Bonsoir et bienvenue à cette belle soirée de musique chorale et d’orgue française. All those beautiful French words should put you in the mood for a marvelous evening of music by some of the great French composers of the 20th century—some familiar names and others that may be new to you. Of course, with a French name like Brunelle I know that I am biased toward the beautiful sounds of French music!

This program was conceived to bring choral and organ music together–and that was easy as there has been a long tradition in France to have choral music combine with independent organ moments such as in the works of Duruflé and Dupré. I also want to present sublime a cappella singing as composed by Messiaen and Milhaud. French music has been heard regularly at VocalEssence and will be heard again in the future!

After their triumphant tour to England last summer, it is a joy to hear the Ensemble Singers in a program that offers their beautiful sound and marvelous blend, one of our state’s shining lights! We are delighted to welcome Greg Zelek, organist extraordinaire, for the first time on a VocalEssence concert. As the new organist for Northrop at the University of Minnesota, Greg brings his artistry to our community and we are delighted for this inaugural moment with us.

Merci d’être avec nous ce soir!

—Philip Brunelle Artistic Director and Founder, VocalEssence

SUSTINUIT ANIMA MEA (MY SOUL HAS HELD FAST TO GOD’S WORD)
from De Profundis
Marcel Dupré (1917)

SUITE GOTHIQUE (GOTHIC SUITE), OP. 25
Léon Boëllmann (1895)
Greg Zelek, organist
I. Introduction—Chorale
II. Menuet Gothique (Gothic Minuet)
III. Prière à Notre-Dame (Prayer to Our Lady)
IV. Toccata

CANTATE DE LA GUERRE (CANTATA OF WAR)
Darius Milhaud (1940)
Carey Shunskis, soprano, and Kristina Rodel Sorum, alto
I. Choeur du Peuple Criminel (Chorus of the Guilty People)
II. Vox Domini (The Voice of the Lord)

PIE JESU (PIOUS LORD JESUS)
Lili Boulanger (1918)
JoAnna Johnson, soprano

L’ÉCHELLE DE JACOB (JACOB’S LADDER)
from Deux Spirituals
Jacques Chailley (1930)
Jared Campbell, tenor

SANCTUS (HOLY)
from Requiem
Maurice Duruflé (1947)

INTERMISSION

GLORY
from Selma
John Stephens, Lonnie Lynn, and Che Smith, arr. Mark Brymer (2014)
Traiveon Dunlap, soloist
Brianna Hill, spoken word

AUDIENCE SING: LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING
Rosamond J. Johnson, arr. Roland Carter (1978)
(Audience invited to stand and sing as directed)

*WORLD PREMIERE

WALK TOGETHER, CHILDREN, arr. William Henry Smith
Oh, walk together, children, don’t you get weary,
There’s a great camp meetin’ in the Promised Land.

Walk and never tire,
There’s a great camp meetin’ in the Promised Land.

Sing and never tire,
There’s a great camp meetin’ in the Promised Land.

Shout and never tire,
There’s a great camp meetin’ in the Promised Land.

Oh, walk together, children, don’t you get weary,
There’s a great camp meetin’ in the Promised Land.

Oh, walk together, children, don’t you get weary,
Sing together, children, don’t you get weary,
Shout together, children, don’t you get weary,
There’s a great camp meetin’ in the Promised Land.
—Negro Spiritual

 

THE JUSTICE SYMPHONY, Damien Geter
I. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Paul and Silas bound in jail,
Had no money for to go their bail.
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Paul and Silas began to shout.
Doors popped open and they walked out.
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Freedom’s name is mighty sweet,
And soon we’re gonna meet.
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.

Got my hand on the gospel plow,
Won’t take nothing for my journey now.
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on.
—Traditional Freedom Song and Spiritual

II. Precious Lord, Take My Hand
…and lead me home.
When the darkness appears,
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone.
At the river I stand.
Guide my feet, hold my hand.
Take my hand precious Lord and lead me home.

