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VOCALESSENCE FOUNDER PHILIP BRUNELLE TREATS AUDIENCES TO ANOTHER ROUND OF ‘PHILIP’S FAVORITES’ WITH CONCERT DEDICATED TO COMPOSITION GREATS
“Philip’s Favorites II” concert features music from Britten, John Rutter, Jake Runestad, Eric Whitacre, and more old friends–at the American Swedish Institute, May 3 and 4

MINNEAPOLIS—March 13, 2025—Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence founder and artistic director, is reprising the concept from last year’s sold-out concerts for a new program featuring more music from composers who have kept his passion for choral music burning bright! Philip’s Favorites II will be performed twice—May 3rd and 4th at Larsen Hall at the American Swedish Institute—so this treasure chest of a program gets a wide audience.

“VocalEssence is just as much about igniting a love of choral music in others as it is about expressing our own love of this art, and sharing the work of composers who mean a lot to me has brought so many fans to this music!” says Brunelle. “The VocalEssence community extends beyond our Ensemble Singers, Chorus, Vintage Voices choir for older adults, VESOTA choir for teenage students, and the composers we commission. It also includes the teaching artists behind our VocalEssence WITNESS program and the thousands of community members who first experienced our programs as schoolchildren. Our community continues to grow when we share our passions. I expect everyone who attends Philip’s Favorites II will walk away a fan of a composer they hadn’t appreciated before!

The program includes the music of Benjamin Britten, Ina Boyle, John Rutter, Dominick Argento, Gustav Holst, Charles Villiers Stanford, Justin Merritt, Jake Runestad, Daniel Kantor, Jesus Lopez Moreno, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, and John Hoybye, as well as the US Premiere of a new Eric Whitacre setting and a world premiere commission from Tim Takach. The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers will perform with special guest violinist Michael Sutton and pianist Casey Rafn, with Philip Brunelle conducting.

Philip’s Favorites II will be performed at 4 pm on both  May 3 and May 4 at Larson Hall in the American Swedish Institute at 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis. $45 Single tickets are available online.

Press images are available here. 

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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