MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (December 11, 2007) — In a private ceremony at the Minneapolis Club on Monday, December 10, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle was invested as Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for his promotion of Norwegian music in the United States. Norwegian Consul General Rolf Hansen bestowed the honor on behalf of the Grand Master of the Order, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.

The Royal Norwegian Order of Merit was founded by King Olav V in 1985 and is conferred on foreign and Norwegian nationals as a reward for outstanding service in the interest of Norway. The Council of the Order emphasized Philip Brunelle’s ongoing efforts to present the music of Norwegian composers and artists such as Ola Gjeilo, Edvard Grieg, Egil Hovland, Trond Kverno, Knut Nystedt and the Norwegian National Opera to the American public, including church music, choir music, opera and modern Norwegian music.

Furthermore, the Council noted that Mr. Brunelle is an outstanding and internationally acknowledged conductor, pianist and music historian, who for many years has worked closely with the government of Norway and the Norwegian-American community to spread knowledge about Norwegian music in the USA, especially in the Midwest.

Mr. Brunelle has been awarded with honorary doctorates by St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. John’s University and United Theological Seminary. His previous international awards include the Kodaly Medal (Hungary), Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden), and honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

For more information, please contact Katryn Conlin (612-547-1459) or email kconlin@vocalessence.org.