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VocalEssence Brings Choral Music Luminaries to Minneapolis for Historic Community Sing

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

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

Meet Our 2015 Welcome Christmas Carol Contest Winners

VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum are pleased to announce the two winning composers of their 18th annual Welcome Christmas Carol Contest. This year, the contest sought new carols for SATB Chorus and trumpet in B-flat or C. Carols composed by Josh Bauder and Laura Caviani, both of Minnesota, were selected from a total of…  Read More

Casey Rafn

Accompanist phone 612-547-1451 fax 612-547-1484 info@vocalessence.org Pianist Casey Rafn enjoys a varied career as a collaborative pianist both in the United States and abroad, in Europe and Latin America. He is a member of ‘Trés’, whose saxophone-piano trio was just nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Instrumental Album for their new album “Romance al…  Read More

VocalEssence to Release Newest Holiday Album: ‘Nordic Nativity’ Celebrates the Season with Nordic Cool

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE TO RELEASE NEWEST HOLIDAY ALBUM: “NORDIC NATIVITY” CELEBRATES THE SEASON WITH NORDIC COOL Compilation of songs from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark includes Christmas favorites old and new MINNEAPOLIS—July 28, 2015—Glaedelig jul! Joyous Christmas! Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence will release its newest album, “Nordic Nativity,” featuring traditional holiday music…  Read More

VocalEssence Celebrates Special WITNESS Anniversary and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE CELEBRATES SPECIAL WITNESS ANNIVERSARY AND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. Local choral ensemble and high school students team up with Sounds of Blackness in WITNESS: Let Freedom Ring—Feb. 8 MINNEAPOLIS — January 23, 2015 — Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — plus, the…  Read More

The WITNESS Collection (4-CD Set)

VocalEssence WITNESS recordings showcase the music of trailblazing African American composers — the soul of American classical music. This CD collection is out of print, but you can still order the individual CDs through Gothic Records. Please click the links below to learn more. Dance Like the Wind: Music of Today’s Black Composers Got the…  Read More

Program History

VocalEssence WITNESS is critical for many of the students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a professional event at a major concert hall. We believe that an educational and performance experience such as VocalEssence WITNESS gives students an opportunity to learn from exceptional role models, increasing their self-esteem and creating a desire…  Read More

VocalEssence WITNESS

VocalEssence WITNESS is one of the nation’s premier initiatives celebrating the contributions of African Americans to our shared American heritage through concerts, recordings and comprehensive educational programs. Please visit the VocalEssence WITNESS Program History page to learn more about the background and inspiration behind the program. VocalEssence WITNESS School Program offers online workshops with experienced Teaching…  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

About VocalEssence

Founded in 1969, Minneapolis-based VocalEssence has decades of history as one of the world’s premier choral music organizations. But despite its global influence, VocalEssence has kept its focus local—consistently pioneering ways to strengthen Minnesota’s community through thrilling musical experiences. What We Do At VocalEssence, we engage people of all ages and cultures in our community…  Read More