By Pamela Espeland | MinnPost Wednesday, March 20, 2019 – 10:04 AM: https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/03/260-films-from-77-nations-coming-our-way-in-april/ Courtesy of the Film Society of Minneapolis/St. Paul A still from MSPIFF’s opening night film, “Yuli,” about the life of Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta. The 38th Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival is just over two weeks away. Tickets go on sale to the… Read More →
By Pamela Espeland MinnPost FEBRUARY 28, 2019 — 08:24AM https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2019/02/vocalessence-to-present-witness-times-two-joffrey-ballet-to-perform-anna-karenina/ VocalEssence was born in 1969 as the Plymouth Church Music Series. Just another concert series at a local church, founded by an ambitious, tireless and hypercreative choir director and organist named Philip Brunelle. In 2002, the Plymouth Music Series became VocalEssence. Today, Brunelle and his singers are… Read More →
Dominick Argento was an amazing man—he was my teacher, colleague and personal friend of our family. When I arrived at the University of Minnesota, I signed up for History of Opera, not knowing that I would have the best professor on opera as my teacher! I have often said that if you wish to take… Read More →
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 →
A musical visionary and tireless self-promoter, VocalEssence founder Philip Brunelle is a world-renowned force.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com YOU’RE NEVER TOO YOUNG TO SING! ACCLAIMED LOCAL AUTHOR NANCY CARLSON AND VOCALESSENCE HOST TALES & TUNES MUSICAL STORYTIME Nursery rhyme sing-alongs, lullabies, and crafts—March 30 MINNEAPOLIS — January 17, 2019— Local choral and community-building nonprofit VocalEssence has assembled a morning of programming perfect for its… Read More →
ANALYSIS: VocalEssence’s anniversary season is full of retrospectives, co-presentations and a strong commitment to diversity. By Terry Blain Special to the Star Tribune MAY 15, 2018 — 2:53PM http://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-marks-50th-season-with-hits-premieres-and-a-big-show-with-theater-latt-da/482706891/ It’s been 50 years since an ambitious young Minnesotan named Philip Brunelle was appointed organist and choirmaster at Minneapolis’ Plymouth Congregational Church. One of his first big… Read More →
Tickets are off sale online, but walk up sales will be available on Saturday, March 30 starting at 9 am. Two Performances: Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 9:30-10:30 AM Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Guild Hall, Plymouth Congregational Church 1919 LaSalle Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55403 Members of the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and… Read More →
Each season VocalEssence hosts a festival created by you for you to connect, sing, and give back to the community. Join us for Together We Sing Festival 2020 at the Minnesota History Center on Saturday, January 18, 2020. Learn more and register here.
The Reatha Clark King Award for Excellence and Youth Motivation through the Cultural Arts was developed by VocalEssence in 2007 to celebrate and recognize outstanding leaders who are in the field empowering young people through direct contact, making a way for them to be as successful as they can be. It was named after the… Read More →
Thursday, November 17, 2016 is Give to the Max Day! 6,567 students are slated to attend the VocalEssence WITNESS Young People’s Concerts this February (1,000 more students than last season!). In order to make the concerts possible for everyone, we need to raise $25 per student. Sponsor a seat (or two) and pay it forward… Read More →
VocalEssence WITNESS will blow you away this February with the sound of not one, not two, but four separate groups on stage. In total, 365 voices will be celebrating male singing and Morehouse College, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s alma mater—a sight (and sound) that will rock you to your core and leave you clamoring for… Read More →
Congratulations to pianist, composer, arranger and producer Sanford Moore, who received the Reatha Clark King Award on Sunday, February 8 at the VocalEssence WITNESS: Let Freedom Ring concert at Orchestra Hall and was presented with a one-of-a-kind work of art created by past WITNESS Teaching Artist Ta-Coumba Aiken. The Reatha Clark King Award for Excellence… Read More →
Clarion CLR932CD Reflecting our shared American heritage like a patchwork quilt, this is a charming collection of folksongs performed by conductor Philip Brunelle and the 32-voice VocalEssence Ensemble Singers with guitar, harmonica, accordion, bass and piano. Classic arrangements by the likes of Norman Luboff, Alice Parker and Robert Shaw capture each folksong’s unique appeal.
