Philip Brunelle: Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle is working on creating a digital library of all the composers featured on Musical Moments with the help of intern Blake Wieseler from St. Olaf College. Since Musical Moments began in March of 2020, almost 300 composers who have been central to the success of VocalEssence have… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com TWIN CITIES CHORAL COMMUNITY TO PRESENT “VOICES RISING: A CHORAL AFFIRMATION OF BLACK LIVES” Twelve-chorus collaboration to be livestreamed June 16 at 7 PM CST on YourClassical MPR MINNEAPOLIS—May 20, 2021—Voices Rising: A Choral Affirmation of Black Lives, is a collaboration of 12 local choral organizations that is a united artistic… Read More →
Philip Brunelle Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle will be working with Phillip Shoultz to determine the roster of singers during late May and early June. With these very flexible days concerning audience sizes for fall concerts, we are preparing several plans to accommodate our options. The good thing is that we have the repertoire… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III are hard at work this month preparing for a multitude of upcoming performances. Philip Brunelle The month of February is filled with rehearsals for our next concert, Call of the North; how wonderful to have the Ensemble Singers back together! The concert (to be… 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 →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle is being feted this summer! Chorus America, the the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field across North America, is giving him the Distinguished Service Award on Friday, June 12. Watch him receive the award on their YouTube channel. The Society for American Music, dedicated to the… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE KICK OFF SUMMER TOUR WITH LOCAL CONCERT Before Chicago trip, diverse youth choir perform at Augsburg University—May 30 MINNEAPOLIS — December 17, 2019 — The VocalEssence Singers of This Age, or VESOTA, are taking the show on the road with the VESOTA… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR RECEIVES (ANOTHER) TOP HONOR Philip Brunelle wins the 2019 American Prize in Conducting MINNEAPOLIS — July 23, 2019 — VocalEssence founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle is still going strong after more than a half century on the podium. The maestro recently garnered… Read More →
In his “wonderful and busy” June and July, Artistic Director Philip Brunelle has been making music with old friends and new. He returned to the podium to conduct the Lake Harriet Pops Orchestra, a post he held for 10 seasons, and filled the air outside the Lake Harriet Bandshell with the music of Bernstein and… Read More →
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY Youth choir named “Best New Education Program” by Chorus America MINNEAPOLIS — July 22, 2019 — VocalEssence is not just a revered performing ensemble, but an award-winning educational institution as well. Its groundbreaking high school choir, VocalEssence Singers Of This… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle just returned from England meeting with John Rutter, Sir Stephen Cleobury (just knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours), Simon Halsey and Katie Rowan—the person helping us with the U.S. premiere in October of Ina Boyle’s music. He and his wife Carolyn also enjoyed a week’s vacation in Wales and on the… Read More →
The 50th Anniversary Concert and Dinner on October 7, 2018 was an evening filled with special moments. Governor Dayton proclaimed it VocalEssence Together We Sing Day. Senator Tina Smith began the festivities with a beautiful tribute to the organization. Acclaimed composer Alice Parker wrote an arrangement to surprise Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. Read the lyrics… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle has had a whirlwind summer (nothing unusual!) beginning in early June with a trip to New York City meeting with Nico Muhly, composer of the new cantata being written for our Welcome Christmas concerts. The visit also included meetings with several composers and interviews about the upcoming 50th anniversary season. Then… Read More →
CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE BRINGS CHORAL MUSIC LUMINARIES TO MINNEAPOLIS FOR HISTORIC COMMUNITY SING Join in song with nonagenarian choral legend Alice Parker and long-time Sweet Honey In The Rock® star Ysaÿe Barnwell at Community Sing with VocalEssence—October 15 MINNEAPOLIS—JULY 12, 2016—For the first Community Sing of its 48th season, Minneapolis’s premier choral ensemble… Read More →
Associate Artistic Director phone 612-547-1453 fax 612-547-1484 gps@vocalessence.org Known for fostering community and inspiring action among people of all ages and abilities, G. Phillip Shoultz, III, enjoys a multifaceted career as artist, educator, consultant, speaker and pastoral musician. Phillip is the associate artistic director of VocalEssence where his most visible impact is seen through his… Read More →
