MPR’s John Birge interviews Philip Brunelle on the announcement of the 2008-2009 40th Anniversary Season
VocalEssence announces 40th season
Listen to feature audio at minnesotapublicradio.org
The Twin Cities choral group VocalEssence will celebrate its 40th
anniversary season in 2008-09 with a tour of England and a
collaboration with six of the Twin Cities’ most prestigious
professional and community choirs.
St. Paul, Minn. —
VocalEssence Artistic Director Philip Brunelle says the 500 voices of
his group and the six choirs will sing a newly commissioned work by
Dominick Argento.
"There’s an amazing vitality about
choral music in this community," Brunelle says. "It’s not just
VocalEssence. There are many other choral groups with their own
identity in the Twin Cities and we’ve never sung together before."
The season kicks off with a 40th
birthday party at Orchestra Hall hosted by Garrison Keillor. Jazz
pianist Billy Taylor returns in February for a performance of his
composition, "Peaceful Warrior," dedicated to Martin Luther King. And
VocalEssence will perform the music of popular choral composer Eric
Whitacre in March.
Philip Brunelle spoke with Minnesota Public Radio’s John Birge about the upcoming VocalEssence season.