Welcome to Global Rhythms, Minnesota Voices, a celebration of America’s diverse musical traditions with a distinctively Minnesotan flavor.

Global Rhythms, Minnesota Voices highlights three important values that define our work at VocalEssence. First, this afternoon’s concert features an intergenerational choir representing singers from all four performing entities of the organization. With singers ranging from age eleven to ninety, we are putting our belief of “Together We Sing” into practice. Singing together is at the core of our vision to transform lives through experiences with choral music that elicit conversation, create connections, inspire action, and lead to meaningful change. We believe singing together draws us into community and allows us to learn from and grow with each other. It provides a space for us to reflect, acknowledge, and honor the differences that make us unique.

Second, VocalEssence has embraced Minnesota artists, for fifty-seven years, establishing a rich tradition of meaningful collaborations with artists and ensembles who perform in traditions outside the mold that shapes much of our choral tradition. This program spotlights some of our unique collaborations and includes selections that were commissioned by VocalEssence or composed for our ensembles and program initiatives.

Finally, this concert embodies our mission to affirm the value of all persons and nurture singing communities that reflect and respond to the rich tapestry of people and cultures that make up Minnesota. Today you will hear selections showcasing the versatility of the human voice with music representing many of the global traditions rooted here in the Twin Cities and throughout our state.

From the Georgia Sea Islands by way of South Africa, we hear voices of the youth calling out to the elders in Khumbaya. The community assembles to invite the presence of the creative and life-giving force to support us as we acknowledge our pain and keep our eyes fixed on a more hopeful and just future.

Micah 6:8 and Into the Fire: In 2017, esteemed Minnesota composer and VocalEssence mentor, Carol Barnett composed Mortals and Angels: A Bluegrass Te Deum  as a follow up to her ground breaking composition The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass. Both compositions were commissioned by VocalEssence with the world premiere performances including the highly regarded bluegrass band, Monroe Crossing. As a bonus part of that performance, Carol arranged these Monroe Crossing standards for the choir to perform alongside the band.

If I Were Bird: Melanie DeMore is one of our most beloved collaborators, having served as our WITNESS guest artist on three occasions. Melanie visits VocalEssence frequently for unique projects including our Songs from the Heart Initiative at the Longfellow Alternative School for Pregnant and Parenting Teens (funded through a Chorus America Music Education Grant) and our Healing Beats Sessions with students, community members, and police. If I Were Bird is featured on our most recent collaboration, the album How to Hold On: Songs of Comfort and Solace which Melanie released with the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers.

Excerpt from Sarojini (The Real Nations Builders) and Jayjakar!: Shruthi Rajasekar first joined the VocalEssence family of collaborators as a participant in our ReMix program for young composers. Recognizing her giftedness, we commissioned her to write Jayjaykar! Rooted in the choral tradition of India and the musical forms of Hindu and Sufi Islam worship, Jayjaykar! brings together worship in a joyful celebration from the perspective of Christians who live in South Asia.  In the fall of 2025, VocalEssence was thrilled to once again join forces with Shruthi to present the US premiere of Sarojini, an extended work that celebrates the role Sarojini Naidu played in India’s fight for independence. We are thrilled to share an excerpt that features Nirmala Rajasekar, a world renowned Carnatic vocalist and vainika, who also happens to be Shruthi’s mother.

Son de la Vida: José Galvan composed this joy-filled and festive celebration of life for VocalEssence ¡Cantaré!—an initiative that builds musical bridges between Mexico and Minnesota (and beyond with our franchised partners!) by placing composers in classrooms to create original music based on conversation and community building. Son de la Vida was originally premiered by the Anoka High School Concert Choir and quickly made its way into the repertoire of Galvan’s ensemble Voz En Punto.

