For the second year in a row, at the request of the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) choir teachers, VocalEssence partnered with MPS to hold an All District Choir Festival. On Wednesday, January 28, more than 300 singers from Minneapolis Public Middle and High Schools gathered together at Ted Mann Concert Hall on the University of…
For 36 years, VocalEssence WITNESS has celebrated the contributions of the Black community to our shared American heritage through concerts, recordings, and school programs. (Learn more about our WITNESS program here.) On Sunday, February 22, prior to the VocalEssence WITNESS: Symphony of Spirituals concert, join us for a moment of community before the music starts.…
For 36 years, VocalEssence WITNESS has celebrated the contributions of the Black community to our shared American heritage through concerts, recordings, and school programs. (Learn more about our WITNESS program here.) On Sunday, February 22, prior to the VocalEssence WITNESS: Symphony of Spirituals concert, join us for a moment of community before the music starts.…
On Sunday, January 18th, 2026, a cathartic Martin Luther King tribute concert was held at Westwood Lutheran Church. VocalEssence Associate Artistic Director G. Phillip Shoultz, who is also the cantor at Westwood, curated the program, which was inspired by a well-known MLK quote, “faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole…
Parking Cathedral of Saint Paul Lot & Street Parking: There will be a mass ending about 1 pm on Sunday, with limited parking on the surface lot at the intersection… Read More →
For more than four decades, the music of Sir John Rutter has echoed through the concert halls of the VocalEssence performance seasons. Now, as we welcome him for a weekend of music on the occasion of his 80th birthday, we invite you to join us for an intimate reception in his honor. On Saturday, January…
Celebrate the season with VocalEssence the way it works for you! From exciting live concerts to a program you can stream on demand as you cozy up with family around the fire, there’s bound to be something for you to keep the spirit of the season going on your schedule.
VocalEssence is thrilled to announce the addition of five 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 57-year-old nonprofit. “I’m delighted to welcome our new…
Anita Ruth has been a VocalEssence Teaching Artist for more than 20 years. She shared the story of how it all began as well as a favorite memory of hers from her time working in schools for the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program. While doing a show at Ruby’s Cabaret in downtown Minneapolis some thirty years…
Available Now! VocalEssence is thrilled to announce a new album, How to Hold On: Songs of Comfort and Solace, will be released on Friday, September 26. This album is a reflection in song about the difficulties and beauty of being a human being. Featuring close friend of VocalEssence, Melanie DeMore, and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers,…
Give your soul the space to breathe and be fully present as Melanie DeMore leads you in an experience of connecting and community-building through song. Hear selections from the newly… Read More →
As a distinguished member of the VocalEssence family, you and a guest are cordially invited to a special event celebrating the launch of a new recording from VocalEssence and Melanie DeMore on Friday, September 26 at Minnesota Public Radio Headquarters. Introducing How to Hold On: Songs of Comfort and Solace A new album from the…
Join us for a season of discovery, innovation, masterworks, collaboration, and community. Discovery Baked into the DNA of VocalEssence is our focus on new music and new composers. This season will feature the world premiere of a newly commissioned work by composer Shruthi Rajasekar and the Midwest premiere of a VocalEssence co-commissioned song cycle based…
VocalEssence has a deep and rich history of nurturing community and bridging cultural differences through the power of singing together. And for many years, the NEA has funded the VocalEssence WITNESS program, which celebrates the contributions the Black community makes to the fine arts and to our common cultural heritage. When it comes to federal…