Hear my cry, hear my call.
Hold my hand lest I fall.
Take my hand, precious Lord and lead me home.

Precious Lord, take my hand.
Lead me on, let me stand.
I am tired. I am weak. I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand precious Lord and lead me home.
—Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey

III. Ego Trippin’
Oh, freedom!
Oh, freedom over me.

Free!

We shall overcome.
Right now.

We shall not be moved.
Like a tree that’s standing by the water;
We shall not be moved.

On the road to justice,
We shall not be moved.
Just like a tree that standing by the water;
We shall not be moved.

No justice; no peace!

Lift every voice and sing,
‘Til earth and Heaven ring.
Ring with the harmonies of liberty.
Let our rejoicing rise,
High as the listening skies.
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us.
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.

Facing the rising sun,
Of our new day begun.
Let us march on ‘til victory is won.
—Songs from the Civil Rights era, Oh, Freedom, We Shall Overcome, We Shall Not Be Moved, and James Weldon Johnson’s Lift Every Voice and Sing.

A SUITE OF SPIRITUALS, Traditional Spiritual, arr. B.E. Boykin
*asterisk denotes world premiere
I. Go Down, Moses
Go down Moses way down,
Tell ol’ Pharoah,
Let my people go!

When Israel was in Egypt’s land,
Let my people go!
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go!

Go down Moses way down,
Tell ol’ Pharoah,
Let my people go!

The Lord told Moses what to do.
Let my people go!
To lead the children of Israel through.
Let my people go!

Go down Moses.
Way down in Egypt’s land.
Tell ol’ Pharoah
To let my people go!

O’ let us all from bondage flee.
Let my people go!
And let us all in Christ be free.
Let my people,
Go down.
—Negro Spiritual

II. Mary Was the Queen of Galilee*
Who was Mary?
Mary was the Queen of Galilee.

Mary rode to Bethlehem.
There she brought the Holy Lamb.
Mary saw Him crucified.
When her Lord cried out an’ died.
Oh, she wept an’ Martha moaned.
Sky turned purple all aroun’.

Now after Sunday down at the tomb,
When the stone was rolled away,
She didn’t find her Lord, an angel came unto her
Telling the good news that Jesus Christ is risen
And will appear again.
Queen of Galilee,
Oh, Mary was the Queen of Galilee.
—Negro Spiritual

III. Steal Away*
Refrain: Away, steal away.
Steal away to Jesus.
Steal away, steal away home.
I ain’t got long to stay here.

Away, steal away.
My Lord, He calls me.
He calls me by the thunder.
The trumpet sounds within’ my soul.
I ain’t got long to stay here. Refrain:
—Negro Spiritual

IV. Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho*
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho
And the walls came tumblin’ down.

You may talk about the kings of Gideon,
You may talk about the men of Saul.
But there’s none like good old Joshua
At the battle of Jericho.

Right up to the walls of Jericho
He marched with spear in hand.
Go, blow that ram’s horn, Joshua cried,
‘Cause the battle is in my hand.

Then the lamb ram sheep horns began to blow
And the trumpets began to sound.
And Joshua commanded the children to shout,
And the walls came tumblin’ down, because

The battle, yes the battle, the battle is the Lord’s.
Joshua fit the battle of Jericho.
—Negro Spiritual

 

KHUMBAYA (COME BY HERE), arr. Lucas Bok, as performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir
Somebody’s cryin’ Lord.
Khumbaya.
Somebody’s prayin’ Lord.
Khumbaya.

Oh Lord! Hear my prayer!
As I lift my voice and say,
I need your love today.
I need you right away.

Somebody’s in despair!
Somebody feels like no one cares!
I know you’ll make a way, Yes, God will make a way.

Oh! Khumbaya.
Oh, Lord, Khumbaya!
—Negro Spiritual

 

BOUND FOR GLORY, Rollo Dilworth
I. This Train is Bound for Glory
Refrain: This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory,
Don’t carry nothin’ but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.

