Together We Sing

VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Come Together for “Choosing Love” Summer Camp

Current members of VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (including a few graduating seniors) spent a week together building community, learning, and creating. The Choosing Love Creators Camp kick-started the year and was focused on creative collaboration. The first portion of the week was comprised of 15 hours of workshops led by guest artists including: Joe…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors-August 2021

Philip Brunelle: August has been a busy month of planning for Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle. He has been working on finalizing repertoire for the season, ordering orchestral music, confirming concert dates and details, and (of course) continuing to do fundraising! This month also included attending a Board member’s wedding, finishing the edits for…  Read More

Thank you VocalEssence Interns!

VocalEssence was fortunate to have two fantastic interns this summer: Aaron Schondorf and Blake Wieseler. Each and every voice that contributes to, or participates in our mission is an essential part of our community. We are thrilled to share the projects these two have worked on during their time at VocalEssence. Aaron Schondorf, a Carleton…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors-July 2021

Philip Brunelle: Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle is in the midst of a “planning month” as he prepares for the upcoming 53rd season—lots of meetings with composers, artists, and finalizing the season announcement for each of you! The final Plymouth Summer Concert occurred on July 20 when Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele gave us their…  Read More

Philip Brunelle Honored to Ring Minnesota Liberty Bell

In 1950 the Department of the Treasury gifted each of the 50 states their own Liberty Bell—full sized replicas of the bell in Philadelphia. Each bell, created by the Christoph Paccard Bell Foundry in France, weighs approximately 2,080 pounds. The Minnesota Liberty Bell is rung on four occasions throughout the year and Philip Brunelle was given…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors-June 2021

Philip Brunelle: Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle is working on creating a digital library of all the composers featured on Musical Moments with the help of intern Blake Wieseler from St. Olaf College. Since Musical Moments began in March of 2020, almost 300 composers who have been central to the success of VocalEssence have…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors-May 2021

Philip Brunelle Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle will be working with Phillip Shoultz to determine the roster of singers during late May and early June.  With these very flexible days concerning audience sizes for fall concerts, we are preparing several plans to accommodate our options.  The good thing is that we have the repertoire…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors-April 2021

Philip Brunelle Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle will be spending the last part of April and early May concluding plans for the 53rd VocalEssence season and also hearing many, many singers for their spring auditions. This is always an important part of the year, inviting wonderful voices to be part of the upcoming VocalEssence…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors – March 2021

For Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle, the month of March is for “Call of the North.” Having finished two full days of recording and videotaping at the IDS Crystal Court with the Ensemble Singers, the coming weeks will be devoted to editing sessions leading to the March 28 premiere at 4PM. At the same…  Read More

Where in the World are the Conductors – February 2021

Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III are hard at work this month preparing for a multitude of upcoming performances. Philip Brunelle The month of February is filled with rehearsals for our next concert, Call of the North; how wonderful to have the Ensemble Singers back together! The concert (to be…  Read More

Vintage Voices Trillium Woods Chorale Mini Concert

A pandemic didn’t stop these singers in their eighties at Trillium Woods from bringing a little joy to their lives. Together with the leadership of VocalEssence Vintage Voices artistic director Robert Graham and help from the brand new virtual choir recording platform SongAlong, these singers created a mini choir concert! After 10 weeks of Zoom…  Read More

Spend Christmas Eve with VocalEssence

This Christmas Eve, gather the family (in person and virtually) for a LIVE sing-along and a broadcast of Welcome Christmas.   CHRISTMAS EVE LIVE STREAM Thursday, December 24th at 6:30 PM CST Join Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III for a LIVE Christmas Eve edition of Take 5 with GPS. Usher in the magic by…  Read More

Liza and Jim Ervin find Joy On Demand

As we close out the most challenging year in our 52 year history, we are hearing some shining stories of resilience and moments of joy. Liza and Jim Ervin are singers in the VocalEssence Vintage Voices choir at Trillium Woods. It was December 2015 when they moved to the Twin Cities from Connecticut. Fortunately, friends…  Read More

Black Friday Weekend Deals – 20% Off

Buy local this weekend to support your favorite choir! Use code SALE20 for 20% off the items listed below. Offer expires on Monday, November 30th at 11:59 PM.   Imagine Single Stream Find JOY and HOPE as the voices of our youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age help you imagine a world where the…  Read More

Voice Your Vote

VOICE YOUR VOTE – CONDUCTOR EDITION

We asked Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III what they think about voting. Below is what they said. “I have never missed an opportunity to vote–usually in person at the elementary school in our neighborhood. Voting is one of the great privileges we have in our democracy–never take it for…  Read More