Excerpts from A Suite of Spirituals (Steal Away and Mary Was the Queen of Galilee): Conceived in conversation between composer B.E. Boykin and Associate Artistic Director, G. Phillip Shoultz, III where the two realized that not only do they share a passion for the Negro spiritual, they both have a vision to bring more choral-orchestral settings of the art form to the concert hall, Steal Away and Mary Was the Queen of Galilee were commissioned as part of A Suite of Spirituals by VocalEssence and each received its world premiere in February of 2026. Today’s performance features the premiere of a reduced orchestration for chamber ensemble. B.E. Boykin has a gift for bringing music to life in a way that channels of her experiences from the Black church to the conservatory. VocalEssence is elated to collaborate with her in this way after having performed several of her compositions in our most recent seasons.

Imagine: One of the highlights of the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA) initiative is the desire to give participants an opportunity to create original works of art that share their unique voice with the world. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic one of our charter members, Kayla Gibson, composed this beautiful anthem of hope, resilience, and encouragement as a solo. We are delighted to welcome Kayla back and to share newly added choral accompaniment for today’s performance.

When Music Sounds: John Rutter’s relationship with Philip Brunelle and VocalEssence dates back many years. In 2018, Rutter returned to the Twin Cities to lead our spring concert. As part of that program he presented Philip with this lovely anthem and also conducted the world premiere performance at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The text is based on the poetry of Walter de la Mare and it eloquently captures essence of music’s role in uplifting and nourishing our spirits.

I Know I Been Changed: One of our most recent additions to the VocalEssence collaborator family, we are honored to welcome a dynamic young artist who bears a name that is legendary in the Twin Cities. Jhadiya Steele is only 22 years old, yet her voice possesses a maturity beyond her age and and it will inspire each of us to be changed and create good in the world.

See Me: We feature our SOTA singers in this Raymond Wise anthem that affirms their desire to be seen and heard for who they are and not who others want them to be. This is a core value of our work as organization, and is especially present in our work with young people as we encourage them to live out their truth with courage and conviction.

Hands: Our friend Jocelyn Hagen composed this wordless anthem for the World Choral Symposium. We close today’s performance with an invitation to open and extend our hands. We can open our hands to conversations and to communication across lines that divide. We can consider holding hands with those who may have opinions and beliefs different from ours knowing that we inhabit this beautiful world together and we all belong to one another. If we sing together, perhaps we can be courageous enough to see the good in each other and strive to care for one another.

Thank you again for attending today’s performance. I hope you leave with a renewed awareness of the great diversity of experiences that comprise this wonderful land that we share. I trust that you will be encouraged and commit to do something to promote the common good and care for our siblings who live around us.

—G. Phillip Shoultz, III
Associate Artistic Director, VocalEssence

Please hold your applause until the conclusion of the program.

Khumbaya
Negro Spiritual, arr. Lucas Bok (2010)
As performed by the Soweto Gospel Choir

Micah 6:8
Lisa Fuglie and Mark Anderson, arr. Carol Barnett (2017)
Featuring Monroe Crossing

If I Were Bird
Melanie DeMore (2025)

Excerpt from Sarojini
The Real Nation-Builders
Shruthi Rajasekar (2022)
Nirmala Rajasekar, soloist

Son de la Vida
José Galván Castañeda (2014)

From A Suite of Spirituals
Steal Away
Mary Was the Queen of Galilee
B. E. Boykin (2025)

Jayjaykar!
Shruthi Rajasekar (2018)

Imagine
Kayla Gibson, arr. Kyle Pederson and G. Phillip Shoultz, III (2020)
Kayla Gibson, soloist

When Music Sounds
John Rutter (2018)

Into the Fire
Lisa Fuglie, arr. Carol Barnett
Featuring Monroe Crossing

I Know I Been Changed
Based on a traditional Negro Spiritual
As performed by LaShun Pace
Jhadiya Steele, soloist

See Me
Raymond Wise (2022)

Hands
Jocelyn Hagen (2017)

 

KHUMBAYA, arranged for Soweto Gospel Choir by Lucas Bok (2010)
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
—Traditional Spiritual

MICAH 6:8, Lisa Fuglie and Mark Anderson, arr. Carol Barnett (2017)
The wrongs of one to another can seem too much to understand.
We hate in turns, we never learn.

