence has hired Jeffrey Bina as its new Director of Finance and Operations. Bina joins the organization from Twin Cities-based men’s vocal ensemble Cantus, where he served as Operations and Finance Manager. At Cantus, he directed the logistical aspects of its local concert season, overseeing everything from venue…  Read More