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PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR VOCALESSENCE 2019-2020 SEASON

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann Jennifer@owl-marketing.com 612-716-0556 PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED FOR VOCALESSENCE 2019-2020 SEASON Choral and community-building organization celebrates 30 years of VocalEssence WITNESS, honoring the contributions of African Americans to the arts MINNEAPOLIS — February 25, 2020—Heading into its second half-century stronger than ever, VocalEssence is ready to reveal the program for its… Read More →

Cause for Celebration: Why Choruses See Major Anniversaries as Major Opportunities

Don Lee | Chorus America January 10, 2019 https://www.chorusamerica.org/node/9195 North American choruses are anticipating a wave of major anniversaries in the coming years, and their leaders are hard at work preparing to mark the occasions. The most thoughtful celebrations honor a chorus’s past achievements, while laying the groundwork for an even stronger future. Brace yourself. In… Read More →

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Events 2019

By Deb Mazzacco Pioneer Press January 18, 2019—5:24 pm https://www.twincities.com/2019/01/18/martin-luther-king-jr-day-events-2019/ Here’s a roundup of Minneapolis and St. Paul events Saturday, Sunday and Monday commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. SATURDAY, JAN. 19-MONDAY, JAN. 21 St. Paul: MLK Weekend at the Minnesota History Center. Family art activities, service projects, performances, closing of “The 1968 Exhibit,” noon to 3 p.m.… Read More →

Where in the World are the Conductors – January 2019

January 22, 2019

For Artistic Director Philip Brunelle, January began with meetings in Washington DC with Senator Tina Smith and Congressman Dean Phillips—both of them very supportive of VocalEssence! He also met with the Norwegian Cultural Consul, with Alberto Fierro (Executive Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute), with Ann Meier Baker of the NEA Music Division and our dear… Read More →

The week’s five best Twin Cities classical concerts

By Terry Blain | Special to the Star Tribune January 13, 2019 — 2:00PM: http://www.startribune.com/the-week-s-five-best-twin-cities-classical-concerts/504230712/ Taking the podium Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto hurt his arm, so he can’t deliver the solo he planned for this week. But the injury won’t stop him from conducting a stimulating program for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Music includes Missy Mazzoli’s… Read More →

MLK celebrations and concerts

By Pamela Espeland January 17, 2019: https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/01/mlk-celebrations-and-concerts-mr-poppers-penguins-at-childrens-theatre/ Monday is Martin Luther King Day, and the weekend will light up with celebrations of his life. Tuesday this week would have been his 89th birthday. Imagine if he had lived past 39. Although it’s not billed specifically as an MLK event, VocalEssence’s annual “Together We Sing” festival on Saturday (Jan.… Read More →

Lyric and Wit! VocalEssence and Theater Latté Da! Cunedonde and…Candide!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com LYRIC AND WIT! VOCALESSENCE AND THEATER LATTÉ DA! CUNEGONDE AND….CANDIDE! Local arts powerhouses combine forces to bring Leonard Bernstein’s famed operetta to life in a theatrical concert performance—March 21-24 at the Cowles Center MINNEAPOLIS — January 3, 2019 — VocalEssence and Theater Latté Da will join voices this March… Read More →

Raise Your Voice and Give Back at ‘Together We Sing’ Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com RAISE YOUR VOICE AND GIVE BACK AT ‘TOGETHER WE SING’ FESTIVAL Join VocalEssence MLK weekend to sing in the tradition of social movements throughout history—January 19 MINNEAPOLIS — Dec. 7, 2018—Arts and community-building nonprofit VocalEssence is joining forces with the Minnesota Historical Society to make the… Read More →

A measured breath, but no rest for Golden Valley music mogul

byAlaina Rooke | December 5, 2018: https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_post/community/a-measured-breath-but-no-rest-for-golden-valley-music/article_74816f46-f75e-11e8-9af1-b771ceaf37f4.html Top Minnesota choir director and longtime resident Philip Brunelle looks to 50th year “One of my mottos is you don’t know if you don’t ask,” explained Philip Brunelle of attracting top guest talent to VocalEssence, a premier choral organization he founded in 1969. “You have a 50-percent chance of… Read More →

Strategic Plan 2018-2022

In over 5o years, we celebrate our recognition not only locally and regionally, but nationally and internationally for innovation, leadership, and advancement of this art form. Within the strength of our position as a leader in this field, our challenge is to remain relevant and responsive within the rapidly changing demographic landscape. This Strategic Plan… Read More →

Congratulations from Tim Sharp, Executive Director of ACDA

October 7, 2018

On behalf of the American Choral Directors Association, the national professional organization for choral directors, teachers, researchers, and industry members, I would like to congratulate VocalEssence on their 50th Anniversary, and on the occasion of this very special retrospective choral concert. Your exemplary artistic work and the mission of VocalEssence represent the very highest ideals… Read More →

In Honor of the VocalEssence 50th Anniversary by Catherine Dehoney, President of Chorus America

October 7, 2018

I’m Catherine Dehoney, President of Chorus America, the research, professional development, and advocacy organization for choruses in North America. Philip asked me to keep my remarks “short and profound, like the Gettysburg Address”. I’m not sure I can achieve ‘profound’, so I’ll try for ‘short’! Two score and 10 years ago, Philip Brunelle brought forth… Read More →

VocalEssence Mexico Tour is “Transformational”

September 26, 2018

VocalEssence has just returned from conducting some “choral diplomacy” in Mexico. The trip to Mexico City—from Aug. 26 to Sept. 3— was a historic one. For ten years, Philip Brunelle has been visiting Mexico to meet and audition composers willing to fly up to Minnesota multiple times during the school year for VocalEssence ¡Cantaré!, staying a… Read More →

It’s Beginning to Sound A Lot Like Christmas—with VocalEssence!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com IT’S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS—WITH VOCALESSENCE! This year, the Minneapolis-based choral ensemble’s beloved annual Welcome Christmas concert will include a special 50th Anniversary Season retrospective and new pieces by composer Nico Muhly MINNEAPOLIS — September 18, 2018 — The VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers’ annual… Read More →

VocalEssence Joins Iconic Mexican Symphony Orchestra For Beethoven And Brahms Performances

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com Vocalessence Joins Iconic Mexican Symphony Orchestra For Beethoven And Brahms Performances Minneapolis-based choral ensemble will travel to Mexico to perform for the 40th Anniversary of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería MINNEAPOLIS — July 5, 2018 — The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers have been invited to join the legendary Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería (OSM)… Read More →