By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune Published: FEBRUARY 18, 2020 — 10:57AM http://www.startribune.com/for-30-years-vocalessence-s-witness-program-has-celebrated-black-music/567972202/ G. Phillip Shoultz III brings the Witness program to 40 schools each year. “Thirty years ago, Black History Month was just a mention on Minnesota Public Radio, and maybe a concert here or there. There wasn’t anything sustained here…  Read More →

by Tom Weber weber@postbulletin.com | PostBulletin Published: December 10, 2019, https://www.postbulletin.com/life/lifestyles/twin-cities-ensembles-offer-christmas-concerts-in-rochester/article_08f28392-16ab-11ea-ad07-978e1f6ac6f9.html The Rose Ensemble will perform a concert of early American music Saturday in Rochester. (Contributed photo) Two of Minnesota’s iconic music groups, the Rose Ensemble and VocalEssence, will perform back-to-back holiday concerts this weekend in Rochester. In the case of the Rose Ensemble, which…  Read More →

By Pamela Espeland | MinnPost PUBLISHED: December 13, 2019 ww.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/12/all-is-calm-is-filmed-for-pbs-dog-act-at-gremlin-theatre/?fbclid=IwAR3d67FHcl0-DNebJRQ8ox8Jc32orIvL_NonUv7M8IDnM8Bi3snSwre2Vr0 Photo by Joseph Scheller Theater Latté Da spent part of this week with a film crew from New York Public Media (WNET). They were there to film Peter Rothstein’s award-winning “All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” for national broadcast on PBS in 2020. For three days,…  Read More →

By ROB HUBBARD | Special to the Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: November 25, 2019 at 12:37 pm | UPDATED: November 25, 2019 at 6:37 pm https://www.twincities.com/2019/11/25/holiday-arts-guide-2019-classical-music-has-many-flavors-of-the-sounds-of-the-season/ Not one “Messiah,” but a few, including a bilingual version. Holiday fare sung in sweet harmony by ensembles of various sizes. And some carols that swing. That’s what’s in store for you as you head…  Read More →

Sons of Norway Blog | October 10th, 2019 https://www.sofn.com/blog/celebrate-our-125th-anniversary-with-music-from-norways-top-composer/​​​​​​​ As part of the celebration for our upcoming 125th Anniversary in 2020, Sons of Norway has commissioned a musical work from renowned Norwegian composer Kim Andre Arneson. Just in time for Christmas, this new work will have its world premiere in a series of four performances in…  Read More →

David Vogels: The American Organist TAO August 2019 Many of you recognize Philip Brunelle as a world-class choral conductor, based on his tenure with Plymouth Congregational Church and the VocalEssence ensemble in Minneapolis—he’s currently celebrating his 50th anniversary with both organizations. You may also know him as an opera conductor and a director of music festivals…  Read More →