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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 program VocalEssence and the St. Olaf Choir, an extraordinary reunion of two powerful choirs with decades of shared history. The concert, on October 29, features the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers and the St. Olaf Choir; Catherine Rodland on organ; and Anton Armstrong, Philip Brunelle, and G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conducting.

Press images are available here.

“What could be more fitting than opening our season by joining voices with those of our cherished colleagues from the St. Olaf Choir?” said VocalEssence artistic director Philip Brunelle. “Our choral community has sustained us over five decades of performances, with many fruitful collaborations blossoming into friendships–and our relationship with the St. Olaf Choir is one of the most special. Five years ago, the young talents took the stage with us to celebrate our 50th season, and it’s fitting that we’re meeting again to perform Brazilian classical composer José Maurícío Nuñes-García’s Requiem and premiere a work commissioned to honor our beloved former associate conductor Sigrid Johnson.” Jocelyn has composed a setting of Song In My Heart by Sister M. Thérèse.

Sigrid Johnson taught at St. Olaf for 32 years, and during her time there conducted the Manitou Singers, its 100-voice first-year women’s chorus. The commissioned work honoring her was composed by Minnesota’s own Jocelyn Hagen, a St. Olaf alumna. Other composers to be heard include Steven Stucky, Healey Willan, Dominick Argento, and Francis Poulenc.

The VocalEssence and the St. Olaf Choir concert is at 4:00 pm on October 29, at Central Lutheran Church, 333 South 12th Street in Minneapolis. VocalEssence season tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets will be available starting August 1. For more information, please visit www.vocalessence.org.

For more than a century, the St. Olaf Choir has set a gold standard for choral singing, performing for millions around the world. Composed of 75 mixed voices, the St. Olaf Choir is hailed as one the nation’s premier a cappella ensembles, renowned for its artistry and beauty of sound.  Conducted by Anton Armstrong, the St. Olaf Choir is internationally renowned for its unique combination of advanced choral singing and the presentation of challenging choral programming with a vast repertoire that includes sacred and secular choral standards, traditional hymns, new compositions, spirituals, and more.

VocalEssence, the choral organization Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones says “sings magnificently,” provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the impact of choral music. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and through its performance series has debuted more than 300 commissions and world premieres. VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs help people of all ages bridge, create, and learn across cultures by connecting them with renowned choral experts to provide exceptional role models, grow community self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.

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