Deep Roots Honors 30 Years of WITNESS at Orchestra Hall
Join us at Deep Roots at Orchestra Hall on Sunday, February 23, 2020 at 4:30 PM. Tickets start at just $10! https://www.vocalessence.org/event/concert-deep-roots/
Stories & Results
Sponsor a Seat for just $25
Who is your inspiration? On February 24, 3,462 students from 34 schools will hear our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age at the WITNESS Young People’s Concerts. But here is the catch… In order to make the concerts possible for all, we need to raise $25 per student. Sponsor a seat (or two)… Read More →
100 Baby Care Packages for Minnesota Babies
VocalEssence and the Healthy Black Pregnancies initiative are teaming up to give 100 new babies a birthday gift – their very own Baby Care Package. Each package costs $40, and we need your help to purchase supplies for 100 babies. A donation of any amount is appreciated! Click Here to Give a Birthday Gift Each… Read More →
Celebrate MLK Weekend with VESOTA
Come and celebrate the incredible legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with our radically diverse youth choir VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA). See below for more information. Together We Sing Festival Date/Time: Saturday, January 18,2020 from 1:30-5 PM Location: Minnesota History Center, Saint Paul Cost: Free, but registration required More Information: https://www.vocalessence.org/event/family-together-we-sing-festival-2020/… Read More →
DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Fred and Ann Moore find quality, community and staying power in VocalEssence
When Fred and Ann Moore lived in Wisconsin, they were familiar with VocalEssence, having attended several holiday concerts over the years. “But our association began in earnest when we moved to Minnesota seven years ago and started going to almost every concert,” said Fred, who recently joined the VocalEssence board of directors. With such faithful… Read More →
Composer Kim André Arnesen Talks about Nordic Christmas
Up-and-coming Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen considered a few different factors when he sat down to choose the pieces that would become Nordic Christmas. “I looked at works that have been personal favorites in my life and those I thought had the greatest potential in this larger setting,” said Arnesen, “but I also hunted for… Read More →
Winter Wonder at Mia will feature music, crafts, and a story
Join us at Winter Wonder at Mia on December 14th! NEW this year will be a reading of the book Where Are All The Minnesotans interspersed with crafts and music. Learn more and purchase your tickets here: https://www.vocalessence.org/winter-wonder-2019/
Composer Kim André Arnesen and Nordic Christmas Premiere
Composer Kim André Arnesen is in town from Norway and is so excited for the premiere of his new piece Nordic Christmas, commissioned in honor of the 125th anniversary of Sons of Norway. Join us at a performance this December. Click here to learn more.
Dr. André Thomas Preview for What a Mighty God
Join us for What a Mighty God conducted by Dr. André Thomas on Sunday, November 17th from 4-6 PM at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN. Tickets start at $10. https://www.vocalessence.org/event/concert-what-a-mighty-god/
Where in the World are the Conductors – October 2019
After conducting the opening Divine Light concerts of the season, Artistic Director Philip Brunelle traveled to Toronto for meetings with several composers as well as former MPR favorite, Eric Friesen, back in his native Canada. The Ensemble Singers are now busy working on music for both November and December concerts including the world premiere of… Read More →
VocalEssence ReMix Welcomes Four Composers
Our VocalEssence ReMix program has a new look this season thanks to creative visioning that challenges our young composers to write new works for our Ensemble Singers, Vintage Voices, and Singers Of This Age as separate and collaborative ensembles. We are delighted to introduce you to our four ReMix composers: Chris Wallace, Kelly Krebs, Bex… Read More →
VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Annual Retreat
Year three for the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA) promises to be our most exciting one yet! We are thrilled to welcome over 20 new young artists to join our 22 returning singers. It’s also exciting to note that we have expanded the number of schools with VESOTA representation by three! The second annual… Read More →
Paid Parental Leave at VocalEssence
VocalEssence announced today a new paid parental leave program for employees, providing eight weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a new child. The program will be available to mothers and fathers equally. “We are proud to provide this important benefit to our employees to ease some of the burden… Read More →
Behind the Music for Divine Light
Artistic Director Philip Brunelle carefully selected each piece for the Divine Light concert on Sunday, October 13th. Watch and read more about why below and purchase your tickets today! The Ensemble Singers are an amazing group—certainly Minnesota’s finest! I want them to sing for you a program that gives you, the listener, an idea of… Read More →
Explore the Limits of the Human Voice at Divine Light
Purchase your tickets to Divine Light on Sunday, October 13, 2019 by clicking here! A Silence Haunts Me In 2017, Jake Runestad travelled to Vienna and found himself in the Haus der Musik Museum in Vienna, where he encountered a facsimile of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Heiligenstadt Testament. It was the first time he had read… Read More →