In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Francis Poulenc. Francis Poulenc 1899-1963 Francis Poulenc was a renowned French composer best known for his religious music and compositions of mélodie. He was born into a wealthy, musical family and began studying piano at… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Libby Larsen. Libby Larsen b. 1950 Minneapolis composer Libby Larsen is one of the most frequently performed living composers, with over five hundred works in nearly every genre. Larsen was born in Delaware and studied… Read More →
While VocalEssence is physically distancing, we continue to look for ways to use the healing power of music to socially connect and keep people thinking positively. Click on the links to learn more. Musical Moments with Philip Brunelle: Every week day, Philip shares a little insider information and beautiful music about an important composer. Take 5… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer André Thomas. André Thomas b. 1952 As a composer, arranger, conductor, author, pianist, and educator, André Thomas is very active in the choral world. Thomas recently retired after many years as a professor and as… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750 German Baroque composer and keyboardist Johann Sebastian Bach is the most well-known member of his highly musical family. During his lifetime, Bach was famous for his talent as… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Carol Barnett. Carol Barnett b. 1949 Minneapolis composer Carol Barnett was born in Dubuque, Iowa, was raised in Minnesota and was a lover of music from childhood. She attended the University of Minnesota for her… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Peter Schickele, also known by his alternate persona: P.D.Q. Bach. Peter Schickele b.1935 Born to a musical family in Ames, Iowa in 1935, Peter Schickele demonstrated his musical talents at a young age. Schickele grew… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827 Likely the most influential and widely recognized composer of the nineteenth century, Beethoven is most known for his instrumental music. Beethoven was born in the town of Bonn,… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer David Evan Thomas. David Evan Thomas b. 1958 The music of Minneapolis composer David Evan Thomas, born in Rochester, New York, has been described as playful, warm, expressive, and radiant. Thomas has degrees from Northwestern… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Alice Parker. Alice Parker b. 1925 Parker’s impressive body of over five hundred compositions and arrangements includes operas, cantatas, choral pieces, and song cycles. After attending Smith College, Parker completed her master’s program in choral… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Egil Hovland. Egil Hovland 1924-2013 As one of the most prominent Norwegian composers, works from Hovland’s vast compositional output are performed widely throughout Scandinavia, but have found less of a foothold in the United States.… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Dominick Argento. Dominick Argento 1927-2019 American composer Dominick Argento, born in York, Pennsylvania and based for much of his life in Minneapolis, is perhaps best known for his solo vocal and operatic works. He has… Read More →