This train is built for speed, now, this train.
This train is built for speed, now,
Fastest train you ever did see.
This train is built for speed, now, this train.

There is joy in that land where I’m bound. Refrain:
—Negro Spiritual

II. City Called Heaven
Lord, I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow.
I’m tossed in this wide world alone.
No hope have I for tomorrow.
I’ve started to make Heaven my home.

Refrain: Sometimes I am tossed and I’m driven, Lord.
Sometimes I don’t know where to roam.
I heard of a city called Heaven,
I’ve started to make it my home.

Lord, my mother has reached pure Glory Land.
My father’s still walking in sin.
My brothers and sisters won’t own me,
Because I am tryin’ to get in. Refrain:
—Negro Spiritual

III. Goin’ Home
Deep river, my home is over Jordan.
Deep river, Lord.
I want to cross over into campground.

Going home, going home, I’m a-going home;
Quiet like, some still day, I’m just going home.
It’s not far, just close by, through an open door;
Work all done, care laid by, going to fear no more.

Mother’s there expecting me, Father’s waiting too;
Lots of folk gathered there, all the friends I knew.

Home, home, I’m going home!

Morning star light the way, restless dream all done;
Shadows gone, break of day, real life just begun.

There’s no break, there’s no end, just a-living on;
Wide awake, with a smile, going on and on.

Going home, going home, I’m a-going home;
It’s not far, just close by, through an open door.
Going up yonder, Lord.
I’m just going home.
Trials are over, Lord.
I’m just going home.

I want to cross over into campground.
Home, home, I’m going home!
—Negro Spiritual

IV. Amazing Grace
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a child like me!
I once was lost but now I’m found,
Was blind but now I see.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

Hallelujah! Bound for Glory Land.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
—Negro Spiritual

V. No Ways Tried
I am seeking for a city, hallelujah!
For a city into the Kingdom, hallelujah!

Hallelu! O Lord, I don’t feel no ways tired.
Children, oh, glory, hallelujah!
For I hope to shout, “Glory,” when this world is on fire.
Children, oh, glory, hallelu.
There’s a better day a-comin’, hallelujah!
When I leave this world of sorrow, hallelujah!

I am no ways tired.
Seeking for a city.

Hallelu, hallelujah!
—Negro Spiritual

 

GLORY, John Stephens, Lonnie Lynn, and Che Smith, arr. Mark Brymer (2014)
from Selma
Refrain: One day, when the glory comes,
It will be ours, it will be ours.
Oh, one day, when the war is won,
We will be sure, we will be here sure.
Oh, glory.

Spoken word
Hands to the Heavens, no man, no weapon
Formed against; yes, glory is destined.
Every day women and men become legends.
Sins that go against our skin become blessings.
The movement is a rhythm to us.
Freedom is like religion to us.
Justice is juxtaposition in us.
Justice for all just ain’t specific enough.
One son died, his spirit is revisitin’ us.
True and livin’ livin’ in us; resistance is us.
That’s why Rosa sat on the bus,
That’s why we walk through Ferguson with our hands up.
When it go down, we womaned and manned up,
They say, “Stay down” and we stand up.
Shots, we on the ground, the camera panned up,
King pointed to the mountain top and we ran up. Refrain:

Now the war is not over; victory isn’t won.
But we’ll fight on to the finish, and then when it’s all done,
We’ll cry glory, oh glory. Refrain:

Spoken word
Selma’s now for every man, woman and child,
Even Jesus got his crown in front of a crowd.
They marched with the torch, we gon’ run with it now,
Never look back, we done gone hundreds of miles.
From dark roads he rose to become a hero;
Facing the league of justice, his power was the people.
Enemy is lethal, a king became regal,
Saw the face of Jim Crow under a bald eagle.
The biggest weapon is to stay peaceful.
We sing. Our music is the cuts that we bleed through.
Somewhere in the dream we had an epiphany,
Now we right the wrongs in history.
No one can win the war individually.
It takes the wisdom of the elders, the young people’s energy.
Welcome to the story we call victory,
The coming of the Lord, my eyes have seen the glory. Refrain:
—Words and music by John Stephens, Lonnie Lynn, &
Che Smith

AUDIENCE SING: LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING, Rosamond J. Johnson, arr. Roland Carter
(Please stand and sing when directed.)
Lift every voice and sing, ’til earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty,
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the list’ning skies.
Let it resound, loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun.
Let us march on, ’til victory is won.

