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VOCALESSENCE ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chicago Public Media VP of Membership Amy Wielunski joins VocalEssence as new co-leader of Minnesota’s largest choral organization

MINNEAPOLIS—April 17, 2024—VocalEssence is pleased to announce today that Amy Wielunski will join the internationally-renowned Twin Cities choral and community-building nonprofit in the role of executive director.

A leader with 22 years of experience of cross-functional work at nonprofit organizations with local, state, and national reach, Wielunski was most recently vice-president of membership at Chicago Public Media, home to the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ Chicago. Wielunski led the team responsible for the burgeoning Sun-Times digital membership program, and in her time at Chicago Public Media, WBEZ membership revenue grew more than 10 percent, to nearly $13M. Before joining Chicago Public Media, Amy oversaw membership programs at Minnesota Public Radio, where she worked for three years, as well as New York Public Radio, WSKG, and WTMD.

“We’re thrilled to have Amy, with her boundless energy and bright ideas, back to the Twin Cities to run VocalEssence, the largest choral organization in Minnesota,” says Carolina Maranon-Cobos, VocalEssence board president. “We are so grateful to have had Mary Ann Aufderheide help build our organization into a leader in reach and impact, and in Amy, we have found a perfect combination of strategic visionary and collaboration-oriented sounding board to lead our talented crew and drive the organization forward into new territory. And it doesn’t hurt that she is a longtime choral singer and arts patron herself!”

“Our search for the next VocalEssence executive director has certainly ended on a high note with Amy Wielunski!” says Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder, VocalEssence. “She is someone with in-depth nonprofit leadership experience who can offer a fresh perspective to our more-than-half-a-century VocalEssence legacy. We’re tremendously proud of everything we’ve accomplished and the joyous network of voices we’ve created, and Amy is the perfect person to make sure we innovate and adapt to remain a vital force in the global choral culture and within our own always-changing local community.”

“I am beyond excited to join an organization that lives its mission so boldly,” says Amy Wielunski. “I was drawn to the commitment VocalEssence has in serving as a catalyst for change, not only in terms of creativity in choral programming, but in the learning and engagement space as well. There are so many brilliant, passionate minds at work within the VocalEssence family and I can’t wait to dig into the work of developing a shared vision with this incredible team—and to co-lead those efforts alongside the inimitable Philip Brunelle. My world has always been one filled with music, from singing around the piano with my siblings to performing in choral ensembles through college and beyond. I fervently believe in the power of music and the experience of singing together as a way to bridge cultural differences and foster a sense of belonging. And as a former Minnesotan, I am both delighted to return to the Twin Cities and honored to have the opportunity to play a part in an organization that has such a profound impact in this community.”

Wielunski will join VocalEssence in June 2024, succeeding retiring executive director Mary Ann Aufderheide, who served in that role for more than 20 years.

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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