An eye for an eye leaves both blind. It’s a pound of flesh for an ounce of crime
And no one wins, the wheel just spins.

CHORUS
He has shown you, oh man, what is good; what does Yahweh require of you?
Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.

Let mercy fall like gentle rain,
without compulsion, without strain.
When grace is real, we all can heal.
When we forgive another’s debt,
we free ourselves to love, and yet
We honor those we miss the most.

This light of mine is not my own;
It shines from these few seeds I’ve sown.
On just terrain will mercy reign.
—Lisa Fuglie and Mark Anderson

IF I WERE BIRD, Melanie DeMore (2025)
If I were bird, if I were sky
Then in a dream I’d surely fly
Beyond the sun, then to the moon
If I were bird.

If I were whale, if I were sea
My song would sing eternity
From oceans deep to earthen core
If I were whale.

If I were tree, if I were grove
My roots would grow throughout the world
Connecting all both far and wide
If I were tree.
—Melanie DeMore

EXCERPT FROM SAROJINI, THE REAL NATION-BUILDERS, Shruthi Rajasekar (2022)

For our dear land do we offer oblation to
Goddess Lakshmi the Lotus-born.
Guard the invincible hope of our nation,
Keep her glory unsullied unshorn.

Goddess Lakshmi, grant us showers and sheaves of thy blessing.
Goddess Lakshmi, life and our land await their destin’d spring.

The Indian woman of today is once more awake, profoundly alive.
To her destiny as the guardian of the Vision of national life.

In our hist’ry it was Indian women,
Who’d kindle, sustain the fires of the nation.

Men have dared to say to women, “Go this far and no further.”
Yet women soar beyond these limits.

For we are the real nation builders.
It is not you, but we, who are the nation builders.
We soar beyond the limits, cross the waves and go further.
—Shruthi Rajesekar

SON DE LA VIDA, José Galván Castañeda (2018)
Sung in Spanish
Gentlemen, I suggest,
That life is to be enjoyed,
Gentlemen, this I suggest to you.

Don’t agonize about the future,
The past is only a joke now,
It’s better to enjoy the present,
The present is the only thing that exists.

That’s why it’s better for us to enjoy
Life’s groovy beat.

Sometimes I break down and cry
Because my heart aches,
But it doesn’t hurt as much
Whenever I sing this song.

When I have money
I enjoy it with all my heart
But when I don’t have a penny
I have fun anyway, dancing to the beat of this song.

This is the way we sing in México,
With love and with passion,
And with our throats wide open,
Giving our hearts away.
—José Galván Castañeda

FROM A SUITE OF SPIRITUALS, arr. B.E. Boykin
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

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

JAYJAYKAR! Shruthi Rajasekar (2018)
Sung in Hindi
Victory to the Lord, Praise the Lord!
Praise be to You, Jesus Christ

He embodies absolute kindness
He wants only the best for everyone
He loves everyone

He lifts up those who have fallen
He removes all our burdens
Your greatness is boundless
—Pastor Anil Kant, tranlation by Nirmala Rajasekar

 

IMAGINE, Kayla Gibson, arr. Kyle Pederson and G. Phillip Shoultz, III (2020)
Never give up. It’s gonna be alright, just don’t give up.
Stuck in the dark. Reach up, I pull you out.
The people around will be alright, just find the light.
We are together through the fight, standing side by side.

Imagine a world that looked that good.
A dream come true.
United day and night;
Imagine.

So never give up. It’s gonna be alright, just don’t give up.
Stuck in the dark. Reach up, we’ll pull you out.
The people around, they’ll be alright, help them find the light.
We are together through the fight, standing side by side.

