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Teacher Resources

Teacher Orientation Seminar October 5, 2019 This year’s VocalEssence WITNESS Teacher Orientation Seminar will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. The cost of the seminar is $20, which includes up to 5 clock hours of professional development CEU credit and copies of the VocalEssence WITNESS Teacher Resource Guide…  Read More

Patricia Brown

Dancer/Choreographer For 22 years, Patricia Brown has been an active member of the Twin Cities arts community as a dancer, instructor, choreographer, and performer. She is an African-based movement instructor whose fusion style is rooted in dance of West Africa, other African regions, the Caribbean, and Americas. Incorporating various forms of artistic expression, her classes…  Read More

VocalEssence Pays Homage to the Male Chorus—With Help from Morehouse College Glee Club

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE MALE CHORUS — WITH HELP FROM MOREHOUSE COLLEGE GLEE CLUB Renowned choral ensemble and historic all-male glee club join forces for VocalEssence WITNESS: Morehouse College Glee Club concert—Feb. 21  MINNEAPOLIS—December 17, 2015—What happens when the internationally-renowned Morehouse College Glee Club partners with nationally acclaimed choral ensemble…  Read More

Mary Ann Aufderheide

Executive Director phone 612-547-1454 fax 612-547-1464 maryann@vocalessence.org Mary Ann Aufderheide joined VocalEssence as managing director in 2003. Under her leadership she has firmly established the VocalEssence brand name as representing excellence in choral music and community engagement programs. During her tenure the organization has expanded its core of professional singers who tour regionally and internationally;…  Read More

Robert J. Graham

Learning and Engagement Manager | Conductor, Vintage Voices phone 612-547-1458 fax 612-547-1484 robert@vocalessence.org Robert J. Graham joined the VocalEssence team in August 2012 as both a member of the administrative staff and as a second tenor in the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers.  Robert oversees the operations of the acclaimed VocalEssence WITNESS School Program. In 2015, Robert…  Read More

Awards & Honors

After more than 50 years of championing the power act of singing together, VocalEssence has been recognized by organizations around the world. We received the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for adventurous programming of contemporary music six times and has been honored with more Chorus America awards than any other ensemble nationwide, including the once-in-an-organizational-lifetime Margaret Hillis…  Read More

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 Founder Philip Brunelle Celebrates Two Milestones with Concert Featuring Music of His Most Beloved Composers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com  VOCALESSENCE FOUNDER PHILIP BRUNELLE CELEBRATES TWO MILESTONES WITH CONCERT FEATURING MUSIC OF HIS MOST BELOVED COMPOSERS “Philip’s Favorites” concert features music from Dominick Argento, John Rutter, Libby Larsen, and more old friends–at the American Swedish Institute, Feb. 4th MINNEAPOLIS—October 2, 2023—Singing and birthday celebrations go together like…  Read More

Emma Jirele

Learning and Engagement Manager emma@vocalessence.org Emma Jirele joined the team at VocalEssence in the summer of 2023. As Learning and Engagement Manager, Emma provides operational leadership and logistical support to community and school initiatives, such as VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, WITNESS, the Longfellow School Program, and additional school partnerships. Emma was first exposed to…  Read More

Bridge to the Future Meets Goal

VocalEssence is thrilled to share the wonderful news that the Bridge to the Future campaign has reached its goal of $4.5 million! Our deepest gratitude goes out to the 101 individuals and institutions who have invested in the future of VocalEssence and helped us surpass our initial goal by $1 million. These gifts are already…

VocalEssence Strategic Plan 2022-2025

VocalEssence celebrates singing as an essential human expression. Artistic quality, passion for singing together, and reputation for engaging people are hallmarks of our impact. As our community changes, we have developed this strategic plan to address our future in three key areas, keeping singing together at the center of our work.

VocalEssence Annual Report 2021-2022

“INSPIRED”—was the word used most frequently by patrons to describe their engagement with VocalEssence during the 2021-2022 season. Inspiration was at the center of everything we did this year: Our Chorus and Ensemble Singers were inspired to return to singing in person at venues ranging from Orchestra Hall to the Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit…

VocalEssence, a Minnesota Choral Institution, Returns for Its 54th Season

by Robert Atendido Twin Cities Geek | October 13, 2022 https://twincitiesgeek.com/2022/10/vocalessence-a-minnesota-choral-institution-returns-for-its-54th-season/ In classical music circles, Minnesota has long been known as a center for choral music. In addition to world-renowned college choirs, such as the ones at St. Olaf, Concordia, and Gustavus Adolphus, the Twin Cities alone have dozens of different choral groups that one could…  Read More