Welcome to the

VocalEssence Classroom RESOURCE hub

Welcome from the LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT TEAM

Thank you for registering for VocalEssence WITNESS! Enjoy these free resources funded by institutions and individual donors. Scroll down to view video workshops and accompanying resources created by the VocalEssence Teaching Artists and Associate Conductor | Director of Learning and Engagement, G. Phillip Shoultz, III.

Meet our Teaching Artists-click on their photo to read their bio!

2022-2023 Resources

WITNESS Planning Meeting GUIDE

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Teachers and Teaching Artists will use these questions and information to guide their conversation during the pre-workshop planning meeting. At the end of the meeting, be sure to complete and sign the "Planning Meeting Checklist" and return that to Rob Graham.

WITNESS Planning Meeting GUIDE
WITNESS Planning Meeting CHECKLIST

CLICK THIS TILE TO DOWNLOAD

After using the Planning Meeting Guide to help guide your conversation and planning process, please complete this checklist by placing a checkmark by each category discussed, and then the Teaching Artist and Primary Contact teacher are to sign and date the checklist form. Please return to Rob Graham via email.

WITNESS Planning Meeting CHECKLIST
Black is a Rainbow Color

This performance from the 2021-2022 VocalEssence WITNESS Young People's Concert features Teaching Artists Ginger Commodore, T. Mychael Rambo and Timothy Berry performing a spoken word rendition of the poem "Black is a Rainbow Color" by Angela Joy. Students and teachers are encouraged to sing along to the refrain "Black can be a rainbow, be a rainbow, be a rainbow too" each time while watching and listening.

Black is a Rainbow Color
Send Me a Rainbow

"Send Me a Rainbow" is a poem by dancer, choreographer and literary artist and VocalEssence Teaching Artist Karla Nweje. This performance, by Karla, and fellow Teaching Artists Roxane Wallace and Patricia Brown, premiered at the 2021-2022 VocalEssence WITNESS Young People's Concert. Students and teachers are encouraged to follow along and move with the dancers as Karla teaches each sequence.

Send Me a Rainbow
Love Like Fire

Joe Davis and members of The New Renaissance, backed up by singers from VocalEssence and several other Twin Cities choral groups, performing their hit "Love Like Fire" from the 2021 concert, Voices Rising: A Choral Affirmation of Black Lives, at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.

Love Like Fire
2022 WITNESS Teacher Orientation Video Recording

Part 1: Beginning (0:00) - Intro to WITNESS Theme
Part 2: 15:13 - Meet the VocalEssence Teaching Artists and learn about their workshop plans and ideas for the year ahead
Part 3: 51:58 - Accessing the Online Classroom Resource Hub (where forms, lesson plans, video resources and activities will be located for teachers to use throughout the year)
Part 4: 1:07:00 - Meet Joe Davis, special guest artist for this year's WITNESS program and concerts

2022 WITNESS Teacher Orientation Video Recording
Part 1, Lesson 1:

The 2022-2023 VocalEssence WITNESS Program
and Concert Theme

Part 1, Lesson 1:
Part 1, Lesson 2:

Meet Joe Davis, Poet and WITNESS Guest Artist

Part 1, Lesson 2:
CLNE Leadership Profile of Joe Davis

This video is to be used in "STEP 1" of Part 1, Lesson 2: Meet Joe Davis, Poet and WITNESS Guest Artist

CLNE Leadership Profile of Joe Davis
Part 1, Lesson 3:

An Introduction to Spoken Word Poetry

Part 1, Lesson 3:
Part 2, Lesson 1:

"Show Up" by Joe Davis: What Does it Mean to Show Up?

Part 2, Lesson 1:
Part 2, Lesson 2:

What Does "Show Up" Mean to You?
Graffiti Wall Activity

Part 2, Lesson 2:
Part 3, Lesson 1:

Writing Your Own Words: Three Short Activities

Part 3, Lesson 1:
Part 3, Lesson 2:

Speaking Poetry Out Loud

Part 3, Lesson 2:
Part 3, Lesson 3:

Spoken Word + Sound: Create and Perform a Spoken Word Poem with Soundscape

Part 3, Lesson 3:
"Dream Variations I" Composed by Margaret Bonds

To be used with the lesson plan from Part 3, Lesson 3: Spoken Word + Sound: Create and Perform a Spoken Word Poem with Soundscape

"Dream Variations I" Composed by Margaret Bonds
Part 3, Lesson 4:

Create and Perform a Spoken Word Poem with Ostinato Patterns

Part 3, Lesson 4:
WITNESS Student Assessment - Crossword Puzzle

Teachers, use this crossword puzzle activity with your students after completing lesson plans for students to share what knowledge they have retained. Use the ANSWER KEY document to check for correct answers.

WITNESS Student Assessment - Crossword Puzzle
WITNESS Crossword Puzzle ANSWER KEY

Use this answer key to check your students' knowledge about what they learned from this year's WITNESS program through the crossword puzzle activity.

WITNESS Crossword Puzzle ANSWER KEY
WITNESS YPC Student Assessment: 3-2-1 Activity

The day after attending the Young People's Concert, distribute copies of this 3-2-1 assessment activity to your students who attended the concert to share their observations and what they learned and experienced.

WITNESS YPC Student Assessment: 3-2-1 Activity
What to Expect at the Young People's Concert

Designed to share with your students before the concert, either by reviewing it together as a class, or sending it to older students to complete reading it as a homework or in-class assignment. Feel free to download and print copies to share with your students.

What to Expect at the Young People's Concert

Performances and Additional Resources

2023 VocalEssence WITNESS Young People's Concert

VIMEO VERSION (for schools unable to access YouTube)

The 2023 WITNESS: Reawakening Love Young People's Concert features performances by guest artist Joe Davis and his band The Poetic Diaspora, alongside singers from the VocalEssence Chorus, Singers Of This Age, with spoken word performances by the VocalEssence Teaching Artists!

2023 VocalEssence WITNESS Young People's Concert
2023 VocalEssence WITNESS Young People's Concert

YOUTUBE VERSION (for schools unable to access VIMEO)

The 2023 WITNESS: Reawakening Love Young People's Concert features performances by guest artist Joe Davis and his band The Poetic Diaspora, alongside singers from the VocalEssence Chorus, Singers Of This Age, with spoken word performances by the VocalEssence Teaching Artists!

2023 VocalEssence WITNESS Young People's Concert
WITNESS Young People's Concert 2022

This performance features The Aeolians of Oakwood University, the 2017 Choir of the World!

WITNESS Young People's Concert 2022
VocalEssence WITNESS 2021

Join the VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, & Singers Of This Age as they explore songs rooted in activism and resistance that challenge the United States to become an equitable nation for all.

VocalEssence WITNESS 2021
Imagine

Enjoy this performance from the 2020-2021 VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Series

Imagine
Believe

Enjoy this performance from the 2020-2021 VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Series

Believe
Create

Enjoy this performance from the 2020-2021 VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Series

Create
Celebrate

Enjoy this performance from the 2020-2021 VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Series

Celebrate
Celebrating Black Excellence

Join G. Phillip Shoultz, III and VocalEssence in celebrating Black achievement in the arts and beyond. These videos were part of Take 5 with GPS a daily livestream that occurred during the pandemic.

Celebrating Black Excellence
Musical Moments: Black Composers

Join your host Philip Brunelle in Musical Moments that explore and celebrate Black composers. Each video is accompanied by a brief biography of each composer and three choral pieces by each composer selected by Philip.

Musical Moments: Black Composers