2024-2025 Season Press Photos
To Download: Click on the image in the gallery below and a high resolution version will appear for download. For press/promotional use related to VocalEssence events only.
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Black-Owned Business and Artist Showcase
At this year’s WITNESS: Leading with Love concert, VocalEssence was thrilled to feature a showcase of Black makers and entrepreneurs who align themselves with the message of “leading with love.” Target Atrium at Orchestra Hall was bustling with activity on the day of the event. There were book readings, songs sung, improv comedy skits performed,…
VocalEssence WITNESS School Program
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…
VocalEssence Announces New Executive Director
MINNEAPOLIS—April 17, 2024—VocalEssence is pleased to announce that Amy Wielunski will join the internationally-renowned Twin Cities choral and community-building nonprofit in the role of executive director. A leader with 22 years of experience of cross-functional work at nonprofit organizations with local, state, and national reach, Wielunski was most recently vice-president of membership at Chicago Public…
2022-2023 Supporters
VocalEssence is blessed to have so many committed supporters. Thank you for all that you do to keep our community singing! Although we make every effort to ensure that our Honor Roll list is accurate and complete, we are capable of error. Please let us know if your name does not appear the way you…
Healing Beats Sessions
“Telling our stories takes time and space.”—Healing Beats Session Participant “We are all connected. We are all ancestors.”—Healing Beats Session Participant Over the past few months VocalEssence held Healing Beats Sessions led by Melanie DeMore at five sites around the Twin Cities. Melanie DeMore has expertise in the traditions of the Gullah persons from the…
Philip Brunelle Featured on Connect the Dots
Choral music called … and Philip Brunelle answered “Connect the Dots” from Minnesota Now | February 20, 2024 Cathy Wurzer, Chris Farrell and Ellen Finn Philip Brunelle has done it all. Currently, he’s the founder and artistic director of VocalEssence. VocalEssence is based at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. Brunelle has led the choir for 55 years. A…
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Share their Voices to Celebrate 100th Anniversary of Beth El Synagogue
On Sunday, January 28, 2024, the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age joined a consortium of choirs from around the Twin Cities in a song share celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park. The mood was festive as songs were sung in myriad languages and ensembles positioned all around the space…
Philip Brunelle Shares 5 Facts on Minnesota Live
Philip Brunelle made an appearance on Minnesota Live on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Click the button below to watch Philip share 5 facts about himself and his musical career. Watch Now
VocalEssence Annual Report 2022-2023
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.…
VocalEssence Holiday Programming 2023
VocalEssence has several opportunities to listen and watch over the holidays. Here are the ways you can enjoy VocalEssence programming: VocalEssence On Demand Enjoy inspiration on your schedule! This digital content is available whenever and wherever! View our digital releases-including the newly released highlights from Welcome Christmas 2023 at Northrop, the 2021-2022 Digital Season, single…
Where in the World Are the Conductors? October 2023
Philip Brunelle: The 55th VocalEssence season is in full swing and Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director, is delighted to be rehearsing music for the October 29 opening concert with the Ensemble Singers and the Chorus. In late August he spent 10 days in Brittany and then visited daughter Elise and family in Vermont…
VocalEssence Welcomes New Board Members
VocalEssence is thrilled to announce the addition of six new members to its Board of Directors. The VocalEssence Board of Directors serve as ambassadors for the organization in the larger community. They also guide VocalEssence in all major policy decisions while ensuring the financial stability of the 55-year-old nonprofit. “I’m delighted to welcome our new…
Emma Jirele Sandhurst
Engagement and Communications Manager phone 612-547-1457 emma@vocalessence.org Emma Jirele Sandhurst joined the team at VocalEssence in the summer of 2023. As Engagement and Communications Manager, Emma supports the programmatic, communications,… Read More →
Where in the World Are the Conductors? August 2023
Philip Brunelle: This month has been full of celebrations for Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director. On August 14, the rain stopped and the clouds parted as 120 of Philip’s closest friends joined him in celebrating his 80th birthday at the home of Marilyn Carlson Nelson. It was a wonderful celebration of food, singing,…