Lean Into Hope
Watch as Philip Brunelle and and G. Phillip Shoultz, III, share their artistic vision for the VocalEssence 2021-2022 season opener, Hope Lives Here. Get your tickets to Hope Lives Here today! LEARN MORE AND BUY TICKETS
Performing Ensembles
Live Dancing and Singing—Sublime!
Watch as Philip Brunelle and Lise Houlton, Artistic Director of Minnesota Dance Theatre, discuss the partnership between Minnesota Dance Theatre and VocalEssence. Philip asks what it is like to dance to live singing, to which Lise responds, “Sublime.” Lise and Philip talk about how the dancers create a physical representation of Leonard Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,”… Read More →
Philip Brunelle Previews Gabriel Kahane Commission
Watch as Philip Brunelle gives you a sneak peek into “We Are the Saints”, a new commission by Gabriel Kahane that will be featured on the VocalEssence 2021-2022 season opener, Hope Lives Here. The piece is in three movements, approximately ten minutes in length and will be sung by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers. The first… Read More →
Welcome Christmas in the News
There is so much excitement about Welcome Christmas this season! Check out the articles and videos below and make sure to watch Almanac on Twin Cities PBS (TPT) from 7-8 PM CST on Friday, December 18th to see a preview of Welcome Christmas! Minnesota Public Radio News Interview with Cathy Wurzer and G. Phillip Shoultz,… Read More →
Making of Welcome Christmas 2020 with TPT
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III shared their experience recording the Welcome Christmas concert this year in partnership with Twin Cities PBS (TPT). It took more than $75,000 to fund this partnership with TPT, and to date we have raised $64,506! If you are interested in continuing to support the… Read More →
Imagine Performances Premieres Saturday, Nov. 28
Discover beauty in diversity, and imagine a world where the spirit of kindness, generosity, and love for our neighbors lives in us all year. Join the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age as they usher in the season of hope and love through songs, spoken word, and poetry from winter celebrations around the world, including Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Hmong New Year, Kwanzaa, and Las Posadas. … Read More →
Single Streams for the 2020-2021 Season are On Sale Now
Single Streams are now on sale for all of the 2020-2021 Season concerts. For just $15 you can purchase on demand access to one of the eight performances below. Each performance will premiere on a specific date and will be available to watch on demand after that date. Featuring stunningly clear audio and crisp, high-quality… Read More →
Rightfully Hers Concert Resources
Rightfully Hers Preview Buy Stream Now in the press Classical Minnesota Public Radio interview with John Birge, actor Sally Wingert, and composer Jocelyn Hagen: https://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2020/10/15/vocalessence-rightfully-hers Concert Program Learn More about the 19th Amendment Centennial There are so many wonderful resources to learn more about the 19th Amendment Centennial! Below are a few of our… Read More →
2020-2021 Season Announcement Coming Soon!
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and a special guest update you about the progress of our 2020-2021 season announcement.
Where in the World are the Conductors – February 2020
For Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle, February is always ‘planning month’ putting together all the music for the 2020-21 season—choosing the repertoire for each concert, working with composers on commissions and also looking at plans for 2021-22! And with Philip’s creative mind it is also an important time for him to help find those… Read More →
Deep Roots Honors 30 Years of WITNESS at Orchestra Hall
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVFOujBQv4 Join us at Deep Roots at Orchestra Hall on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:30 PM. Tickets start at just $10! https://www.vocalessence.org/event/concert-deep-roots/
Celebrate MLK Weekend with VESOTA
Come and celebrate the incredible legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA). See below for more information. Together We Sing Festival Date/Time: Saturday, January 18,2020 from 1:30-5 PM Location: Minnesota History Center, Saint Paul Cost: Free, but registration required More Information: https://www.vocalessence.org/event/family-together-we-sing-festival-2020/… Read More →
Composer Kim André Arnesen Talks about Nordic Christmas
Up-and-coming Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen considered a few different factors when he sat down to choose the pieces that would become Nordic Christmas. “I looked at works that have been personal favorites in my life and those I thought had the greatest potential in this larger setting,” said Arnesen, “but I also hunted for… Read More →
Winter Wonder at Mia will feature music, crafts, and a story
Join us at Winter Wonder at Mia on December 14th! NEW this year will be a reading of the book Where Are All The Minnesotans interspersed with crafts and music. Learn more and purchase your tickets here: https://www.vocalessence.org/winter-wonder-2019/
Composer Kim André Arnesen and Nordic Christmas Premiere
Composer Kim André Arnesen is in town from Norway and is so excited for the premiere of his new piece Nordic Christmas, commissioned in honor of the 125th anniversary of Sons of Norway. Join us at a performance this December. Click here to learn more.