In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Louis Vierne. Louis Vierne 1870-1937 French composer and organist Louis Vierne is best known for his work at Notre Dame de Paris where he focused on organ music, including six organ symphonies and a Messe… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Paul Hindemith. Paul Hindemith 1895-1963 One of the most important composers of the first half of the 20th century, Paul Hindemith dominated German musical life during the Weimar Republic period. He came from a humble… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Sir Arnold Bax. Sir Arnold Bax 1883-1953 Sir Arnold Bax was a British composer whose choral works exemplify the neo-romantic music popular between World War I and II. Born in London to a prosperous family,… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 1840-1893 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a luminary Russian composer whose output made him the most well-known Russian composer of all time. He manifested a clear interest in music… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Gwyneth Walker. Gwyneth Walker b. 1947 Widely performed throughout the country, the music of American composer Gwyneth Walker is beloved by performers and audiences alike for its energy, beauty, reverence, drama, and humor. She holds… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Giles Swayne. Giles Swayne b. 1946 Giles Swayne is an eminent British composer whose choral output features a wide range of sacred and secular texts. He began composing when he was ten and studied the… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Leo Nestor. Leo Nestor 1947-2019 Dr. Leo Nestor was an American choral composer and conductor, known for his work with the American Repertory Singers. He served the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as musical… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Kyle Pedersen. Kyle Pederson b. 1971 Kyle Pederson is a Minneapolis-based composer, lyricist, pianist, and educator. Kyle was awarded the ACDA Genesis Prize in 2020 and the American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019. His… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Carlos Chávez. Carlos Chávez 1899-1978 Carlos Chávez was a prolific Mexican composer and conductor known for music that combines elements of traditional folk songs and modern compositional techniques. Chávez began his musical career taking piano… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Kim André Arnesen. Kim André Arnesen b.1980 Kim André Arnesen is one of the most frequently performed classical composers from Norway today. He grew up in Trondheim, and at age of 10, he played the… Read More →
Philip Brunelle: Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle is in the midst of a “planning month” as he prepares for the upcoming 53rd season—lots of meetings with composers, artists, and finalizing the season announcement for each of you! The final Plymouth Summer Concert occurred on July 20 when Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele gave us their… Read More →
Sabathani Vintage Voices summer 2021 Concert On June 30, 2021, after nearly 16 months apart, the Sabathani Vintage Voices made their post-pandemic concert debut! Performing for family, friends and neighbors, the singers shared songs and spoken word, including several original poems written by our singers that celebrated the beloved community, coming together in unity, and… Read More →
In 1950 the Department of the Treasury gifted each of the 50 states their own Liberty Bell—full sized replicas of the bell in Philadelphia. Each bell, created by the Christoph Paccard Bell Foundry in France, weighs approximately 2,080 pounds. The Minnesota Liberty Bell is rung on four occasions throughout the year and Philip Brunelle was given… Read More →
The young singers who took a chance on an innovative new model for a diverse high school choir and became the founding members of the VocalEssence Singers of This Age (VESOTA) are graduating! Four years ago, they chose the name, they set the tone, they created a welcoming culture that drew younger singers in…and now… Read More →
Philip Brunelle: Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle is working on creating a digital library of all the composers featured on Musical Moments with the help of intern Blake Wieseler from St. Olaf College. Since Musical Moments began in March of 2020, almost 300 composers who have been central to the success of VocalEssence have… Read More →