Imagine a world that looked that good.
Imagine.
United day and night;
Imagine.
—Kayla Gibson

WHEN MUSIC SOUNDS, John Rutter (2018)
When music sounds, gone is the earth I know,
And all her lovely things even lovelier grow,
Her flowers in vision flame, her forest trees
Lift burdened branches, stilled with ecstasies.
When music sounds, out of the water rise
Naiads whose beauty dims my waking eyes,
Rapt in strange dreams burns each enchanted face,
With solemn echoing stirs their dwelling-place.
When music sounds, all that I was I am
Ere to this haunt of brooding dust I came;
While from Time’s woods break into distant song
The swift-winged hours, as I hasten along.
—Walter de la Mare

 

INTO THE FIRE, Lisa Fuglie, arr. Carol Barnett
Three men don’t know what to do.
How can they turn their back on God?
King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Your God is not the truth.
Renounce, or you must go

Into the fire.
Go into the fire,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.”
And they went into the fire.

How can this be? There are not three
But four, standing in the flames.
This king will concede, “Bring them to me.
Their God is the One who saves

From the fire.”
They went into the fire,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Not alone in the fire,
There were four in the fire.

When those who wield the power say you must do
That which goes against our God,
Don’t be afraid. You are not alone;
Have faith, even as you go

Into the fire.
Go into the fire
Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Feed the hungry, clothe the poor.
When they knock, open up your door.
God is seen in everyone.
Let us pray His kingdom comes.
Love your brother as yourself.
Love defies the fires of Hell.
Illuminate the false command;
Take a step for God and man.

Step into the fire,
Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
They went into the fire,
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
—Lisa Fuglie

I KNOW I’VE BEEN CHANGED, As performed by LaShun Pace (1991)
Refrain: I know I’ve been changed
I know I’ve been changed.
Angels in Heaven done signed my name.

Well, if you don’t believe that I’ve been redeemed,
The angels in Heaven done signed my name.
Oh, follow me down to that old Jordan stream.

I stepped in the water and the water was cold.
Oh, it chilled my body but not my soul. Refrain:

Somebody said, how can a brown cow eat green grass
And give you white milk? Well, if you think that’s something
God’s chemical laboratory of redemption took my black soul
And dipped it in red blood. And I came out white as snow. Refrain:
—Based on a traditional Negro Spiritual

SEE ME, Raymond Wise (2016)
See me, I’m not my brother or my sister
See me, I’m not my mother or my father
There’s more to me than you see
I have hopes, I have dreams, I have vision
Just like any other person in this whole wide world
I want the chance to be, but you must see me

See me, I am beautiful and smart
See me, I’m a living work of art
There’s more to me than you see
I have hopes, I have dreams, I have vision
Just like any other person in this whole wide world
I want the chance to be, but you must see me

Refrain: Can’t you see beneath the color of my skin
To see that I am just like you
Can’t you hear beyond the words that I say
To hear that I have dreams too
Until we see beneath, Hear beyond
Face the truth, That I’m just like you
We can’t come together Until you see me

See me, I’ve got the answers to your problems
See me, if you allow me we can solve them
There’s more to me than you see
I have hopes, I have dreams, I have vision
Just like any other person in this whole wide world
I want the chance to be, but you must see me. Refrain:
—Text by Raymond Wise

HANDS, Jocelyn Hagen (2017)
Hands is a vocalise, a song without words.

MONROE CROSSING
Monroe Crossing performs an electrifying blend of traditional and original bluegrass music, as well as some surprising songs outside the genre. Named in honor of Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music, Monroe Crossing’s superb musicianship and on-stage rapport have entertained audiences throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, Monroe Crossing has been entertaining audiences for over 25 years, performing over 2,600 shows. Whether appearing in an intimate room, community theater, major venue or outdoor festival, Monroe Crossing always presents a highly entertaining show making them favorites among bluegrass connoisseurs and non-bluegrass audiences alike!

