Search Results

Searched for: 651
People wearing red and white Santa hats holding black folders and singing.

VocalEssence Holiday Programming 2024

VocalEssence has several opportunities to listen and watch over the holidays. Here are the ways you can enjoy VocalEssence programming: VocalEssence On Demand Enjoy inspiration on your schedule! This digital content is available whenever and wherever! View our digital releases-including the newly released highlights from Welcome Christmas 2024 at Northrop, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio from 2023…

VocalEssence Welcomes New Board Members

VocalEssence is thrilled to announce the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors. The VocalEssence Board of Directors serve as ambassadors for the organization in the larger community. They also guide VocalEssence in all major policy decisions while ensuring the financial stability of the 56-year-old nonprofit. “I’m delighted to welcome our new…

Image of a lighthouse in the midst of a storm with lightning, dark clouds, and birds flying.

Concert: Weather: Stand the Storm

May 24 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

In a collaboration between One Voice Mixed Chorus, Singing City, Elevate Vocal Arts, and VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, this program is is aimed at both acknowledging and commemorating the 5th anniversary of the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. Expect an emotional and powerful call to ACTION, which we hope will inspire…

2023-2024 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…

Sing with Vintage Voices

About Our Audition Process Registration for the 2023-24 season is now open for the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and Chorus. Read below for information about each ensemble and the audition requirements.…  Read More

Amy Jaine Wielunski

Executive Director phone 612-547-1454 amy@vocalessence.org Amy Jaine Wielunski joined VocalEssence as Executive Director in 2024, bringing with her 22 years of non-profit experience at organizations with local, state-wide, and national…  Read More

Many singers perform in front of an audience in the ornate sanctuary of the Cathedral of Saint Paul that features a baldachin with black and gold marble columns that has a bronze latticework canopy. Photo Credit: Bruce Silcox

Concert: Voices for a Cathedral

Apr 4 @ 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Let the engaging sounds of music by Scottish composer and conductor Sir James MacMillan captivate you. MacMillan’s music draws from his Scottish heritage, strong Catholic faith, and social conscience, and is influenced by Celtic folk music as well as Far Eastern, Scandinavian, and Eastern European music. Hear 7 Twin Cities church choirs join forces to…

Four different VocalEssence singers, each in a different colored background: dark blue, bright orange, teal, and yellow. VocalEssence logo, "Seasons of Song" and 2024-2025 Season. Design: Lora Joshi, Photo Credit (Singer Images L-R): Bruce Silcox, Kyndell Harkness, Blue Key Media, and Anna Min

VocalEssence 2024-2025 Season

Jun 24, 2024 @ 10:00 am - May 24, 2025 @ 5:00 pm

Seasons of Song Join VocalEssence as we celebrate 56 seasons of singing together. From a performance of the musical journey of Swedish immigrants brought to life by the legendary ABBA songwriters Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, and collaborations with the Bach Society of Minnesota and Northrop, to a week-long festival featuring the music of world-renowned…

Philip Brunelle, conductor, looks into the camera smiling with his hands open and near his face. Photo Credit: Anna Min

Concert: Philip’s Favorites II, May 4

May 4 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

“Incredible music flawlessly presented and deeply moving. I would come to a performance of Philip’s Additional Favorites every year.” —Philip’s Favorites Audience Member Back by popular demand! VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director Philip Brunelle has more favorite pieces—along with the stories behind the music—from the past 56 years to share. Join the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers…

Philip Brunelle, conductor, looks into the camera smiling with his hands open and near his face. Photo Credit: Anna Min

Concert: Philip’s Favorites II, May 3

May 3 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

“Incredible music flawlessly presented and deeply moving. I would come to a performance of Philip’s Additional Favorites every year.” —Philip’s Favorites Audience Member Back by popular demand! VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director Philip Brunelle has more favorite pieces—along with the stories behind the music—from the past 56 years to share. Join the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers…

The sun and its rays shine beams of light through clouds breaking into blue sky above the sun and an orange hued sky below. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Image

Concert: Sacred Voices

Apr 6 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Sir James MacMillan is a world-renowned Scottish composer and conductor whose belief in the spiritual power of music is evident in all his works. Guided by his strong faith, his music creatively uses melody and dissonance to tell the story of the beauty—and challenging complexity—of life on earth. Join VocalEssence, the U of M University…

VocalEssence singers wearing black and multicolored stoles perform on stage for the annual WITNESS concert. Photo Credit: Kyndell Harkness

Concert: WITNESS: Eyes Still On the Prize

Feb 23 @ 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm

Be part of the journey to “keep your eyes on the prize and hold on” as you sing and experience the weaving together of stories that connect our past struggles to our present pursuit of an equitable future for all. VocalEssence joins forces with a collective of Twin Cities-based artists—actors, dancers, storytellers, and musicians—presenting songs…

A watercolor illustration of a group of people standing in brown and orange grasses holding hands and looking at a blue sky. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Image

Concert: Mending the Sky

May 17 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

Taking inspiration from a Chinese fable where a rip in the sky causes the earth to split open, this concert explores love and loss, life and death, and ultimately invites us to work towards transformation and reconciliation. Through the powerful combination of voice and percussion, the VocalEssence Chorus will perform movements from Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Brahms’s…

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,…