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn has died.
Yet with a steady beat have not our weary feet,
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed.

We have come, Oh we have come
Over a way that with tears has been water’d.
O, we have come, treading our path thro’ the blood of the slaughter’d.
Out of the gloomy past, ’til now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

Please be seated.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
Thou who has brought us thus far on the way.
Thou who hast by Thy might led us into the light,
Keep us forever in the path we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places our God where we met Thee.
Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world we forget thee
Shadow’d beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand
True to our God, true to our native land. Amen.
—Words by James Weldon Johnson

CHLOE JOHNSON
Soloist
Chloe earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from St. Olaf College where she played viola in the St. Olaf Orchestra and Philharmonia and continued her studies in Voice Performance, studying with Alison Feldt and singing in the St. Olaf Choir.

Chloe went on to receive her Master of Music in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College where she toured and performed with the awarded Westminster Choir and Westminster Symphonic Choir under Dr. Joe Miller and sang with teachers Lindsey Christiansen and Laura Brooks Rice. She has had the privilege of singing with renowned orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Berlin Philharmonic. Chloe sang in the choir-in-residence at Spoleto Festival USA and performed at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona, Spain.

Chloe has toured throughout the United States and internationally with ensembles including VocalEssence, the St. Olaf Choir, the Westminster Choir, and other project-based choirs.

In addition to her work with the Ensemble Singers, she is an active church musician, directing the choir and serving in worship ministry at Hope Church in Richfield. Chloe is also a voice and piano teacher and the mother of two young boys. She has been a member of VocalEssence for eight years.

 

B.E. BOYKIN
Commissioned Composer
B.E. (Brittney Elizabeth) Boykin is a distinguished composer, conductor and pianist, renowned for her dynamic artistry and profound contributions to the world of music. Most recently, her music appears on two albums nominated for the 2026 GRAMMY Awards in the Best Classical Solo Vocal Album category: Black Pierrot (Sidney Outlaw and Warren Jones) and In This Short Life (Devony Smith and Danny Zelibor). This recognition stands as one of her newest career highlights, joining a legacy of performances at prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, and affirms her influence as a leading voice in contemporary classical music.

In addition to her work in opera, she continues to leave a lasting impact on the choral world as a sought-after conductor and clinician who is celebrated for her unique artistic expressions and ability to connect with her ensembles. Her recent features include conducting the Atlanta Music Project Senior Youth Choir in a closing concert for the 2024 Chorus America Conference and leading them to emerge as the category winner at the 2024 World Choir Games, the largest international choral competition in the world. Beyond the concert stage and opera house, Boykin not only solidifies her reputation as a leader in choral music but demonstrates her deep passion and commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians through her community engagement.

With a career characterized by artistic excellence, educational impact, and a deep commitment to cultural advocacy, she is honored to serve on the National Board for the National Collegiate Choral Organization. She is currently the Director of Choral Activities at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Learn more at Beboykinmusic.com.

For 57 years, VocalEssence has provided opportunities for singers from the Twin Cities area to create incredible music together and build connections as part of the vibrant arts community in Minnesota.

VocalEssence is known for introducing audiences to music and artists who are not yet known, often welcoming guest artists, composers, and conductors who are emerging, have unknown works, or represent a variety of cultures. Welcoming all members of the greater community, VocalEssence embodies the motto: Together We Sing.

VOCALESSENCE MISSION
VocalEssence draws upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the influence of choral music.

