Seasons of Song Join VocalEssence as we celebrate 56 seasons of singing together. From a performance of the musical journey of Swedish immigrants brought to life by the legendary ABBA songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, and collaborations with the Bach Society of Minnesota and Northrop, to a week-long festival featuring the music of world-renowned…
VocalEssence celebrates singing as an essential human expression. Artistic quality, passion for singing together, and reputation for engaging people are hallmarks of our impact. As our community changes, we have developed this strategic plan to address our future in three key areas, keeping singing together at the center of our work.
Jeff Wheeler Instagram and Star Tribune Metro Section | March 4, 2022 Members of The Aeolians, including Laila Darville, center, sang during rehearsal with the VocalEssence Chorus and VocalEssence Singers of This Age, a choir made up of Twin Cities high school kids Tuesday night at Orchestra Hall ahead of their concert this Sunday… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Aaron Jay Kernis. Aaron Jay Kernis b. 1960 Pulitzer Prize and Grammy-Award-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis is among the most esteemed musical figures of his generation. He began his musical studies on the violin; at… Read More →
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In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Geoffrey Bush. Geoffrey Bush 1920-1998 Geoffrey Bush was a British composer, teacher, and music scholar who produced a wide range of compositions across different genres, including many songs and works for choirs. He began piano… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer David McKinley Williams. David McKinley Williams 1887-1978 David McKinley Williams was an American organist and composer known for his work at St. Bartholomew’s Church, New York City. Gowing up in Denver, he was a chorister… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Paul Mealor. Paul Mealor b. 1975 Paul Mealor is one of the world’s most performed living composers and has been described as ‘the most important composer to have emerged in Welsh choral music since William… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Gabriela Lena Frank. Gabriela Lena Frank b. 1972 Gabriela Lena Frank is an eminent American composer of contemporary classical music. Born in Berkeley, California to a mother of mixed Peruvian/Chinese ancestry and a father of… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Malcolm Williamson. Malcolm Williamson 1931-2003 Malcolm Williamson was one of the most successful Australian composers of the latter half of the twentieth century. He studied piano privately with Sverjensky before enrolling at the New South… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Nico Muhly. Nico Muhly b. 1981 Nico Muhly is an American composer who writes orchestral music, works for the stage, chamber music and sacred music. He’s received commissions from The Metropolitan Opera: Two Boys (2011),… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Einojuhani Rautavaara. Einojuhani Rautavaara 1928-2016 Einojuhani Rautavaara is one of the best known and most frequently performed Finnish composers. He studied musicology at the University of Helsinki and composition at the Sibelius Academy with Aarre… Read More →
