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Sponsor a Seat in Honor of Someone Today

Let’s fill the hall!   Orchestra Hall, that is. 4,245 students are slated to attend the VocalEssence WITNESS Young People’s Concerts this February, and celebrate the amazing African and African American women who change our world for the better! But here’s the catch… The cost of the VocalEssence WITNESS program and Young People’s Concerts is $28.50…  Read More

VocalEssence celebrates 50 years of making musical bridges — and that first boost from Aaron Copland

by Kathy Berdan October 4, 2018: https://www.twincities.com/2018/10/04/vocalessence-50th-anniversary-concert-ordway-st-paul-philip-brunelle-aaron-copland-cantare/ Harmony through harmony. That’s a good description of what Twin Cities choral stalwart VocalEssence has been doing for half a century. Founder and director Philip Brunelle and the group’s 30-member professional Ensemble Singers recently returned from a trip to Mexico City, where they performed with 30 Mexican singers and a…  Read More

In Honor of the VocalEssence 50th Anniversary by Catherine Dehoney, President of Chorus America

I’m Catherine Dehoney, President of Chorus America, the research, professional development, and advocacy organization for choruses in North America. Philip asked me to keep my remarks “short and profound, like the Gettysburg Address”.  I’m not sure I can achieve ‘profound’, so I’ll try for ‘short’! Two score and 10 years ago, Philip Brunelle brought forth…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors – September 2018

Artistic Director Philip Brunelle started the month of September by conducting the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers in Mexico City for an amazing week of concerts and workshops. They performed solo concerts and also joined 30 professional Mexican singers in concerts of Brahms and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Orquesta Symphonica de Minería. September is the month…  Read More

VocalEssence marks milestone season with new voices, unique collaborations

June 4, 2018 by Paige Elliott http://spokesman-recorder.com/2018/06/04/vocalessence-marks-milestone-season-with-new-voices-unique-collaborations/ Minneapolis-based choral organization VocalEssence has recently unveiled the musical offerings for its jubilee 50th season. Highlighting a diverse lineup of concerts and programming, the nonprofit’s 2018-2019 season promises outdoor summer sing-alongs, a new family series, and musical celebrations of inclusion, perseverance and identity. The season kicks off in August with…  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’s 50th season features movie singalongs, Bob Dylan tribute and free tickets for kids

By ROSS RAIHALA | rraihala@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: May 17, 2018 at 2:31 pm | UPDATED: May 17, 2018 at 3:50 pm https://www.twincities.com/2018/05/17/vocalessences-50th-season-features-movie-singalongs-bob-dylan-tribute-and-free-tickets-for-kids/ Two movie singalongs, a new work honoring Minnesota’s own Bob Dylan and a world premiere from young star composer Nico Muhly are on tap for VocalEssence’s newly announced 50th season. Season tickets are on sale now. For the…  Read More

Roxane Wallace

Dancer/Choreographer Roxane Wallace is active in the arts as a performer, dance instructor, and choreographer.  Originally from California, she holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of California at Berkeley.  Constantly engaged in her field, she has worked with numerous choreographers and directors of both regional and international acclaim and earned the “Best Dancer” title in…  Read More

Karla Nweje

Arts Educator/Performer/Choreographer/Literary Artist Karla Nweje is an arts educator, choreographer, performer, and literary artist.  She holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Brooklyn College/CUNY. As a literary artist, Karla is a published author and contributing writer to literary publications and writes/presents interactive workshops and assemblies for youth.  After obtaining teaching credentials, she worked as a…  Read More

Brandon Commodore

Drummer/Music Producer Brandon Commodore is a talented musician, producer and businessman. Brandon’s passion for music started at a very young age, when he picked up drumsticks and followed very close in his father’s footsteps; playing in school bands and continuing his music studies into college. Shortly after graduating high school, Brandon joined the Grammy Award winning Sounds of Blackness…  Read More

VocalEssence Youth Choir Dreams Big for Its Debut Concert at Orchestra Hall

14 schools, 56 students, one groundbreaking choir. by Les Poling Posted February 13, 2018 “Together we sing.” That phrase, according to VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, is more than VocalEssence’s official tagline. It’s a hands-on philosophy the entire group takes to heart, especially the new VocalEssence Youth Choir. Creating community has been VocalEssence’s mission since the…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors—January 2018

While the busy holiday season is behind them, the new year holds plenty of exciting projects for our in-demand conductors, Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. Our Ensemble Singers are putting the final polish on their preparations for the Super Bowl LIVE kickoff concert. Philip Brunelle is leading them in…  Read More

VocalEssence Singers Of This Age

VocalEssence Singers Of This Age is a dynamic group of 50 young people from Twin Cities high schools who sing, dance, write their own music, rap, and—most importantly—reflect the diversity of our community in its membership. Under the visionary leadership of G. Phillip Shoultz, III, the students sing a wide range of music—from classical to…  Read More

Where in the World Are the Conductors – September 2017

A wonderful month ahead with lots of music-making! The first rehearsals have begun for the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers. Osmo Vänskä comes to rehearsal next week as the Ensemble Singers prepare for the Finland concerts with Osmo on clarinet and Sara Pajunen on fiddle. Don’t miss one of these September 24 concerts at the…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors – August 2017

Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director & Founder July and August have definitely been ‘music months’ for me. July began with many planning meetings for the coming season and the first week concluded with an amazing patriotic event at the Anoka airport with 24 VocalEssence singers and 5000 motorcyclists and their motorcycles! Then off to Barcelona for the…  Read More