In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Amy Cheney Beach. Amy Cheney Beach 1867-1944 The pioneering composer Amy Cheney Beach was the first American woman to compose large-scale concert music and find widespread success. Born in Henniker, New Hampshire, Beach demonstrated outstanding… Read More →
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle is being feted this summer! Chorus America, the the advocacy, research, and leadership development organization that advances the choral field across North America, is giving him the Distinguished Service Award on Friday, June 12. Watch him receive the award on their YouTube channel. The Society for American Music, dedicated to the… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Percy Grainger. Percy Grainger 1882-1961 Australian-American composer and pianist Percy Grainger was best known for his work as a collector and arranger of folk music. Grainger’s mother taught him from their home in Melbourne until… Read More →
Our Vintage Voices program for older adults has joined the virtual world. Conductor Robert Graham is now leading members from the Trillium Woods Chorale and Parkshore Singers in both rehearsals and social gatherings on Zoom every two weeks. These same activities will begin this summer with the Sabathani Vintage Voices, our flagship ensemble of the Vintage Voices program. This is in addition to… Read More →
As we all do our part to be agents of change, the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age have a message and a challenge for us all. We believe love inspires action. We believe love creates change. We believe love pursues justice. We sing in love. Let’s fight injustice, change systems, and lift our voices with love… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Richard Rodney Bennett. Richard Rodney Bennett 1936-2012 English composer and pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett was known for his compositions for both concert and film music. He began composing at a young age and studied… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer John Tavener. John Tavener 1944-2013 English composer Sir John Tavener was best known for his sacred choral works that mesmerize choirs and audiences around the world. He began improvising and composing from the piano at… Read More →
Our hearts are grieving as yet again another life—another Black life— was violently taken away. George Floyd did not have to die. Philando Castile did not have to die. Jamar Clark did not have to die. Countless other men and women should not have lost their lives due to these intolerable acts of injustice. It… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Adolphus Hailstork. Adolphus Hailstork b. 1941 The music of the accomplished composer Adolphus Hailstork is frequently performed and commissioned by acclaimed ensembles throughout the United States. Hailstork studied at the Manhattan School of Music under… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Julio Morales. Julio Morales b. 1987 Julio Morales is a Mexican choral conductor, composer, arranger, pianist, and music educator. His current engagements include serving as the choral conductor in the Community Choir Program of the… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Jake Runestad, featuring a performance by the composer himself. Jake Runestad b. 1986 The prolific Minnesota-based composer Jake Runestad composes for virtually all types of classical genres and ensembles and is especially praised for his… Read More →
When the “shelter at home” paradigm began back in March, VESOTA sprang into action with their “Sounds Of Hope” videos, spreading compassion through individual performances on social media when we could not do so together. Since then, they have been engaged in a project we’re calling Creative Connections. Creative Connections was developed by VESOTA’s leadership… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Florence Price. Florence Price 1887-1953 The trailblazing composer and teacher Florence Price was the first Black American woman to gain widespread acclaim for her work as a symphonic composer. Price was born in Little Rock,… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Hector Berlioz. Hector Berlioz 1803-1869 During his lifetime, the music of the innovative French conductor and composer Hector Berlioz was highly controversial. The son of a doctor, Berlioz defied his parents’ wishes for him to… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Nathaniel Dett. Nathaniel Dett 1882-1943 Canadian-American composer, educator, and conductor Nathaniel Dett not only wrote over one hundred works for choirs, solo voice, instrumental ensembles, and piano, but also played an important role as an… Read More →