PHILIP BRUNELLE
Artistic Director and Founder
Philip Brunelle, Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder of VocalEssence 57 years ago, is an internationally-renowned conductor, choral scholar, and visionary. Philip has conducted symphonies, choral festivals, and operas on six continents. He holds five honorary degrees, served 9 years as Vice President of IFCM (International Federation for Choral Music), and has been recognized for his commitment to choral music by the governments of Norway, Hungary, Sweden, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. In 2019, he was awarded the American Prize in Choral Conducting and, in 2020, was given the Honorary Member Award by the Society for American Music. In fall 2024, Philip was appointed a National Arts Associate of the Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity. Philip is also Organist-Choirmaster at Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis. During the pandemic Philip recorded 300 “Musical Moments” which can be accessed at https://www.vocalessence.org/what-we-do/virtual-projects/musicalmoments-with-philip-brunelle/ and his thoughts on music are at RenaissanceManpodcast.com. Philip and his wife Carolyn, a studio artist, have 3 children (Tim, Christopher, and Elise) and 7
grandchildren.

G. PHILLIP SHOULTZ, III
Associate Artistic Director
G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director, uses the power of the spoken word and song to foster community and inspire action among people of all ages and abilities. Phillip conducts festival choirs and leads workshops across the United States and beyond. He serves on the faculty of the University of St. Thomas and guides the ministries of worship, music, and the arts at Westwood Lutheran Church. An accomplished curator of multi-disciplinary community collaborations, Phillip is the Artistic Director of the University of Minnesota Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert. The Minnesota Orchestra regularly engages Phillip to host their Young People’s Concerts and his online presence continues to grow as his pandemic livestream, Take 5 with GPS, recently reached the 500-episode milestone. The winner of numerous honors, including the ACDA Graduate Conducting Competition and multiple Teacher of the Year awards, Phillip founded “Table for More” in the summer of 2020 to help organizations address issues related to innovation, equity, racial justice, and belonging in the arts. Phillip lives in St. Louis Park with his wife, Michelle, and their two children (Malachi and Lydia Grace).

ROBERT GRAHAM
Learning and Engagement Manager
Conductor, Vintage Voices
Robert Graham is the Learning and Engagement Manager at VocalEssence where he serves as the conductor for the VocalEssence Vintage Voices choirs, and oversees the renowned VocalEssence WITNESS School Program. Robert has a Master of Music degree in both vocal performance and choral conducting from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, and a B.A. in vocal performance from Xavier University of Louisiana. Robert currently serves as a section leader of the adult choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, sings second tenor in the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and also performs around the Twin Cities as a solo and chamber musician.

CASEY RAFN
Accompanist
Pianist Casey Rafn enjoys a varied career as a collaborative pianist both in the United States and abroad, in Europe and Latin America. He is a member of ‘Trés’, whose saxophone-piano trio was just nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album for their new album “Romance al Campesino Porteño.” Casey often collaborates in concert or recordings with members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and University of Minnesota School of Music faculty. As a piano soloist he took top prizes at the International Liszt-Garrison Competition in Baltimore, has appeared with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and has taught at both the University of Minnesota School of Music and the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts.

JOHN JENSEN
Accompanist, VocalEssence Vintage Voices
John Jensen received his music degrees in Southern California, where he attended Occidental College and University of Southern California. While there he free-lanced as a studio musician, playing on the Andy Williams show and touring the country with prominent singers through Columbia Artists Management. He moved to Iowa and taught for 15 years at Grinnell College as an artist-in-residence. In 1990, John moved to St. Paul and has played with VocalEssence, the Minnesota Orchestra, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. In November 2022, John appeared with the Yale Symphony Orchestra at Yale University to play and record a piano concerto by the late Paul Reale, for Naxos records (released in 2023).

VOCALESSENCE CHORUS

The VocalEssence Chorus is a group of talented and enthusiastic singers from many different walks of life, united by their love of singing and community. Performing a wide variety of musical styles, premiering new works, and sharing the stage with a diverse array of guest artists, the Chorus is a welcome home for singers who wish to continue making music throughout their adult lives.

