We always look forward to our Welcome Christmas concerts for the joy and warmth that this music brings to everyone. In 2017 we wanted to celebrate some of the many, many composers living in our Twin Cities (Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota): what an abundance of marvelous talent we have here! Some of the music… Read More →
It’s time for another mashup of Minnesota musical genres, as Minnesotan choral legends VocalEssence and bluegrass quintet Monroe Crossing team up for a new recording, Mortals & Angels: A Bluegrass Te Deum. Mortals & Angels: A Bluegrass Te Deum is an original work by Minnesota composer Carol Barnett and librettist Marisha Chamberlain, and is an… Read More →
Following the very successful and sold out Bach & Bluegrass Jamboree performance, Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III led performers in recording selections to be included in a new cd titled Mortals & Angels: A Bluegrass Te Deum that will be available on December 1, 2017. Both conductors will be busy at… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle is presently in Seoul, South Korea conducting an all-American concert with one of Korea’s finest professional choirs, the Ansan City Choir. Included in the program is “Peter Quince at the Clavier” by Dominick Argento, to celebrate Argento’s 90th birthday on October 27. When he returns, he will have a number of… Read More →
A wonderful month ahead with lots of music-making! The first rehearsals have begun for the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers. Osmo Vänskä comes to rehearsal next week as the Ensemble Singers prepare for the Finland concerts with Osmo on clarinet and Sara Pajunen on fiddle. Don’t miss one of these September 24 concerts at the… Read More →
Director of Finance and Operations phone 612-547-1455 fax 612-547-1464 jeff@vocalessence.org Jeff Bina comes to VocalEssence with a background in arts administration and finance as well as radio production and music performance. Prior to VocalEssence, he spent four years with the professional men’s vocal ensemble, Cantus, serving as their Operations and Finance Manager. Here, he grew… Read More →
Director of Marketing and Communications phone 612-547-1459 fax 612-547-1484 amanda@vocalessence.org Amanda Timmer joined VocalEssence in 2014. As the Director of Marketing and Communications, Amanda plans and oversees communication strategies that promote all that VocalEssence creates. Prior to joining the VocalEssence staff, Amanda earned a Master of Music degree in Flute Performance from Minnesota State University,… Read More →
VocalEssence is pleased to announce the following winners of the 20th annual VocalEssence Welcome Christmas Carol Contest, and the second year of VocalEssence ReMix. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all who applied. Welcome Christmas Carol Contest Winners Sponsored by the American Composers Forum and VocalEssence, the Welcome Christmas Carol Contest is now… Read More →
Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director & Founder July and August have definitely been ‘music months’ for me. July began with many planning meetings for the coming season and the first week concluded with an amazing patriotic event at the Anoka airport with 24 VocalEssence singers and 5000 motorcyclists and their motorcycles! Then off to Barcelona for the… Read More →
Creative Minnesota highlights the positive impact being made by artists and creative workers. The 2017 study found that every region of the state has a robust arts economy, from the prairies of southwest Minnesota to the busy Twin Cities area to the tourist magnet that is the North Shore. The combined annual economic impact of… Read More →
The Reatha Clark King Award for Excellence and Youth Motivation through the Cultural Arts was developed by VocalEssence in 2007 to celebrate and recognize outstanding leaders who are in the field empowering young people through direct contact, making a way for them to be as successful as they can be. It was named after the… Read More →
Free event in celebration of ACDA conference will feature work from major Minnesota choral artists, composers, and a Garrison Keillor sing-along—March 7 MINNEAPOLIS—FEBRUARY 28, 2017—The best way to say welcome is to sing it! It’s especially true when you’re welcoming members of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) to town. That’s why VocalEssence, Minnesota’s internationally… Read More →
VocalEssence WITNESS guest artist Melanie DeMore was featured on Steele Talkin’ with Jearlyn Steele January 1 to talk about her work on the Lullaby Project. Check out the interview below. Listen to the rest of the show here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jltoYgaufO0&feature=youtu.be This holiday, welcome Christmas to Minnesota through a journey to pueblos, ponderosas, and piñon, traveling under the power of the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers. “We are privileged so many families make an annual tradition of joining VocalEssence for our exploration of Christmas music, each year viewed through a different lens,” said Philip Brunelle.… Read More →
