VocalEssence will continue support for young people from Twin Cities high schools to create incredible music, expand their cultural horizons, gain important leadership skills, develop enduring friendships and foster lifelong arts participation. The organization will establish youth-focused singing opportunities in Saint Paul and North Minneapolis to build lasting relationships and increase arts participation in these communities.

Hear Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III speak about what our intentionally diverse youth choir has been up to during the pandemic and watch an inspiring story about Isaiah's journey through VESOTA.

Engage professional singers from a variety of cultures to join the Ensemble Singers and work as VocalEssence Teaching Artists across all Learning and Engagement programs. These positions will provide artists the opportunity for sustained employment.

Watch Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle talk about his plan to create positions for our Singers of Culture Quartet.

VocalEssence will expand Sabathani Vintage Voices to become a year-round program open to all residents in South Minneapolis. Inaugurate additional older adult neighborhood choirs in community centers, offering sustainable long-term singing opportunities for older adults where they live.

Hear Vintage Voices conductor Rob Graham talk about how he connects with his older adult choir from Sabathani Senior Center during a pandemic.

VocalEssence is committed to Inclusion, Access, and Equity, ensuring our programs represent
the voices of many cultures. VocalEssence will expand work in diverse neighborhoods and with non-White artists and organizations, create connections and partnerships, share resources, include voices of non-dominant cultures in our programs to ensure the choral artform represents our state’s many rich cultures.

Watch G. Phillip Shoultz, III talk about our plans to connect with African American professionals in the Twin Cities.