Stories & Results

At Thanksgiving, Enjoy a Bit of ‘Summer’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMTCe1c7iko As you celebrate Thanksgiving, take a break from the chill of fall and enjoy this video. The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, conducted by Dale Warland, performed “Summer” from Seasons by Dominick Argento at the VocalEssence Made in Minnesota concert on Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. Happy Thanksgiving!

‘Brothers, Sing On’: 200-Voice High School Male Chorus Rocks Rehearsal

Students from six Twin Cities high schools gathered on Monday, November 16 at Southwest High School in Minneapolis for their first rehearsal with VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III to prepare for their performance with VocalEssence and the Morehouse College Glee Club for the WITNESS concerts in February 2016. Students learned five songs, rehearsed…  Read More

MEET OUR MUSIC MAKERS: Chorus Member Kristi Mueller Finds Something Special in Each Performance

The VocalEssence Chorus is an exceptional group of 90 talented, committed singers from many walks of life—doctors, lawyers, nurses, educators, homemakers, business people and others—most with college-level or higher training in classical music and voice. Our 32-voice professional choir, the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, is known as one of Minnesota’s most highly trained and experienced group…  Read More

Meet Our 2015 Welcome Christmas Carol Contest Winners

VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum are pleased to announce the two winning composers of their 18th annual Welcome Christmas Carol Contest. This year, the contest sought new carols for SATB Chorus and trumpet in B-flat or C. Carols composed by Josh Bauder and Laura Caviani, both of Minnesota, were selected from a total of…  Read More

Help Us Fill Orchestra Hall with Young People in February!

This year we are challenging VocalEssence supporters to help us fill Orchestra Hall with young people in February: 5,418 students are slated to attend the WITNESS Young People’s Concerts to see VocalEssence and the Morehouse College Glee Club on stage. But here’s the catch … The cost of the WITNESS program and Young People’s Concerts…  Read More

Participants ‘Create Community and Share Beauty” at Fox Cities Choral Music Festival

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si-PTAGf6Nc VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III and a quartet of Ensemble Singers traveled to Wisconsin this week for a two-day choral music festival that cast Phillip as guest conductor of the mass choir of three high schools, while also working with soloists and leading teacher workshops. Ensemble Singers Joseph Ellickson, Robert Graham,…  Read More

VocalEssence Welcomes 2015-2016 Season Sponsor Thrivent Financial

Our 47th Season is highlighted by significant collaborations and partnerships, not only artistically, but also with our season sponsors! VocalEssence has partnered with Thrivent Financial in presenting our 2015-2016 Season programming as well as our biennial fundraiser VocalEssence Choralia; we are grateful for the support of this not-for-profit membership organization of Christians that for over…  Read More

Voz en Punto Program Peek: ‘Bésame Mucho’ & ‘Tilingolingo’

https://vimeo.com/70340076 Voz en Punto is “one of the world’s great vocal sextets,” says VocalEssence Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. “This amazing group of singers has a 25-year history of celebrating the musical culture of Mexico, past and present, as well as performing music from around the world. Their blend, their flexibility, and their love for music…  Read More

Meet Our VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! 2015-2016 Composers

Mexican composers Francisco Zúñiga Olmos and Alephsus Valdés will spend four weeks in the Twin Cities over the course of three visits with elementary schools and community choral singers, exploring Mexican cultural and choral music traditions as part of VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! 2015-2016. The new music they write will be premiered at the ¡Cantaré! Community Concerts…  Read More

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: Don Shelby Teams with VocalEssence on Stage and on Board

Don Shelby has been involved “one way or another” with VocalEssence for the past 25 years, since he first appeared in a production of “Of Thee I Sing.” Now Don is on the board of VocalEssence, and the award-winning former news reporter and anchor has taken on other roles as well. “I’ve played the role…  Read More

From Reviews to Reflections, Powerful ‘Dreams of the Fallen’ Resonates Deeply

Exquisite, moving, and remarkable are words that have been used to describe the VocalEssence Dreams of the Fallen concert on Sunday, October 11 at the O’Shaughnessy, performed by the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers, the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Biegel and Maria Jette, and featuring the Midwest premiere of Jake Runestad’s Dreams of the Fallen.…  Read More

MEET OUR MUSIC MAKERS: Chorus Member KatiLee M. Larson Is ‘So Happy to Be Here!’

The VocalEssence Chorus is an exceptional group of 90 talented, committed singers from many walks of life—doctors, lawyers, nurses, educators, homemakers, business people and others—most with college-level or higher training in classical music and voice. Our 32-voice professional choir, the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, is known as one of Minnesota’s most highly trained and experienced group…  Read More

Honoring Veterans’ Stories and Service with Veterans’ Voices Programs

VocalEssence has partnered with the Minnesota Humanities Center’s Veterans’ Voices Program, which draws on the power of the humanities to call attention to the stories and contributions of veterans. This initiative amplifies, honors and recognizes the stories and contributions of Minnesota veterans in their own voice through plays, art, discussion groups, and the Veterans’ Voices…  Read More