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VOCALESSENCE PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS HOME STATE WITH “CALL OF THE NORTH”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS HOME STATE WITH “CALL OF THE NORTH” Minnesota choral ensemble presents an evening (or afternoon or morning – you choose!) of uniquely Minnesotan music and poetry MINNEAPOLIS — February 5, 2021 — VocalEssence has spent much of its half century celebrating sounds and voices from all corners of the globe. Now the celebrated vocal ensemble is taking its… Read More →

COVID-19 UPDATE – February 4, 2021

February 4, 2021

We hope you are safe and find ways to make the best of this pause that we are experiencing. Below is a status update for our organization. EVENT CHANGES We need to make changes to our spring 2021 schedule because of barriers that we have encountered with COVID-19. Call of the North: We have added… Read More →

Garrett Augustus Morgan, Sr. | 28 Days of Black Excellence

February 1, 2021

Today marks the first day of 28 Days of Black Excellence created by VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. Phillip highlights the work of Garrett Augustus Morgan (1877-1963), best known for creating the Safety Hood and the Stoplight. His musical inspiration comes from the Supremes the 1965 hit song, “Stop! In The Name Of Love.”… Read More →

What moment do YOU treasure in 2020?

December 23, 2020

“The two of us watched your musical moments together each day and they truly were the highlight of his day.” —Tracy Rode, Jack Cole’s daughter Jack and Ann Cole were treasured by so many, including VocalEssence. We are humbled to know that Philip Brunelle’s Musical Moments were such a comfort to Jack in his last… Read More →

Spend Christmas Eve with VocalEssence

December 22, 2020

This Christmas Eve, gather the family (in person and virtually) for a LIVE sing-along and a broadcast of Welcome Christmas. CHRISTMAS EVE LIVE STREAM Thursday, December 24th at 6:30 PM CST Join Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III for a LIVE Christmas Eve edition of Take 5 with GPS. Usher in the magic by… Read More →

How do you measure a year?

December 22, 2020

VocalEssence pushes forward with annual Christmas concert

By Cathy Wurzer | MPR News Published: December 16, 2020 7:03 a.m. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/12/16/vocalessence-pushes-forward-with-annual-christmas-concert Artistic director Philip Brunelle leads VocalEssence in one of its previous holiday performances. Courtesy of Bruce Silcox Like so many holiday traditions, VocalEssence’s annual “Welcome Christmas” concert looks a little different this year. Still, the choral ensemble hopes the music brings… Read More →

VocalEssence singers make a ‘Welcome’ return in video holiday concert

By Rob Hubbard | Star Tribune PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 7, 2020 — 11:42AM https://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-singers-make-a-welcome-return-in-video-holiday-concert/573318241/ REVIEW: VocalEssence returns in a video concert. PHOTO PROVIDED BY VOCALESSENCE Members of VocalEssence masked up to tape their streaming “Welcome Christmas” concert. Keeping gatherings small was recommended months ago by public health experts seeking to curb COVID. So what’s a… Read More →

Composers Datebook: “Welcome Christmas” Carol Contest

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 →

Christmas concerts coming up; Louise Erdrich at One Book, One Minnesota

By Pamela Espeland | MINNPOST PUBLISHED: December 4, 2020 Christmas concerts coming up; Louise Erdrich at One Book, One Minnesota Dr. Anton Armstrong conducting the Massed Choirs and St. Olaf Orchestra during the 2019 Christmas Festival. Courtesy of St. Olaf College And suddenly it’s December. Hard to believe almost nine months have passed since the first… Read More →

Making of Welcome Christmas 2020 with TPT

November 25, 2020

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 →

Black Friday Weekend Deals – 20% Off

November 24, 2020

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 →

COVID-19 Update – November 16, 2020

November 16, 2020

We hope you are safe and find ways to make the best of this pause that we are experiencing. Below is a status update for our organization. In person Rehearsals Cancelled Because of the recent conditions with COVID-19, VocalEssence has decided to move all rehearsals with singers online from now until November 30, 2020. We… Read More →

VocalEssence Welcome Christmas on Twin Cities PBS

This year our beloved Welcome Christmas concert is available on VocalEssence On Demand AND will be televised across Minnesota on Twin Cities PBS (TPT) three times during the peak of the holiday season, and making it available to stream on their family of platforms. Relevant dates include: December 19th: Welcome Christmas becomes available to stream…

VOICE YOUR VOTE – CONDUCTOR EDITION

November 2, 2020

We asked Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III what they think about voting. Below is what they said. “I have never missed an opportunity to vote–usually in person at the elementary school in our neighborhood. Voting is one of the great privileges we have in our democracy–never take it for… Read More →