Press Releases

VocalEssence revisits Bob Dylan classics as tour hits North Country, Red Wing

By Rob Hubbard  Star Tribune | March 29, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/vocalessence-revisits-dylan-classics/600160297/  The choral group will perform the bard’s songs in Detroit Lakes Friday, Grand Rapids Saturday and Red Wing April 30. VOCALESSENCE VocalEssence’s “Bob Dylan Revisited” Tour will include the choir, accompanied by a string quintet and piano. Well, if you’re traveling in the north country…  Read More

VocalEssence and Famed Rock Drummer Stewart Copeland of the Police Present Paradise Lost-Inspired Oratorio “Satan’s Fall”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com VOCALESSENCE AND FAMED ROCK DRUMMER STEWART COPELAND OF THE POLICE PRESENT PARADISE LOST-INSPIRED ORATORIO “SATAN’S FALL” Regional premiere at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis—May 8 MINNEAPOLIS—March 31, 2021—VocalEssence will present the regional premiere of Satan’s Fall, the choral work composed by famed British rock drummer Stewart Copeland and…  Read More

Diverse High School Choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Celebrate Community in “Choosing Love” Concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jennifer Weismann 612-716-0556 jennifer@owl-marketing.com DIVERSE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE CELEBRATE COMMUNITY IN “CHOOSING LOVE” CONCERT Young singers with uplifting message of acceptance perform at the Ordway in St Paul, April 24 MINNEAPOLIS—March 31, 2022—Reimagining our community as a beloved source of acceptance, affirmation, and love for every…  Read More

VocalEssence takes the music of Bob Dylan on a Minnesota Tour

Grand Rapids Herald Review | March 18, 2022 https://www.grandrapidsmn.com/news/vocalessence-takes-the-music-of-bob-dylan-on-a-minnesota-tour/article_f3180904-a4a9-11ec-aa15-a795169a94f8.html From Jimi Hendrix to the Kronos Quartet, Bob Dylan’s music has been covered by just about everyone. Members of the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers will present their own take on Minnesota’s native son.  “The Times They Are A-Changin’: The Words and Music of Bob Dylan,”…  Read More

Celebrating Black Choral Music All Year Long

Mike Rowan  Chorus America | February 25, 2022 https://chorusamerica.org/node/17948 Black History Month was first celebrated in 1924 as “Negro History Week,” founded by Black historian Carter G. Woodson with the aim that Black students in particular would be formally taught about their own heritage and the contributions of African Americans in their schools. As Black History Month…  Read More

A vocal witness

Jeff Wheeler Instagram and Star Tribune Metro Section  | March 4, 2022   Members of The Aeolians, including Laila Darville, center, sang during rehearsal with the VocalEssence Chorus and VocalEssence Singers of This Age, a choir made up of Twin Cities high school kids Tuesday night at Orchestra Hall ahead of their concert this Sunday…  Read More

Our Friday best: Minnesota Dance Theatre turns 60, Dua Lipa, ‘Waitress’ and a fairy tale for adults

By Star Tribune Staff Star Tribune | March 4, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/our-friday-best-minnesota-dance-theatre-turns-60-dua-lipa-waitress-and-a-fairy-tale-for-adults/600152411/ Critics’ picks for entertainment in the week ahead. CAROLINE YANG Minnesota Dance Theatre premiered “Chichester Psalms” with VocalEssence last fall at Orchestra Hall. Dua Lipa After collecting the Grammy for best new artist in 2019, the British pop star backed up the accolades with…  Read More

‘Midwinter’ heats up with plethora of weekend events

By Sheila Regan MinnPost | March 3, 2022 https://www.minnpost.com/artscape/2022/03/midwinter-heats-up-with-plethora-of-weekend-events/?fbclid=IwAR0tuVjmxPdbyAK319SueeYnXugY5Lns98LMibnlx4rUYX24uoEBDh2EveI There’s flamenco happening in St. Paul at Park Square, and gallery reception happening at Macalester with four really interesting artists that are looking at history and memory in unusual ways. Congratulations. We’ve gotten past the direst cold months and welcome a reprieve as we officially enter “midwinter.”…  Read More

Send in the voices

by John Birge YourClassical | February 28, 2022 https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2022/02/28/send-in-the-voices A world of great voices comes to the Land of 10,000 choirs this week. Honored with the title “Choir of the World” at the World Choir Games in 2017, The Aeolians is a student choir from Oakwood University, an HBCU in Huntsville Alabama. They inspire you…  Read More

The big gigs: 10 concerts to see in the Twin Cities this week

By Chris Riemenschneider, Jon Bream and Rob Hubbard  Star Tribune | March 2, 2022 https://www.startribune.com/the-big-gigs-10-concerts-to-see-in-the-twin-cities-dua-lipa-connie-han-kiss-the-tiger-rick-wakeman/600152050/ Live music highlights for March 4-9 include Dua Lipa, First Ave’s Best New Bands, the Beths, VocalEssence and more. Friday, March 4 First Avenue’s Best New Bands: Don’t worry, the two-month postponement of this annual roundup of Minnesota buzzmakers didn’t take away any of…  Read More

Performers pivoted and voices rose, sounding notes of optimism on the classical scene

By Rob Hubbard Special to the Star Tribune | December 23, 2021 https://www.startribune.com/performers-pivoted-and-voices-rose-sounding-notes-of-optimism-on-the-classical-scene/600129797/  KYNDELL HARKNESS, STAR TRIBUNE G. Phillip Shoultz III led a rehearsal for the “Voices Rising” concert. 1. “Voices Rising: A Choral Affirmation of Black Lives,” June 16: VocalEssence’s G. Phillip Shoultz III led singers from 12 Twin Cities choirs in a powerful program of new…  Read More

Winter Classic between Wild, Blues to celebrate ‘State of Hockey’

by NHL Public Relations @PR_NHL December 16, 2021 https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-winter-classic-to-celebrate-state-of-hockey/c-329066106 U.S. women’s Olympic team will be named; eight pond hockey rinks part of outdoor game NEW YORK — Minnesota’s exalted status as the ‘State of Hockey’ will be the centerpiece of the revelry surrounding the 2022 Discover NHL Winter Classic®, the sold-out New Year’s Day outdoor matchup between…  Read More

Music review: VocalEssence, Bach Society deliver healthy dose of rejoicing in ‘Christmas Oratorio’

By SHEILA REGAN Pioneer Press | December 4, 2021  https://www.twincities.com/2021/12/04/music-review-vocalessence-bach-society-deliver-healthy-dose-of-rejoicing-in-christmas-oratorio/  Decked out with birch trees and wreaths, the Basilica of Saint Mary in downtown Minneapolis brought in the Christmas season when the combined forces of VocalEssence and the Bach Society of Minnesota presented four of the six Cantatas that make up Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” Situated…  Read More

Violin in front of sheet music with pine, red berries, and red ornaments

Reignite your holiday traditions with 8 great concerts by Twin Cities classical groups

By Rob Hubbard Star Tribune | DECEMBER 1, 2021 https://www.startribune.com/reignite-your-holiday-traditions-with-8-great-concerts-by-twin-cities-classical-groups/600122571/?refresh=true  From a bounty of Bach to a Kate DiCamillo opera, there’s plenty on tap. Stop-motion animator Erin Pollock made a video to accompany Minnesota Opera’s “Edward Tulane Choral Suite,” streaming for free starting Dec. 13. Last December proved a winter of discontent for those who…  Read More