In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer C. Hubert H. Parry. Philip is joined by mezzo-soprano Lisa Drew. C. Hubert H. Parry 1848-1918 Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry was a highly influential British scholar, teacher, and composer. He was raised at Highnam… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Harry T. Burleigh. Harry T. Burleigh 1866-1949 The skilled composer and talented singer Harry Burleigh was a pioneering arranger of concert spirituals for solo voice and piano. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Burleigh studied piano, voice,… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer William Billings. He is joined by mezzo-soprano Clara Osowski and soprano Jenny French. William Billings 1746-1800 Choral composer, teacher, and organist William Billings is recognized by many as the first professional American composer. Since he… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Amy Cheney Beach. Amy Cheney Beach 1867-1944 The pioneering composer Amy Cheney Beach was the first American woman to compose large-scale concert music and find widespread success. Born in Henniker, New Hampshire, Beach demonstrated outstanding… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Percy Grainger. Percy Grainger 1882-1961 Australian-American composer and pianist Percy Grainger was best known for his work as a collector and arranger of folk music. Grainger’s mother taught him from their home in Melbourne until… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel. This episode features two guest performers: soprano Maria Jette and VocalEssence’s pianist Mary Jo Gothmann. Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel 1805-1847 During her lifetime, German composer Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel was not nearly as well-known as her brother,… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Felix Mendelssohn. Felix Mendelssohn 1809-1847 German composer Felix Mendelssohn was one of the most prominent composers and conductors during his lifetime. His father facilitated a well-rounded education for Felix and his siblings, which included a… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Olivier Messiaen. Olivier Messiaen 1908-1992 With his extraordinarily unique approach to composition, French composer Olivier Messiaen constantly set himself apart from other musicians. Born in Avignon and self-taught in piano, Messiaen began composing at age… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer John Gardner. John Gardner 1917-2011 Prolific English composer John Gardner is known for his eclectic compositions that charm choirs around the world. He was born in Manchester and raised in Ilfracombe, North Devon. He… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Paul Manz. Paul Manz 1919-2009 Composer and organist Paul Manz is known for his widely-admired motet “E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come” and for the hymn festivals he organized and led. Manz attended Concordia River… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Undine Smith Moore. Undine Smith Moore 1904-1989 American composer Undine Smith Moore composed in a variety of different forms and genres, but is best known for her arrangements of spirituals and other choral compositions and… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Egil Hovland. Egil Hovland 1924-2013 As one of the most prominent Norwegian composers, works from Hovland’s vast compositional output are performed widely throughout Scandinavia, but have found less of a foothold in the United States.… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Dominick Argento. Dominick Argento 1927-2019 American composer Dominick Argento, born in York, Pennsylvania and based for much of his life in Minneapolis, is perhaps best known for his solo vocal and operatic works. He has… Read More →
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 →
The School Program The VocalEssence WITNESS School Program is an exciting opportunity for Minnesota students and teachers to learn more about the contributions African Americans have made, and are making, to the fine arts. This program is recommended for students in grades 4-12, is open to all classrooms and subject areas, and includes: Two free school workshop… Read More →
