Press Releases

VocalEssence Announces New Executive Director

CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Chicago Public Media VP of Membership Amy Wielunski joins VocalEssence as new co-leader of Minnesota’s largest choral organization MINNEAPOLIS—April 17, 2024—VocalEssence is pleased to announce today that Amy Wielunski will join the internationally-renowned Twin Cities choral and community-building nonprofit in the role of executive director. A…  Read More

VocalEssence Affirms Community Bonds in Concert— ‘Hope Renewed’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  CONTACT:  Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com  VOCALESSENCE AFFIRMS COMMUNITY BONDS IN CONCERT—‘HOPE RENEWED’ The season wraps up with a joyous call to renew the spirit–Ted Mann Concert Hall, May 3 MINNEAPOLIS, March 31, 2024—Building a community requires taking the risk of reaching out to one another, and VocalEssence celebrates the emotion at the…  Read More

VocalEssence and Bach Society of MN make beautiful music together in Christmas concert

December 16, 2023 by Rob Hubbard | Special to the Star Tribune https://www.startribune.com/review-vocalessence-and-bach-society-of-mn-make-beautiful-music-together-in-christmas-concert/600328759/ The two talented sets of musicians collaborated on three cantatas from J.S. Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” Ask leaders of Twin Cities arts organizations, “What changed during COVID?” and you’ll often hear the word, “collaboration.” Groups that once considered themselves competitors started having conversations…  Read More

VocalEssence Opens Its 55th Season, Together We Sing

October 1, 2023 By Robert Atendido | Twin Cities Geek https://twincitiesgeek.com/2023/10/vocalessence-opens-its-55th-season-together-we-sing/ VocalEssence, the noted Twin Cities choral institution of which I happen to be a member, will be starting its 55th season, Together We Sing, in late October. We have started rehearsals already, and we are preparing both choral classics and new music to delight…  Read More

Weekend picks: Get your ghoul on at ‘The Haunted Avalon’ and with Sparkle Theatricals; get real-life scared contemplating a post-Roe world

October 26, 2023 By Sheila Regan | MinnPost https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2023/10/weekend-picks-get-your-ghoul-on-at-the-haunted-avalon-and-with-sparkle-theatricals-get-real-life-scared-contemplating-a-post-roe-world/ Plus: VocalEssence performs with the St. Olaf Choir; a Hmong-American exhibit of art in different mediums in the east metro, and a Halloween puppet extravaganza on the Midtown Greenway. Halloween approaches and Twin Cities arts organizations are ready. Whether you’re in the mood for immersive outdoor puppetry, ghoulish…  Read More

Choral legend Sigrid Johnson to be honored with premiere of ‘Song in My Heart’

October 18, 2023 By Brian Newhouse| YourClassical https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2023/10/18/choral-legend-sigrid-johnson-honored-with-premiere-of-song-in-my-heart?utm_campaign=Choral+Stream+Newsletter+-+20231022&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sfmc_Newsletter&utm_content=  Sigrid Johnson often said, “God gave me two beautiful sons, and every year I’m blessed with 100 daughters.” She conducted St. Olaf College’s 100-voice first-year women’s chorus, the Manitou Singers, for decades. And on Oct. 29 at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, the Minnesota choral legend will…  Read More

Critics’ picks: The 13 best things to do and see in the Twin Cities this week

October 24, 2023 By Rob Hubbard | Star Tribune https://www.startribune.com/queen-adam-lambert-the-1975-get-out-vocalessence-mariology-gordon-parks-haunted-roundhouse/600314329/?refresh=true Critics’ picks for entertainment in the week ahead. VocalEssence and the St. Olaf Choir Here’s a meeting of two groups that remain the gold standard for the richly textured Upper Midwest style of choral singing. The concert features VocalEssence’s Philip Brunelle and G. Phillip Shoultz…  Read More

Minnesota Montly’s Best Bets: Oct. 23-29

October 23, 2023 By Minnesota Monthly| Minnesota Monthly https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/travel-recreation/recreation/best-bets-oct-23-29/?utm_campaign=Minnesota%20Monthly%20Newsletter%20-%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=279527892&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–mDnRbIebBMZItZ9HSnrIZCDT8WFT6BVeH9LAuaeVUrGR88cJtsDvKYqr_LtGBeXfjGMPwxABedwqLimFWfvJZV2oQgQWwJCBAxkXuwFUeelyDGro&utm_content=279527892&utm_source=hs_email Things to do around Minnesota this week include a VocalEssence concert, Twin Cities Film Fest, Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, and more VocalEssence kicks off its 55th concert season What:  VocalEssence and the St. Olaf Choir When: Oct. 29 Where: Central Lutheran Church, 333 S. 12th St., Minneapolis Um! Yah! Yah! (Need…  Read More

