Philip Brunelle, MBE, and the 32-voice Vocalessence Ensemble Singers
embark Saturday on a seven-day tour of England. Brunelle admitted this
week that his royal title — Member of the Order of the British Empire
— doesn’t even get him free coffee in Minnesota, but across the pond,
"it is a big deal."

Brunelle talked about the tour, the ensemble’s first European venture in six years.

Q What do you see as the highlights?

A There are three very different highlights. First is one we
weren’t really planning on, and that’s the idea of a concert on
Inauguration Day. We were given that date to be at St. John’s Smith
Square in London but we weren’t thinking it was going to be the
inauguration of a new president. So we added a few songs to make it
something special for that occasion. Second is the extremely rare
opportunity to do a concert at King’s College Chapel. And third is a
collaboration with the BBC singers.

Q How do you get into King’s College — just e-mail an application?

A You know the director. This is how it happened: Stephen
Cleobury and I are old friends. I called him and said the ensemble
singers are coming to England and we’d like to include King’s College
Chapel. And he said yours is an outstanding choir, you must come.

Q The history of King’s College breathes in the walls, but what about the technical acoustics from a performance standpoint?

A It is the acoustic that is quite unlike any other building
in England. Most people here know it because of the broadcast on Dec.
24 of Lessons and Carols. But it’s a very special acoustic in the
building, which has been there 500-plus years. It’s amazing how softly
you can sing and it comes out full. Which is why in the service of
Lessons and Carols, one single boy soprano with no accompaniment fills
the room. You walk into the place and you say, "Oh, my word, ‘I’m at
King’s.’ " There’s a kind of majesty about the room.

Q Tell us what you’re doing with the Inauguration Day concert.

A Well, we wondered how can we make the concert a little
different at the end and focus it on what’s happening in Washington
without going yeah, rah rah. To make it Minnesotan, Garrison Keillor
has written new words to "My Country ‘Tis of Thee," very sweet about
what America is. And I thought we could do a part of Randall Thompson’s
piece based on words by Thomas Jefferson, "Words of Freedom." And then
close with "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and ask everyone to join in.

Q Do you worry about getting an audience on tour?

A I worry about getting a house anytime. But in a tour like
this, I wanted us to avoid summertime because that’s when every church,
high school, college choir wants to go. I wanted to go during the
subscription part of the year so these concerts are going to be part of
a season. The London concert on Inauguration Day, however, is ours. We
booked the hall and we’re responsible for getting the word out. But
when we go to Birmingham, that’s a season of concerts we can be a part
of. And in Oxford. As for the concert with the BBC singers, I have
conducted them, so I called and asked could we combine for a concert?
Then we made it work.

Q What does a tour do for you?

A Two things. It’s no different than an orchestra — it helps
an ensemble bond together. Rather than singing once a weekend, you sing
every day. There’s a different kind of work when in the course of 10
days you’re doing seven concerts. You’re working to listen to each
other, every day. It really strengthens the ensemble sound, spirit. And
it’s just a fact of life that when you go to another place, people at
home are proud that you’re represented and you’re given more visibility
when you return.

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299