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Humorous Holiday Hits Program Notes

DEAR SANTA, HAVE YOU HAD THE MEASLES? Frank Kells, Al Arland, & Al Vann For a number of years the Ensemble Singers appeared with Philip Brunelle on Minnesota Public Radio each December with a program of humorous Christmas music that no one hears—this being one of the ‘gems.’ (SWEET ANGIE) THE CHRISTMAS TREE ANGEL M.K.…  Read More

Raise Your Voice and Give Back at ‘Together We Sing’ Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com RAISE YOUR VOICE AND GIVE BACK AT ‘TOGETHER WE SING’ FESTIVAL Join VocalEssence MLK weekend to sing in the tradition of social movements throughout history—January 19             MINNEAPOLIS — Dec. 7, 2018—Arts and community-building nonprofit VocalEssence is joining forces with the Minnesota Historical Society to make the…  Read More

A measured breath, but no rest for Golden Valley music mogul

byAlaina Rooke | December 5, 2018: https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_post/community/a-measured-breath-but-no-rest-for-golden-valley-music/article_74816f46-f75e-11e8-9af1-b771ceaf37f4.html Top Minnesota choir director and longtime resident Philip Brunelle looks to 50th year   “One of my mottos is you don’t know if you don’t ask,” explained Philip Brunelle of attracting top guest talent to VocalEssence, a premier choral organization he founded in 1969. “You have a 50-percent chance of…  Read More

10 best concerts to mark the holidays in choir-crazed Minnesota

By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune November 30, 2018 — 2:52PM: http://www.startribune.com/10-best-concerts-to-mark-the-holidays-in-choir-crazed-minnesota/501646651/ With so many Minnesota choirs, it can be difficult selecting the perfect concert. Here are 10 great options for the holidays. Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but music lovers have floated a new state motto: Land of 10,000…  Read More

Philip Brunelle talks about Welcome Christmas 2018

The Faire Starre is the latest “Welcome Christmas” commission of VocalEssence, following wonderful pieces by Libby Larsen, Conrad Susa and many others.  Nico Muhly is one of the ‘bright lights’ in the world of choral composers – his most recent success was his opera, Marnie, premiered at the Metropolitan Opera a month ago. The Faire…  Read More

Whether You’re An Anna, Elsa, Sven, or Olaf, You’re Invited to Join VocalEssence for Costumed Sing-Along Fun!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com WHETHER YOU’RE AN ANNA, ELSA, SVEN OR OLAF, YOU’RE INVITED TO JOIN VOCALESSENCE FOR COSTUMED SING-ALONG FUN! Members of the VocalEssence youth choir Singers Of This Age will lead all lovers of “Frozen” in a sing-along movie screening at the American Swedish Institute —Feb. 2             MINNEAPOLIS…  Read More

“Star of Wonder Reimagined” Concerts Welcome Young Listeners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com “STAR OF WONDER REIMAGINED” CONCERTS WELCOME YOUNG LISTENERS VocalEssence holiday shows for families move to Mia—Dec. 8 MINNEAPOLIS—October 23, 2018— “Concert manners” don’t apply when you’re filled with the holiday spirit, right? That’s why VocalEssence created Star of Wonder, a seasonal concert especially for families with toddlers…  Read More

First Solo Concert for VocalEssence Youth Choir to Celebrate Identity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com FIRST SOLO CONCERT FOR VOCALESSENCE YOUTH CHOIR TO CELEBRATE IDENTITY “Singers of This Age” (SOTA) choir welcomes special guests for inaugural performance in new VocalEssence Family Series—November 8             MINNEAPOLIS — October 23, 2018 — The first concert in the new VocalEssence Family Series, Identity, will be…  Read More

In Honor of the VocalEssence 50th Anniversary by Catherine Dehoney, President of Chorus America

I’m Catherine Dehoney, President of Chorus America, the research, professional development, and advocacy organization for choruses in North America. Philip asked me to keep my remarks “short and profound, like the Gettysburg Address”.  I’m not sure I can achieve ‘profound’, so I’ll try for ‘short’! Two score and 10 years ago, Philip Brunelle brought forth…  Read More

VocalEssence Mexico Tour is “Transformational”

VocalEssence has just returned from conducting some “choral diplomacy” in Mexico. The trip to Mexico City—from Aug. 26 to Sept. 3— was a historic one. For ten years, Philip Brunelle has been visiting Mexico to meet and audition composers willing to fly up to Minnesota multiple times during the school year for VocalEssence ¡Cantaré!, staying a…  Read More

Rhiannon Fiskradatz

Learning and Engagement Manager phone 612-547-1451 fax 612-547-1484 rhiannon@vocalessence.org Rhiannon Fiskradatz is a lifelong theatre artist whose work across a broad range of mediums displays a penchant for cross pollination. After earning a theatre arts degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities in 2002, Rhiannon built her multifaceted career performing physical theatre &…  Read More

VocalEssence on tour in Mexico; Peter Lorre series at the Trylon

By Pamela Espeland | 10:05 am August 31, 2018 https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2018/08/vocalessence-on-tour-in-mexico-peter-lorre-series-at-the-trylon/ The news about U.S.-Mexico relations continues to seesaw. After threats, tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, there’s a new free-trade deal in the works. There’s endless talk about a border wall and who will or won’t pay for it. ICE raids keep netting Mexican nationals. But this…  Read More

2018 Welcome Christmas Carol Contest Composers Announced

VocalEssence is pleased to announce the following winners of the 21st annual VocalEssence Welcome Christmas Carol Contest. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all who applied. Sponsored by the American Composers Forum and VocalEssence, the contest is open to composers of all ages, and this season composers were asked to write a carol…  Read More

Welcome Families!

Lucky you! You must have met one of the many VocalEssence fans who wants to share the magic with you. VocalEssence is a singing organization that has a vision to transform lives by singing together, assuring a place for everyone’s voice. Do you know a child who LOVES to sing? We have created a series…  Read More

How Philip Brunelle Became the Twin Cities’ Song Leader

Philip Brunelle has been the song leader of the Twin Cities for 50 years. But how he got there? It wasn’t all a joyful song. by Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl June 18, 2018: http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/how-philip-brunelle-became-the-twin-cities-song-leader/ Philip Brunelle is 75 years old and an international icon in choir circles, and if you follow him around on a typical Tuesday night…  Read More