VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

WITNESS is one of the nation's premier initiatives celebrating the contributions of African Americans to our shared American heritage through concerts, recordings and comprehensive educational programs. The National Endowment for the Arts and numerous private and corporate foundations provide annual support for WITNESS. VocalEssence began WITNESS in 1991 as a concert and educational program to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to the fine arts. Today, WITNESS includes the following elements:

• The annual WITNESS concert, part of the VocalEssence subscription season, which features choral and orchestral music by African American composers and celebrated guest artists, plus many special events bringing guest artists into the community.
• The WITNESS Collection, a 4-volume series of compact discs that serve as an educational and historical resource showcasing a century of African American classical music.
• The WITNESS School Program, our educational outreach initiative that introduces students to the cultural contributions of African Americans. 18 African American Teaching Artists are currently on our roster from all arts disciplines, providing 50 Minnesota urban, suburban and outstate partner schools with WITNESS Artist Workshops and Residencies. Partner schools also attend the WITNESS Young People's Concerts.
• The WITNESS Teacher's Guide, complementing the School Program. The extensive Teacher's Guide provides background information for students and teachers, as well as lesson plans, activities and other resources for grades 4–12.