NIRMALA RAJASEKAR, Soloist
Nirmala Rajasekar is one of the premier Saraswathi veena players in the world today. A dynamic performer and composer, she has appeared at leading venues in India and internationally, including Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav (Pune), the Music Academy (Chennai), the Sydney Music Festival (Australia), and the Rumi International Festival (Turkey). Celebrated as a “Carnatic Ambassador,” Nirmala is known for her innovative performances, solo renditions, and collaborations that have captivated audiences globally.

Born in Chennai, Nirmala began performing professionally at age 13 and trained under renowned gurus including Prof. Kalpakam Swaminathan and Prof. T.R. Subramaniam. Her music reflects a deep parampara lineage while showcasing her unique creativity and expressive presentation.

Nirmala is also a distinguished composer, educator, and leader. She founded the Naadha Rasa Center for Music and the charitable organization Naadharasa, supporting musicians and promoting Indian classical music. She serves as Vice President of the Global Carnatic Musicians’ Association and was Chair of the Board of the American Composers Forum, the first India-born woman to hold this position.

Recipient of the Bush Fellowship, the McKnight Fellowship, the Kalaimamani Award from the Government of Tamil Nadu and the 2023 A.P. Anderson Award for contributions to Minnesota’s cultural life, Nirmala continues to inspire audiences, students, and composers worldwide.

JHADIYA STEELE
At just 22, Jhadiya is already making waves in gospel and soul music. Grounded in the legendary Steele family legacy and boldly carving her own path, she is a dynamic vocalist, writer, composer, and worship leader with a voice full of power, precision, and spirit.

VIOLIN
Kseniya Khvashchynskaya

VIOLA
Anne Ainomee

OBOE
Sarah Carmack

BASSOON
Matt Bertrand

TRUMPET
Graham Taylor

HORN
Alex Henton

PERCUSSION
Will Kemperman

PIANO
Casey Rafn

VocalEssence affirms the value of all persons and seeks to nurture singing communities that reflect and respond to the rich tapestry of people and cultures that make up Minnesota.

TOGETHER WE SING
Together We Sing sums up our belief that singing is an essential form of human expression. We believe everyone can sing, and when we join our voices together, our country and our world is better for it.

Singing together is at the core of our vision to transform lives through experiences with choral music that elicit conversation, create connections, inspire action, and lead to meaningful change. We believe singing together draws us into community and allows us to learn from and grow with each other. It provides a space for us to reflect, acknowledge, and honor the differences that make us unique. It is in this way that we have been, currently are, and continue to be a catalyst for change among singers, audiences, choral organizations, and communities.

While the priorities of government and philanthropic entities may fluctuate and shift around us, VocalEssence remains firmly rooted in our core values of presenting rarely performed works, lifting up historically excluded voices, and sharing the stories, experiences, and musical traditions of all peoples.

When we unite with our community of artists and audiences, we move forward in the hope that our singing together contributes to more kindness, compassion, and love in the world.

Together we sing…

to share the stories of Minnesotans.

to celebrate the musical traditions of the world.

to lift up voices not heard.

to advocate for structural social change.

to fight injustice.

to lead with love.

TOGETHER WE SING

To Lead with Love is to acknowledge that everyone deserves the right to live in a world that allows them to be fully alive and thrive. Leading with love is not just a choice that we make or a mindset that we adopt, it is cultivating the practice of belovedness and hospitality each and every day.

The Lead with Love pledge is comprised of twelve statements that invite us to nurture habits of caring and connection.

I will LISTEN.
I will ENCOURAGE others to be the best versions of themselves.
I will ASK questions so I can better understand the perspectives of those around me.
I will DEEPEN my awareness of the needs that exist in our communities.

I will WORK with others to strengthen our communities.
I will INVEST my time, talents, and resources to help improve the lives of those around me.
I will TAKE TIME for reflection and TAKE ACTION when the situation calls for it.
I will HOLD OTHERS UP when they experience difficulties and disappointments.

