The VocalEssence WITNESS School Program is an exciting opportunity for Minnesota students and teachers to learn more about the contributions African Americans have made, and are making, to the fine arts and to our shared cultural heritage. Register for the 2025-2026 VocalEssence WITNESS School Program today! Good news: there’s still space at the 12:45 PM concert! Don’t…
FEATURING: Melanie DeMore, guest artist VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age VocalEssence Vintage Voices Casey Rafn, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
In 2022-2023 VocalEssence completed an extended strategic planning process that included revised mission, vision, and values statements and new strategic imperatives to achieve the impact we wish to have in society. VocalEssence celebrates singing as an essential human expression. Artistic quality, passion for singing together, and reputation for engaging people are hallmarks of our impact.…
FEATURING: Moira Smiley, guest artist VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Sonja Thompson, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
VocalEssence celebrates singing as an essential human expression. Artistic quality, passion for singing together, and reputation for engaging people are hallmarks of our impact. As our community changes, we have developed this strategic plan to address our future in three key areas, keeping singing together at the center of our work.
“INSPIRED”—was the word used most frequently by patrons to describe their engagement with VocalEssence during the 2021-2022 season. Inspiration was at the center of everything we did this year: Our Chorus and Ensemble Singers were inspired to return to singing in person at venues ranging from Orchestra Hall to the Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit…
FEATURING: Joe Davis and The Poetic Diaspora VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age VocalEssence Vintage Voices Kristianna Marks, soprano soloist Mary Jo Gothmann, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor G . Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor
Share your Voice Would you be willing to give us some quick feedback? To tell us how we did, click one of the buttons below. Student Survey Teacher…
Welcome from the LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT TEAM Thank you for registering for VocalEssence WITNESS! Enjoy these free resources funded by institutions and individual donors. Scroll down to view a variety of resources created by curriculum writer Joanna Cortright and the VocalEssence Learning and Engagement team staff. We hope you and your students will use and…
VocalEssence Teaching Artists explore the yearly program theme through the lens of their artistic discipline, creating an integrative academic experience for students combining the study of African American culture with art, music, social studies, literature, character building, and other areas of school curriculum. VocalEssence Teaching Artists Timothy Berry, Vocalist/Composer/Percussionist Patricia Brown, Dance Instructor/Choreographer Traiveon (Trai)…
Sing a wide range of music—from classical to hip-hop & everything in between Perform in world-class venues—Orchestra Hall, The Ordway Center for Performing Arts Awaken your creativity by studying voice, dance, theatre, and… Read More →
Musician/Pianist Anita Ruth has been active in the Twin Cities theatrical and musical circles for over 35 years. After serving as musical director for over 80 shows at the Chanhassen Dinner… Read More →
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age is a dynamic group of 50 young people from Twin Cities high schools who sing, dance, write their own music, rap, and—most importantly—reflect the diversity… Read More →
The Reatha Clark King Award for Excellence and Youth Motivation through the Cultural Arts was developed by VocalEssence in 2007 to celebrate and recognize outstanding leaders who are in the… Read More →
