Philip Brunelle: The summer months have been fascinating for Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director–not only the time devoted to planning and studying repertoire for the upcoming 54th season, but also time in Europe and concerts at home. The end of June found Philip and his wife Carolyn in Stockholm visiting friends and meeting with…
The members of the Sabathani Vintage Voices had the honor of performing for the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening for the Sabathani Senior Housing Apartments. Click the button below to read the article featured in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Read Article
Philip Brunelle: Summer has arrived and the level of activity at VocalEssence has not diminished for Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle! All the planning for season 54 continues and is very exciting! A 5 year project has been completed and Philip is very pleased to announce that the two volume set of Stephen Paulus…
The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age were invited to perform at the second annual Arc Toward Justice program at the last Westminster Town Hall Forum of the season on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. The event featured Michele Norris and Yamiche Alcindor who discuss all that has happened in the two years since the murder of George Floyd. The… Read More →
Philip Brunelle: With the conclusion of VocalEssence 53rd season and the completion of auditions for season 54, Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle will be working on plans for the coming season as well as time to “attack” the filing of music and correspondence that awaits him! He is very pleased that this month his… Read More →
Philip Brunelle began Musical Moments as a way to connect and bring joy to people during the pandemic, but now the catalog of composers and their works will be shared broadly through the American Choral Directors Association’s Choral Journal. Click the link below to read the article OR explore the collection of Musical Moments. Read the Article Explore… Read More →
There are times where it is difficult to know how to respond to tragedy. On the evening of Ash Wednesday, composer John Rutter heard Valentin Silvestrov’s choral setting of the following text, “Good Lord, protect Ukraine. Give her strength, courage, faith, hope. Amen.” He decided to use his talents to compose his own setting of… Read More →
Our hearts are with the people of Ukraine. Please enjoy “Ščedryk”, a Ukrainian New Year’s carol by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich, arranged by Philip Brunelle. This carol, traditionally sung on January 13, tells the story of a swallow flying into a house to sing of wealth that will come the following spring (you can hear the bird… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer György Orbán. György Orbán b. 1947 The Hungarian-Romanian composer György Orbán is best known for his vocal music employing avant-garde and neoclassic techniques. Born in 1947 in Marosvásárhely, he attended the Music Academy in Kolosvár… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Aaron Jay Kernis. Aaron Jay Kernis b. 1960 Pulitzer Prize and Grammy-Award-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis is among the most esteemed musical figures of his generation. He began his musical studies on the violin; at… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Robert L. Morris Robert L. Morris b. 1941 Robert L. Morris, a well-published American composer and arranger, was Director of Choral Activities at Macalester. He holds degrees from DePaul University, Indiana University, and The University… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Abbie Betinis. Abbie Betinis b. 1980 The music of Abbie Betinis has been heard in some of the finest concert halls in the United States, and is enjoying growing acclaim abroad. Praised for its melodic… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Georg Schumann. Georg Schumann 1866-1952 Georg Schumann was a German composer and director of the Sing-Akademie in Berlin. He first studied the violin and organ with his father and grandfather and was taught by Friedrich… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Robert Buckley Farlee. Robert Buckley Farlee b. 1950 Minnesota composer Robert Buckley Farlee is Associate Pastor and Director of Music at Christ Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Bob Farlee and his wife Jane Buckley-Farlee were ordained… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Melanie DeMore. Melanie DeMore b. Prolific African-American composer Melanie DeMore was born in the Bronx, raised in Anchorage, and moved to San Antonio to complete her schooling. “Getting off,” as DeMore calls it, on… Read More →
