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September 2020
VocalEssence On Demand 2020-2021 Season
VocalEssence is delighted to announce our 2020-2021 season, broadcast in high-definition video to our new website—VocalEssence On Demand. VocalEssence On Demand allows you to watch as much as you want, whenever you want—all for one low price of $49. Stunning Originals: VocalEssence will premiere eight new performances from October 2020 to June 2021. Featuring stunningly clear audio and crisp, high-quality video, these performances will provide intimate and engaging concert experiences that are the next best thing to attending events in person. To learn more about the performances, click the concert names under "Yours…
Find out more »October 2020
CONCERT: Rightfully Hers
Commemorating 100 years of women’s voices through song Join us for a special online musical event to commemorate the passing of the 19th Amendment—a critical milestone in the centuries-long struggle to let the voices of women be heard. VocalEssence lifts up those voices through music composed by women from the past 100 years—including Mabel Daniels, Alice Parker, Rosephanye Powell, and Jocelyn Hagen—who took the risk and shared their dreams. Guiding us on the journey will be acclaimed actor Sally Wingert and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers. Tickets Tickets are currently available as a single stream or as part of a VocalEssence On Demand 2020-2021…
Find out more »November 2020
LIVE STREAM: Take 5 with GPS
Announcing a new series–Take 5 With GPS–a new daily live stream hosted by VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. Every morning, start your day off with Phillip (who we call GPS) for 5 minutes of singing and 5 minutes of inspiration. Join Phillip to sing each and every day. Take 5 will include wellness components, poems, and, of course, SONG. It’s a time for centering, reflecting, and being grateful, and an opportunity to watch and follow along at home.…
Find out more »VIDEO: Musical Moments with Philip Brunelle
To add joy to your lunchtime and a little insider information about composers, Philip Brunelle is hosting Musical Moments—celebrating the composers who have been central to the success of both VocalEssence and Plymouth Congregational Church. These videos are shared via Facebook every week day. See the archive of all of the videos on the Plymouth Congregational Church YouTube page by clicking the Watch Videos button.
Find out more »FAMILY: Imagine
Im·ag·ine /iˈmajən/ verb 1. form a mental image or concept of. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world.” —Harriet Tubman, American abolitionist 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 and conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III as they usher…
Find out more »December 2020
CONCERT: Welcome Christmas 2020
Behold the wonder of Christmas with familiar favorites Behold the wonder of the season from the comfort of your home. For more than five decades, VocalEssence has welcomed Christmas. This December curl up by the fire and let Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III warm your heart with the sounds of Christmases past and present in new performances by the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers. Dust off your singing voice and join us in beloved carols that will surely get you in the Christmas spirit. Tickets Tickets are currently available as a single stream or as part…
Find out more »FAMILY: Story & Song, December
When the weather gets cold, spend time inside with us. Story & Song is a FREE video series designed especially for preschool kids and older to create a positive sense of self, spark curiosity, and inspire empathy while celebrating the multitude of cultures in our community. Created by Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, each 20-minute episode features a book and a song, as well as a visit from an author. Episodes will be released four times from December to March and will be available to stream anytime, anywhere from the VocalEssence YouTube Channel. All episodes are available with closed captioning in English and Spanish. …
Find out more »January 2021
FAMILY: Believe
Be·lieve /bəˈlēv/ verb To accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of. “If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.” —Rev. Jesse Jackson, American Civil Rights Activist Let freedom ring as members of VocalEssence Singers Of This Age dare you to believe in a world where people are “not judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Through solo and group performances, these young musicians will use the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. to help us see how our actions can create…
Find out more »FAMILY: Story & Song, January
When the weather gets cold, spend time inside with us. Story & Song is a FREE video series designed especially for preschool kids and older to create a positive sense of self, spark curiosity, and inspire empathy while celebrating the multitude of cultures in our community. Created by Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, each 20-minute episode features a book and a song, as well as a visit from an author. Episodes will be released four times from November to March and will be available to stream anytime, anywhere from the VocalEssence YouTube Channel. All episodes are available with closed captioning in English and Spanish. Release…
Find out more »February 2021
FAMILY: Story & Song, February
When the weather gets cold, spend time inside with us. Story & Song is a FREE video series designed especially for preschool kids and older to create a positive sense of self, spark curiosity, and inspire empathy while celebrating the multitude of cultures in our community. Created by Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, each 20-minute episode features a book and a song, as well as a visit from an author. Episodes will be released four times from November to March and will be available to stream anytime, anywhere from the VocalEssence YouTube Channel. All episodes are available with closed captioning in English and Spanish. Release…
Find out more »March 2021
FAMILY: Create
Cre·ate /krēˈāt/ verb To bring (something) into existence. “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.” —President Barack Obama Will you be a witness? Join the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age and the VocalEssence Teaching Artists as they journey through American history to trace the power of creative expression to heal, connect people, and make change. Through solo and group performances, be inspired to find your voice and create your own art to shape a world where all dreams can become realities. Tickets Tickets are currently available as a single stream…
Find out more »CONCERT: WITNESS 2021
Power of art to change the world Art has the power to move mountains and change the world. It has been central to social movements from abolitionism to Black Lives Matter—mobilizing people and changing hearts and minds. Join the VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers & Singers Of This Age, and VocalEssence Teaching Artists as they travel through time to explore music birthed from activism and resistance that continue to shape the United States into an equitable nation for all. Tickets Tickets are currently available as a single stream or as part of a VocalEssence On Demand 2020-2021 Subscription.…
Find out more »FAMILY: Story & Song, March
When the weather gets cold, spend time inside with us. Story & Song is a FREE video series designed especially for preschool kids and older to create a positive sense of self, spark curiosity, and inspire empathy while celebrating the multitude of cultures in our community. Created by Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, each 20-minute episode features a book and a song, as well as a visit from an author. Episodes will be released four times from November to March and will be available to stream anytime, anywhere from the VocalEssence YouTube Channel. All episodes are available with closed captioning in English and Spanish. Release…
Find out more »May 2021
FAMILY: Celebrate
Cel·e·brate /ˈseləˌbrāt/ verb To acknowledge (a significant or happy day or event) with a social gathering or enjoyable activity. “The power of the native dance, the power of these influences that have come into our days, this is what makes the folklore so rich. Not just steps, it all has a meaning.” —Amalia Hernández Navarro, famous Mexican choreographer & founder of the world-renowned Ballet Folklórico de México Move your body and raise your voice to celebrate the beauty of Mexico. Join VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, as…
Find out more »June 2021
CONCERT: Singing the World Awake
Showcasing the rich tapestry of music in Minnesota Home to more than 100 languages, the Twin Cities are a sanctuary for thousands of displaced people from around the world. Join us and awaken to the beauty of our diversity, weaving in collaborative voices and multidisciplinary artists that illustrate the rich tapestry of cultures in the Twin Cities. The program features a world premiere that will move you to create change to ensure that all people can live out their dreams. Tickets Tickets are currently available as a single stream or as part of a VocalEssence On Demand 2020-2021 Subscription.…
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