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VocalEssence Presents Work from Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PRESENTS WORK FROM GERTRUDE STEIN AND VIRGIL THOMSON Local choral ensemble stages opera “Four Saints in Three Acts” alongside award-winning dance troupe Black Label Movement MINNEAPOLIS—December 17, 2015—On Saturday, Mar. 19, nationally acclaimed choral ensemble VocalEssence will re-imagine the groundbreaking and distinctly American opera—Four Saints in Three Acts—assisted by director…  Read More

Danish Pioneer: VocalEssence in Minnesota Features Swedish Composer Nils Lindberg’s ‘A Christmas Cantata’

November 11, 2015 VOCALESSENCE GOES BIG (BAND) THIS CHRISTMAS! Choral ensemble in Minnesota puts a swinging twist on traditional Christmas carols—and delivers “A Christmas Cantata.” Nationally acclaimed choral ensemble VocalEssence swings into the holiday season with its annual concert series—Welcome Christmas. This year the series features Swedish composer Nils Lindberg’s A Christmas Cantata, an “iridescent…  Read More

Star Tribune: Minneapolis composer Jake Runestad connects with veterans’ struggles

Young Minneapolis composer Jake Runestad connects with the struggles of war veterans in “Dreams of the Fallen.” By Kristin Tillotson, Star Tribune OCTOBER 4, 2015 — 2:00PM Photos by RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII • rtsong.taatarii@startribune.com Minneapolis composer Jake Runestad, a rising figure on the national classical scene, ties topical issues to his music. On Sunday VocalEssence performs…  Read More

Nordic Nativity

VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers Sara Pajunen, fiddle Philip Brunelle, conductor Released in October 2015, Nordic Nativity is a wonderful exploration of beautiful music from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark—some of it familiar and some of it new. The Nordic composers have a marvelous way of spinning a melody that gets inside you and stays there!…  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 Performs ‘Dreams of the Fallen’ to Open 47th Season

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PERFORMS “DREAMS OF THE FALLEN” TO OPEN 47th SEASON Acclaimed choral ensemble delivers work of veteran and poet in Midwest premiere Oct. 11 MINNEAPOLIS—JULY 28, 2015—What does it mean to live through 21st-century war? Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence will stage the Midwest premiere of Dreams of the Fallen, an…  Read More

New VocalEssence Program Ends Inaugural Season—on Broadway

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com NEW VOCALESSENCE PROGRAM ENDS INAUGURAL SEASON — ON BROADWAY Assisted living facility hosts public concert featuring Vintage Voices choir—Aug. 25 MINNEAPOLIS — JULY 28, 2015 — VocalEssence invites all to take a trip down Broadway on Tues., Aug. 25, with the Seasons Sunshine Singers—a new choir composed of residents from…  Read More

And the Winners Are … Four Chosen for VocalEssence ReMix Composer Mentorships

Four talented, emerging composers/songwriters have been selected to have a six-month one-on-one composer mentorship through VocalEssence ReMix as they each write a choral work. Each has been paired with a Composer Mentor, and on Saturday, June 6, they will gather for a One-Day Summer Workshop where they will meet with VocalEssence Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle, their…  Read More

VocalEssence Launches Aspiring Composer Mentorship Program

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE LAUNCHES ASPIRING COMPOSER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM Choral ensemble’s ReMix pairs up-and-coming talent with award-winning mentors MINNEAPOLIS — May 6, 2015 — Nationally acclaimed choral ensemble VocalEssence has added a new educational program to cultivate an upcoming generation of choral music composers. VocalEssence ReMix pairs four emerging Minnesota composers with four…  Read More

VocalEssence Welcomes Six New Board Members

CONTACT: Katrina Wallmeyer 612-547-1472 katrina@vocalessence.org VOCALESSENCE WELCOMES SIX NEW BOARD MEMBERS MINNEAPOLIS — March 18, 2015 — Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence announced today that six new members have joined its Board of Directors – Ann Farrell, Joe Kalkman, Alfred Moore, David Myers, Timothy C. Takach, and Dorene Tebbe Wernke. All six new board members have…  Read More

VocalEssence Puts on a Big Show (or Nine) with Diverse 47th Season

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE PUTS ON A BIG SHOW (OR NINE) WITH DIVERSE 47TH SEASON Celebrated Twin Cities choral organization announces new season promoting diverse communities—through the voice MINNEAPOLIS—March 14, 2015—Acclaimed Minneapolis-based choral ensemble VocalEssence—recognized internationally for its innovative explorations of music—announces an intriguing 47th season of concerts. The 2015-2016 lineup celebrates many…  Read More

VocalEssence Fuses Mexico with Minnesota in ¡Cantare!

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com   VOCALESSENCE FUSES MEXICO WITH MINNESOTA IN ¡CANTARÉ! Minneapolis-based choral ensemble premieres new works by Mexican composers and local students in ¡Cantaré! Community Concert   MINNEAPOLIS—February 16, 2015—VocalEssence invites families to cross the border to a Mexican musical celebration in the ¡Cantaré! (I Will Sing!) community concert on May 21.…  Read More

Gather at the River with Mark Twain to Support Choral Art

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com  GATHER AT THE RIVER WITH MARK TWAIN TO SUPPORT CHORAL ART Twin Cities-based VocalEssence and Don Shelby host fundraiser cruise for music education—May 2 MINNEAPOLIS—February 16, 2015—Join the 32-voice VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and television legend Don Shelby as they travel back in time on the historic Minnesota Centennial Showboat to…  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

VocalEssence Celebrates Bach’s Twenty-First (Out of Twenty) Child—P.D.Q. Bach!

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE CELEBRATES BACH’S TWENTY-FIRST (OUT OF TWENTY) CHILD—P.D.Q. BACH! Minneapolis-based choral ensemble hosts birthday bash for composer and parodist Peter Schickele—Apr. 10 MINNEAPOLIS — February 12, 2015 — The 100-voice VocalEssence Chorus, 32-voice Ensemble Singers and the University of Minnesota’s Wind Ensemble will celebrate the 80th birthday of legendary composer,…  Read More