MAY 7, 2020 — 10:58AM https://www.startribune.com/virtual-entertainment-picks-huge-theater-vocalessence-musician-s-benefit/570274862/ VocalEssence Virtual Projects Ongoing: Leave it to ever-enterprising Philip Brunelle, founder of the Twin Cities ensemble VocalEssence, to provide some pandemic music even without his award-winning choir. Every weekday at noon, he offers a “Musical Moment” in which he highlights a composer — Friday’s program will feature Mexico’s Gerardo…  Read More →

By ROB HUBBARD | Special to the Pioneer Press March 28, 2020 at 1:37 p.m. Article: https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/28/coronavirus-classical-what-you-can-do-to-get-an-earful-of-orchestra-or-opera/ While you sometimes have to look long and hard to find positives amid the COVID-19 crisis, one may be that folks who used to think of themselves as consumers of art now recognize that they are part of an artistic…  Read More →

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 Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune Published: FEBRUARY 17, 2020 — 8:40AM http://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-explores-deep-roots-of-african-american-music-the-week-s-best-classical-concerts/567887142/ Bearing ‘Witness’ Thirty years ago, Philip Brunelle’s choir VocalEssence initiated a project called “Witness,” which aimed to “celebrate the artistic contributions of African-Americans to the fine arts and to our common cultural heritage.” The anniversary is marked this week…  Read More →

Multiple authors | Star Tribune February 14, 2020 – 11:10 PM: http://www.startribune.com/best-of-the-week-feb-16-23-tove-lo-joe-henry-gotta-dance-raphael-saadiq-vocalessence-winter-fest-more/567872132/ Behold Lo Like a raunchier and rowdier version of her fellow Swedish export Robyn, electro-pop singer Tove Lo has made a bigger splash in dance clubs and viral listening quarters than on pop radio, earning her a sizable underground following. She sticks to…  Read More →