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Philip’s Favorites II

Advance ticket sales for these concerts are now closed. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at American Swedish Institute beginning at 3PM on the performance date. Two Performances Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 4 PM Larson Hall, American Swedish Institute 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 4 PM Larson Hall,…

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio 2024

Two Performances Friday, December 13, 2024 at 7:30 PM St. Paul’s United Church of Christ 900 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 4 PM Westwood Lutheran Church 9001 Cedar Lake Rd, St. Louis Park, MN “Shout for joy!” Back by popular demand, the Bach Society of Minnesota and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers renew…

Welcome Christmas 2024

Two Performances Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 4 PM Northrop 84 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 4 PM Northrop 84 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN Forget the hustle and bustle—take time to experience the wonder and joy of the season as VocalEssence returns to the magnificent Northrop stage to welcome Christmas in song. Immerse…

Black-Owned Business and Artist Showcase

At this year’s WITNESS: Leading with Love concert, VocalEssence was thrilled to feature a showcase of Black makers and entrepreneurs who align themselves with the message of “leading with love.” Target Atrium at Orchestra Hall was bustling with activity on the day of the event. There were book readings, songs sung, improv comedy skits performed,…

Lead with Love Pledge

To Lead with Love is to acknowledge that everyone deserves the right to live in a world that allows them to be fully alive and thrive. Leading with love is not just a choice that we make or a mindset that we adopt, it is cultivating the practice of belovedness and hospitality each and every…

VocalEssence WITNESS School Program

The VocalEssence WITNESS School Program is an exciting opportunity for Minnesota students and teachers to learn more about the contributions African Americans have made, and are making, to the fine arts and to our shared cultural heritage. Register for the 2025-2026 VocalEssence WITNESS School Program today! Good news: there’s still space at the 12:45 PM concert! Don’t…

Melanie DeMore, holding a pounding stick, stands in front of VocalEssence singers also holding pounding sticks. Photo Credit: Kyndell Harkness

Hope Renewed Digital Concert Program

FEATURING: VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Shanelle Gabriel, guest artist Casey Rafn, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor

VocalEssence Announces New Executive Director

MINNEAPOLIS—April 17, 2024—VocalEssence is pleased to announce 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…

2022-2023 Supporters

VocalEssence is blessed to have so many committed supporters. Thank you for all that you do to keep our community singing! Although we make every effort to ensure that our Honor Roll list is accurate and complete, we are capable of error. Please let us know if your name does not appear the way you…

Healing Beats Sessions

“Telling our stories takes time and space.”—Healing Beats Session Participant “We are all connected. We are all ancestors.”—Healing Beats Session Participant Over the past few months VocalEssence held Healing Beats Sessions led by Melanie DeMore at five sites around the Twin Cities. Melanie DeMore has expertise in the traditions of the Gullah persons from the…

Philip Brunelle Featured on Connect the Dots

Choral music called … and Philip Brunelle answered “Connect the Dots” from Minnesota Now | February 20, 2024 Cathy Wurzer, Chris Farrell and Ellen Finn Philip Brunelle has done it all. Currently, he’s the founder and artistic director of VocalEssence. VocalEssence is based at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. Brunelle has led the choir for 55 years. A…