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November 2014
TOUR CONCERT: River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain
Supported by Land O'Lakes and an Arts Tour grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Don Shelby as Mark Twain will go on the road to Greater Minnesota to celebrate life on the Mississippi River. Through choral music and the spoken word, VocalEssence will take listeners on a musical journey of the past and present – choral masterpieces, favorite folksongs, traditional spirituals, and Americana – all paired with the words of Mark Twain. VocalEssence Ensemble…
Find out more »February 2015
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Class: WITNESS Let Freedom Ring
VocalEssence celebrates 25 years of WITNESS this year. Philip Brunelle has invited the Grammy Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness, to appear with the VocalEssence chorus at Orchestra Hall on February 8th. For a preview of this exciting program, join Philip on February 2nd, from 2:15–3:45pm at Plymouth Church, as he explores this year’s theme—music inspired by the writings of Martin Luther King, Jr., including “Hold On—Change is Coming,” “His Light Still Shines,” and “Eyes on the Prize.” To register…
Find out more »CONCERT: WITNESS: Let Freedom Ring
Pre-concert conversation with Sounds of Blackness Director Gary Hines and Don Shelby at 3 pm. Celebrating 25 years of WITNESS, VocalEssence salutes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Sounds of Blackness. Under the direction of Gary Hines, Sounds of Blackness performs and proclaims the music, culture and history of African Americans to audiences all over the world with uplifting messages of hope, unity, love and peace for all humankind. The VocalEssence Chorus and Sounds of Blackness…
Find out more »March 2015
CONCERT: Radio Hour
Did you know that a radio could transport you to a different universe? With VocalEssence, anything is possible. Jake Heggie, one of the world’s most prominent composers of dramatic vocal music and composer of the opera Dead Man Walking, along with librettist Gene Scheer, have created a new theatrical production titled The Radio Hour which crosses Alice in Wonderland with the golden age of radio in a magical program about the power of singing to shape and give meaning to our lives. The precursor to the…
Find out more »CONCERT: Radio Hour
Did you know that a radio could transport you to a different universe? With VocalEssence, anything is possible. Jake Heggie, one of the world’s most prominent composers of dramatic vocal music and composer of the opera Dead Man Walking, along with librettist Gene Scheer, have created a new theatrical production titled The Radio Hour which crosses Alice in Wonderland with the golden age of radio in a magical program about the power of singing to shape and give meaning to our lives. The precursor to the…
Find out more »CONCERT: Radio Hour
Did you know that a radio could transport you to a different universe? With VocalEssence, anything is possible. Jake Heggie, one of the world’s most prominent composers of dramatic vocal music and composer of the opera Dead Man Walking, along with librettist Gene Scheer, have created a new theatrical production titled The Radio Hour that crosses Alice in Wonderland with the golden age of radio in a magical program about the power of singing to shape and give meaning to our lives. The precursor to the…
Find out more »May 2015
FUNDRAISER: Gather at the River with Mark Twain (Matinee)
Online ticket sales for this event are now closed. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the event beginning at 3:30 pm. Step into the past to support the future of choral music education programs at VocalEssence. Join the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and guest artist Don Shelby as Mark Twain on the historic Minnesota Centennial Showboat for a celebration of the river. Sip cocktails and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres on the Victorian deck and enter a raffle to win fabulous prizes,…
Find out more »FUNDRAISER: Gather at the River with Mark Twain (Evening)
Online ticket sales for this event are now closed. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the event beginning at 7:00 pm. Step into the past to support the future of choral music education programs at VocalEssence. Join the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and guest artist Don Shelby as Mark Twain on the historic Minnesota Centennial Showboat for a celebration of the river. Sip cocktails and enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres on the Victorian deck and enter a raffle to…
Find out more »July 2015
PERFORMANCE AND SING-ALONG: VocalEssence at Lyngblomsten Mid-Summer Festival
Join members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and guest conductor Mark Stover for a performance and sing-along of hymns, spirituals and choral classics on the Chapel Mainstage at Lyngblomsten's "celebration of arts for all ages." The musicians will engage attendees at the festival, which is designed to accommodate special needs and various levels of mobility. Complete information about entertainment and activities is available on the website or you can download a festival guide.
Find out more »August 2015
VINTAGE VOICES: Seasons Sunshine Singers Concert
Come and experience the sounds of the Seasons Sunshine Singers, Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood’s new choir, in an exciting journey down Broadway! From Tin Pan Alley to Rogers & Hammerstein, you will hear a variety of some of the greatest hits from the golden age of musical theater. The concert is free and open to the public, with a reception following in the Cafe. Ecumen Seasons at Maplewood is part of a new VocalEssence community engagement program called Vintage Voices,…
Find out more »October 2015
POST-CONCERT HAPPY HOUR: VocalEssence Resonate with Jake Runestad, Brian Turner and Jeffrey Biegel
Join VocalEssence Resonate, our young professionals group, for a happy hour with Dreams of the Fallen composer Jake Runestad, poet Brian Turner and pianist Jeffrey Biegel after the Dreams of the Fallen concert on Sunday, October 11, 2015. Enjoy the company of other choral music lovers—and free appetizers while they last—at Green Mill just a few minutes from the O'Shaughnessy in St. Paul.
Find out more »November 2015
Voz en Punto at the Minnesota History Center
Enjoy an hour-long performance by a cappella Mexican vocal ensemble Voz en Punto at the Minnesota History Center, introduced by Head Consul Alberto Fierro from the Mexican Consulate in Saint Paul. Founded in 1990, Voz en Punto builds upon traditional Mexican folk songs to create thrillingly inventive vocal jazz arrangements. Its founder, director, and baritone, José Galván, first forged a relationship here in Minnesota during his time as a composer-in-residence for ¡Cantaré!, a VocalEssence educational initiative that brings the talents…
Find out more »FUNDRAISER: Voz en Punto Fiesta
Join us after the Voz en Punto performance on Sunday, November 15, 2015 in the Marzitelli Foyer at The Ordway to sample the flavors of Mexico with drinks, mouth-watering appetizers, and a sing-along with Voz en Punto to support the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! education program. You will also have a chance to win top-drawer raffle prizes that include tickets to the sold-out A Prairie Home Companion show featuring the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, and dinner for four at Surly Brewer’s Table. $30 of…
Find out more »VINTAGE VOICES: Augustana Open Circle of Apple Valley Concert
Come and experience the sounds of the Vintage Voices Choir, Augustana Open Circle of Apple Valley's new chorus, in Songs of Love and Life, an exciting program featuring selections of jazz, blues, spirituals, folk songs and more! The concert is free and open to the public, with a reception following. Augustana Open Circle of Apple Valley is part of a new VocalEssence community engagement program called Vintage Voices, an exciting choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of…
Find out more »REMIX: VocalEssence ReMix Premieres
Register for the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota State Conference and you can attend the VocalEssence ReMix concert featuring four new choral works by Minnesota emerging composers Emily Feld, Michael Maiorana, Liam Moore and Daniel Smith, performed by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers with Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. Special Thanks This program is made possible through the generous support of the Jerome Foundation.
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