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. Ensemble Singers Auditions Eight paid positions per section; professional experience required. Ensemble Singers re-audition annually. Auditioning for the Ensemble Singers consists of two rounds: Round 1… Read More →
Executive Director phone 612-547-1454 amy@vocalessence.org Amy Jaine Wielunski joined VocalEssence as executive director in 2024 and is a non-profit leader with 22 years’ experience of cross-functional work at organizations with local, state-wide, and national reach. She has a proven track record as a collaborative and influential relationship builder with deep knowledge of business operations, workplace… Read More →
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…
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…
“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…
“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…
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…
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…
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…
“Shout for joy!” Back by popular demand, the Bach Society of Minnesota and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers renew their collaboration to tell one of the greatest musical Christmas stories of all time. Hear three cantatas from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio as well as Cantata 40, originally written for the second day of Christmas. Nearly…
“Shout for joy!” Back by popular demand, the Bach Society of Minnesota and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers renew their collaboration to tell one of the greatest musical Christmas stories of all time. Hear three cantatas from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio as well as Cantata 40, originally written for the second day of Christmas. Nearly…
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 yourself in new and familiar favorites featuring all four VocalEssence ensembles singing together. Mix in harp, brass, percussion, and Northrop’s spectacular Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, plus our special ingredient—your…
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 yourself in new and familiar favorites featuring all four VocalEssence ensembles singing together. Mix in harp, brass, percussion, and Northrop’s spectacular Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, plus our special ingredient—your…
Join us for the musical journey of Kristina Nilsson and her family, brought to life by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the legendary songwriters of ABBA. Based on Vilhelm Moberg’s The Emigrants, this concert version of the musical chronicles the Nilsson family and their courageous journey from the harsh realities of mid-19th century Sweden to…
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,…