St. Olaf Choir to perform concert with VocalEssence

October 10, 2023 By Connor Boritzke Smith | St. Olaf College https://wp.stolaf.edu/news/st-olaf-choir-to-perform-concert-with-vocalessence The St. Olaf Choir will join forces with VocalEssence for a collaborative concert at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on Sunday, October 29 at 4 p.m. The concert will be conducted by Anton Armstrong ’78, conductor of the St. Olaf Choir, and Philip Brunelle and…  Read More

VocalEssence and The Bach Society Of Minnesota to Present Bach’s Joyous Christmas Oratorio in December

September 2, 2023 by Blair Ingenthron | Broadway World https://www.broadwayworld.com/minneapolis/article/VocalEssence-and-The-Bach-Society-Of-Minnesota-to-Present-Bachs-Joyous-Christmas-Oratorio-in-December-20230902 There will be two opportunities to enjoy Bach’s retelling of the traditional Christmas story, December 15 and 16. Old friends and past collaborators the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and the Bach Society of Minnesota will join once again to present  Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. There will be two opportunities to enjoy…  Read More

Songwriter & Activist Melanie DeMore Returns to Minnesota for VocalEssence WITNESS: Leading with Love

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  CONTACT:  Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com  SONGWRITER & ACTIVIST MELANIE DEMORE RETURNS TO MINNESOTA FOR VOCALESSENCE WITNESS: LEADING WITH LOVE WITNESS, the annual initiative celebrating Black contributions to American arts, will culminate in concert at Orchestra Hall–March 17  MINNEAPOLIS—October 2, 2023—Taking that first step forward can be scary when you’re unsure if anyone…  Read More

VocalEssence Founder Philip Brunelle Celebrates Two Milestones with Concert Featuring Music of His Most Beloved Composers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com  VOCALESSENCE FOUNDER PHILIP BRUNELLE CELEBRATES TWO MILESTONES WITH CONCERT FEATURING MUSIC OF HIS MOST BELOVED COMPOSERS “Philip’s Favorites” concert features music from Dominick Argento, John Rutter, Libby Larsen, and more old friends–at the American Swedish Institute, Feb. 4th MINNEAPOLIS—October 2, 2023—Singing and birthday celebrations go together like…  Read More

Share in Bach’s Joyous Christmas Oratorio with VocalEssence and the Bach Society of Minnesota

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Jennifer Weismann VocalEssence 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com Pam McCarthy-Kern Bach Society of MN 612-360-0647 pam@becausecollective.com SHARE IN BACH’S JOYOUS CHRISTMAS ORATORIO WITH VOCALESSENCE AND THE BACH SOCIETY OF MINNESOTA Two concerts, in St. Louis Park and St. Paul, celebrate Bach’s masterwork with thrilling vocals and stunning instrumentation–Dec 15 & 16  MINNEAPOLIS—September 27, 2023—Old…  Read More

The Best Sound of the Season? Four VocalEssence Choirs Bidding One and All to ‘Welcome Christmas’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com THE BEST SOUND OF THE SEASON? FOUR VOCALESSENCE CHOIRS BIDDING ONE AND ALL TO ‘WELCOME CHRISTMAS’! Holiday concert of familiar carols and new compositions returns to Northrop–Dec. 9 & 10 MINNEAPOLIS—August 24, 2023—The vast space of Northrop might find itself struggling to contain the Christmas spirit growing…  Read More

VocalEssence and the St Olaf Choir in Concert Performance Opening Celebrated Choral Organization’s 55th Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 Jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE AND THE ST OLAF CHOIR IN CONCERT PERFORMANCE OPENING CELEBRATED CHORAL ORGANIZATION’S 55TH SEASON Program features Requiem by José Maurícío Nuñes-García and the premiere of a composition in memory of Sigrid Johnson—October 29 MINNEAPOLIS—July 24, 2023—VocalEssence will open its 55th concert season this fall with the…  Read More