Today marks the fourth day of 28 Days of Black Excellence created by VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. Phillip highlights the work of Dr. Valerie L. Thomas, inventor of the illusion transmitter and retired associate chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office (SSDOO) at NASA. His musical inspiration comes from the song… Read More →
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 →
Today marks the third day of 28 Days of Black Excellence created by VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. Phillip highlights the work of Lonnie George Johnson (1949-), NASA engineer and inventor of the Super Soaker. His musical inspiration comes from “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.” Book Recommendations He’s Got the… Read More →
Today marks the second day of 28 Days of Black Excellence created by VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. Phillip highlights the work of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856-1931), one of the first physicians to perform open-heart surgery in the United States. His musical inspiration comes from the Stevie Wonder’s 1984 hit “I Just… Read More →
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 →
Associate conductor G. Phillip Shoultz will feature 28 Days of Black Excellence during his 9 a.m. daily “Take 5 with GPS” performance series. Watch Videos Now VocalEssence will showcase Black achievement in the arts and beyond each day of Black History Month as part of its daily pandemic show, Take 5 with GPS. VocalEssence has… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE CELEBRATES “28 DAYS OF BLACK EXCELLENCE” FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH Associate conductor G. Phillip Shoultz will feature Black achievements in the arts and beyond during his 9 a.m. daily “Take 5 with GPS” performance series MINNEAPOLIS—January 27, 2021—VocalEssence, one of the world’s premier choral music organizations, will… 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 →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE PRESENT AN MLK-INSPIRED CONCERT THAT WILL MAKE AUDIENCES “BELIEVE” Celebrated Minneapolis-based choral ensemble’s youth choir will present second part of a four-part performance series to inspire change in the world MINNEAPOLIS—January 13, 2021—The VocalEssence ensemble made up of a diverse collection of high school students, Singers Of This Age (VESOTA), will… Read More →
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 →
“I am so excited to watch this. Thank you to your entire team for bringing this to our world. As a choir director (middle school and high school), I am facing constant challenges of how to keep my 150 students engaged, motivated, and inspired. Thank you!” —Melanie Brink, music teacher in the Middle East region of Muscat, Oman We are so excited… Read More →
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 →
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 →
