In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Daniel Kallman. Daniel Kallman b.1956 Daniel Kallman, an American composer, is known for his steady stream of commissions that includes music for worship, theater, and the young musician. His musical training included studies at Luther… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Janika Vandervelde. Janika Vandervelde b. 1955 Janika Vandervelde is an American composer, pianist, and music educator, whose work, notable for its feminist and ecological themes, has won numerous awards. Born in Ripon, Wisconsin, she began… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Alvin Singleton. Alvin Singleton b.1940 Alvin Singleton is an African-American composer and educator known for his prolific compositions for orchestra, theatre, and chamber ensembles. Singleton was born in Brooklyn, New York and attended New York… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Paul Fetler. Paul Fetler 1920-2018 Paul Fetler was born in the United States but spent his youth in Latvia where the influences of Russian culture made a great impression upon him. At age six, he… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Andrew Carter. Andrew Carter b. 1939 Andrew Carter is an English composer, conductor, and arranger whose choral works, many of which are published by Oxford University Press. Born into a Leicestershire family of tower and… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Robert Wetzler. Robert Wetzler b. 1932 Robert Wetzler is an American composer, organist, and choirmaster based in Minneapolis, MN, well-known for his sacred choral works. Wetzler earned his Bachelor of Arts from Thiel College and… Read More →
By Pamela Espeland | MINNPOST PUBLISHED: January 20, 2021 ‘Some Kind of Heaven’ is one kind of retirement; ‘Bolerobolero, the Film’ to premiere ALSO: VocalEssence’s “Believe” streaming now; Dominic Taylor’s “Cell Surface”; and more. A scene from “Some Kind of Heaven.” Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures Many people first heard of The Villages, the largest retirement community in… Read More →
By BECCA MOST | bmost@pioneerpress.com | St. Paul Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: January 14, 2021 at 9:12 p.m. | UPDATED: January 14, 2021 at 10:45 p.m. https://www.twincities.com/2021/01/14/ways-to-celebrate-mlk-day-in-the-twin-cities/ Although the pandemic has prevented many from celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday in person this year, many events will still take place virtually. Saturday, Jan. 16 The VocalEssence… Read More →
There is so much excitement about Welcome Christmas this season! Check out the articles and videos below and make sure to watch Almanac on Twin Cities PBS (TPT) from 7-8 PM CST on Friday, December 18th to see a preview of Welcome Christmas! Minnesota Public Radio News Interview with Cathy Wurzer and G. Phillip Shoultz,… Read More →
By Amy Melin | Twin Cities PBS https://www.tptoriginals.org/a-pandemic-didnt-stop-this-choir-from-singing/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post-mno&utm_campaign=&utm_term=&utm_content=pandemic-choir&fbclid=IwAR2LJLX2MpMIUFD5wdvl5ZE14vBdo3yLwlQ1kiBk-HRTvUhaCOWkHNlSljA When COVID-19 first showed up in the U.S., G. Phillip Shoultz III, like many Americans, had no idea what was ahead. “All of us naively thought this is just going to be a few weeks and we’ll get back to our lives,” he reflects. But the director of… Read More →
By John Birge | Your Classical Published: Sunday, December 6 “Welcome Christmas” Carol Contest Synopsis On today’s date in 1998, two brand-new Christmas carols debuted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the “Welcome Christmas” choral concert of VocalEssence conducted by Philip Brunelle. The two carols, “Sweet Noel” by Joan Griffith and “The Virgin’s Cradle Hymn” by Richard… Read More →
By Rob Hubbard | Star Tribune PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 3, 2020 — 4:09PM Our guide to virtual holiday concerts for classical fans. HAVIN’ A BLAST EVENTS VocalEssence Welcome Christmas Yet one more loss to mourn this year is that of the holiday concert. Whether your December destination is Orchestra Hall, the Ordway or a local church, COVID-19… Read More →
By ROSS RAIHALA | rraihala@pioneerpress.com | Pioneer Press PUBLISHED: November 29, 2020 at 5:28 a.m. | UPDATED: November 29, 2020 at 9:48 a.m. https://www.twincities.com/2020/11/29/holiday-arts-guide-from-blenders-to-brickman-music-traditions-continue-online/ Nearly all of this year’s holiday concerts are virtual, but many familiar faces both local (the Blenders, Lorie Line, the SPCO) and national (Jim Brickman, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) have planned online events… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III shared their experience recording the Welcome Christmas concert this year in partnership with Twin Cities PBS (TPT). It took more than $75,000 to fund this partnership with TPT, and to date we have raised $64,506! If you are interested in continuing to support the… Read More →
Buy local this weekend to support your favorite choir! Use code SALE20 for 20% off the items listed below. Offer expires on Monday, November 30th at 11:59 PM. Imagine Single Stream Find JOY and HOPE as the voices of our youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age help you imagine a world where the… Read More →
