In the fall of 2017, the Board of Directors voted to diversify the audience, singers, board, staff and vendors by age and by race. Prior to determining what exactly would change and how we would accomplish this, we sought to… Read more »
In preparation for the 3rd Annual Together We Sing Festival, VocalEssence Associate Conductor Phillip Shoultz has devoted time this summer to developing a relationship with Ujamaa Place. After meeting with Executive Director, Otis Zanders, and touring the facilities, Phillip recently… Read more »
VocalEssence connects senior citizens with the social and mental health benefits of group singing through its Vintage Voices program. VocalEssence Vintage Voices meets seniors on their own turf, providing choral instruction at senior centers and residences. This spring, the program… Read more »
VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! brings the talents of composers from Mexico into Minnesota classrooms. This year’s composers are Bernardo Feldman and Jimena Contreras, who were in Minnesota for a residency March 12-23, 2018. It was their second of three total visits to… Read more »
The singers from the VocalEssence Youth Choir recently announced themselves to the local community using their official name: VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, or SOTA, for short. Since this is the inaugural year for the diverse choir, with students from… Read more »
Our conductors had a great time with VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I Dream and the debut of the new youth choir, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA). But there’s always another adventure around the corner for Artistic Director Philip Brunelle… Read more »
VocalEssence was thrilled to kick off Super Bowl Live on Friday, January 26, 2018 on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis with guest artists Idina Menzel and Esera Tuaolo. Enjoy this clip of members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers performing a Minnesota… Read more »
Over 170 participants and guests artists connected during the daylong Together We Sing Festival on Jan. 13. Attendees had great things to say—and we’d like to share some of our favorite responses: “I really enjoyed the guest artists and exercising… Read more »
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… Read more »
Is there anything more cheering on a snowy winter weekend than joining in song with your fellow lovers of choral music? Two upcoming community sing-along events provide the perfect opportunity to create a beautiful experience—whatever your skill level. (Hint: nobody… Read more »
VocalEssence is thrilled to announce that it has been tapped to kick off the Super Bowl Live festivities in Minneapolis. This January, in a kick-off event leading up to Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium, the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers… Read more »
This fall, more than 60 older adults from Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley and Parkshore Senior Living in St. Louis Park are warming up their voices at VocalEssence Vintage Voices rehearsals. Vintage Voices, a program of VocalEssence, brings the many… Read more »
BEDROOM COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS Featuring Valgeir Sigurðsson, Jodie Landau, Sam Amidon and Daníel Bjarnason with Mariam Wallentin and Pekka Kuusisto Copresented with the American Swedish Institute Tuesday, May 9, 2017 Doors at 6pm | Music at 7:30pm (purchase tickets) American Swedish… Read more »
VocalEssence is spreading holiday cheer all around the Twin Cities metro this holiday season. In addition to our four Welcome Christmas concerts December 3-11, 2016 and two Star of Wonder concerts on Saturday, December 10, 2016, our voices will be… Read more »
As a professional choir conductor for 20 years, I’ve learned to read the subtle cues in the room before the singing starts, but I’d never before experienced a feeling quite like the one at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis on… Read more »