VOCALESSENCE ENSEMBLE SINGERS

The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers have established an international reputation because of their extensive catalog of recordings and broad range of unique repertoire. This chamber choir, whose members hail from a wide variety of professions, is bound together by their skilled artistry to create what The Times of London has described as a “flawless” sound.

SOPRANO
Jennifer Bevington
Katie Boardman
Elsa Buck
Chloe Johnson
JoAnna Johnson
Kathryn Rupp
Mari Scott
Carey Shunskis

ALTO
Robin Joy Helgen
Patty Kramer
Audrey Lane-Getaz
Anna Meek
Judith McClain Melander
Carolyn Nuelle
Kristina Rodel Sorum
Cat Terres

TENOR
Will Berendsen
Ben Brunnette
Jared Campbell
Dan Dressen
Robert J. Graham
Jonah Herzog
Andy McCullough
Phil Reilly

BASS
Dakota Andersen
Joseph Ellickson
David Gindra
Joe Kastner
Erik Krohg
Dr. Michael P. Schmidt
Benjamin Shermock
Ian Witry

VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE

The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA) is a community of Twin Cities teenagers engaged in expanding what it means to be a choir and, encouraging a wider circle of participation in the artform. Presenting music ranging from classical to hip-hop, they use creativity and collaboration to build an accepting community, equipped with the skills to lead social change in our society.

VOCALESSENCE VINTAGE VOICES

VocalEssence Vintage Voices is an exciting choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of older adults. Guided by a desire to create a welcoming atmosphere and remove barriers for participation, these choirs sing to build community, combat loneliness and isolation, and improve physical and emotional wellbeing.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Daniel Fernelius
President

Maranon-Cobos
Past-President

Valton Henderson
Vice President, Board Affairs Committee Chair

Dan Dressen
Secretary

Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien
Treasurer

 

Philip Brunelle
Ben Brunnette
Ryan French
Cassandra Garnett
Brianna Hill
Novelli Jurado
Daniel Kantor
Lori Ledoux
Lisa Merklin Lewis
Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed
Dr. Kristin Morris
Kristine Oberg
Anna Ostroushko
G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Eve Schulte
Jeff Smith
Timothy C. Takach
Bob Thacker
Mary Tjosvold
Elizabeth Truesdell Smith
Amy Jaine Wielunski

LIFETIME DIRECTORS
Ann Barkelew
Ann Buran
Art Kaemmer*
Nikki Lewis
Mike McCarthy*
Dave Mona
Alfred Moore
Don Shelby
Dorene Wernke

HONORARY DIRECTORS
Dominick Argento*
William Bolcom
Dave Brubeck*
Stewart Copeland
Aaron Copland*
Håkan Hagegård
Louise Heffelfinger*
Eskil Hemberg*
Betty Hulings*
Sigrid Johnson*
James Earl Jones*
Garrison Keillor
Sir James MacMillan
Donald Mitchell*
Helmuth Rilling*
Sir John Rutter
Peter Schickele*
Dr. André J. Thomas
Eric Whitacre
Roderick Williams OBE
*In remembrance

VOCALESSENCE STAFF

ARTISTIC STAFF
Philip Brunelle
Artistic Director and Founder

G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Associate Artistic Director

Robert Graham
Learning and Engagement Manager | Conductor, Vintage Voices

Casey Rafn
Accompanist

John Jensen
Accompanist, Vintage Voices

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Azure Anderson
Events and Operations Manager

Jeff Bina
Director of Finance and Operations

Rhiannon Fiskradatz
Learning and Engagement Manager

Laura Holst
Development and Marketing Associate

Emma Jirele Sandhurst
Engagement and Communications Manager

Ethan Johnson
Director of Artistic Operations

Amanda Timmer
Director of Marketing and Communications

Amy Jaine Wielunski
Executive Director

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VocalEssence Supporters

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