I will LET MY VOICE BE HEARD and speak up in the face of injustice.
I will OPEN DOORS through conversation and compromise.
I will VALIDATE the differences that make us unique.
I will EMBRACE changes that allow us to better live in community with one another.

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.

SOPRANO
Ann Ambach
AnnaLisa Anderson
Madison Asher
Jessica Belt
Christine Boone
Ashley Brandt
Kate Brinkert
Corey Cellurale
Lorinda Chagnon
Marie Colangelo
Amanda Connolly
Emily Dyrdahl
Katie Eilers
Eva Gibney-Jones
Lillian Gray
Kristina M. Guiffre
Becca Hovsepian
Sally Jaffray
Elinor Jones
Maggie Koebele
Laura Langan
Christina Pederson
Alexa Rosenbaum
Mary Salveson
Emily D. Seifers
Ashley Slattery
Leah Sovick
Dana Terres
Amanda Troolin
Kat True
Jen Vickerman Akaolisa
Dannika Wright

ALTO
Johanna Beaupre
Jo Michelle Beld
Maria Coughlan
Maggie Driemeyer
Marjorie Hakala
Brianna Hill
Tori Hornby
Emma Jirele Sandhurst
Katie Kovacovich
Annie Krishnan
Jeenee Lee
Lark Lewis
Ana Leyva
Carly Lunden
Kristi Mueller
Elizabeth Neuenfeldt
Jillian Paulson
Marty Raymond
Miriam Sahouani
Erin Sandsmark
Katie Sandsmark
Sydney Schoeberle
Alyssa Shapiro
Sarah Taft
Allie Wigley

TENOR
Erik Adolphson
Steve Aggergaard
Brett Bacon
Larry J Brandts
Bjorn Christ
Dante Colmenares
Ryan Coopergard
Alexander Cox
Ben Demaree
James Feltes II
Kurtis Parlin
Thomas Sasdi
Peter Carlson Schattauer

BASS
Robert Atendido
Seth R. Bresky
David Castro
Garret Fettig
Adam Hecker
Russ Kaplan
Jordan Kiffmeyer
Devin Knopf
Jeff League
Phil Lowry
Nicholas Marcouiller
Thomas Mondry
Nicholas Mroczek
David Olson
Grant Spickelmier
Jacob Weindling

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
Elsa Buck
Chloe Johnson
JoAnna Johnson
Kathryn Rupp
Mari Scott
Carey Shunskis

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

TENOR
Will Berendsen
Jared Campbell
Eli Gatlin-Baumgartner
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

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.

Ruby Atkins
Isadora “Isa” Blons
Noa Butler
Quinn Combs
Susanna Cowan
Jayla Ferguson
Iris Ferris
Zsuzsa Gallo
Sage Herringshaw
Amos Lucken Hills
Christ Tha Lay Htoo
Hser Htoo
Soren Johnson
Finley “Fin” Jones
Sasha Jordan
Cole Keller
Annah King
Olive Kirk
Isabella Lah
Emma Miller
Henrik Mills
Bailee Norman
Claire Oberheide
Ian Oberheide
Leah Odegaard-
Dunning
Claire Patterson
Zola Ranum
Jake Rowell
Bailey Schneeberg
Danny Shavor
Aurora Silpala
Avery Somdahl
Sarah Tha
Moua Kong Thao
Yawn Ye Thao
Za Zoua Thao
Adra Vang
Alice Weiland
Esther Wildebuer
LJ Wildebuer
Lacha Yang

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

Carolina 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

VocalEssence has a large group of committed supporters and is honored by the many gifts received in memory, appreciation, and celebration of friends and family that are too many to list in this concert program.

Please click the button below to see a full list of supporters and special tributes.

VocalEssence Supporters

Paul Gerike