In spring 2024, VocalEssence and Melanie DeMore hosted Healing Beats Sessions for 210 participants at five sites across the Twin Cities. DeMore, an expert in Gullah traditions and community healing, led the sessions, which involved stick decorating, pounding, singing, and dialogue to promote healing and understanding. VocalEssence partnered with the St. Paul Police Department and two Minneapolis alternative high schools to organize the events. Participants kept their pounding sticks and were invited to join VocalEssence on stage at the WITNESS: Leading with Love concert.

WITNESS reminded me “how we can continue on being a community/family celebrating our unique diversity, gifts, and talents. It also reinforced the power of communal voices uniting for the common good.”
– WITNESS Concert Attendee

What’s Next?

In February 2025, VocalEssence presents WITNESS: Eyes Still on the Prize—a musical journey that weaves together stories that connect our past struggles to our present pursuit of an equitable future for all. VocalEssence joins forces with a collective of Twin Cities-based artists—actors, dancers, storytellers, and musicians—to offer songs and stories centering on pivotal figures and landmark events of the civil rights movement.

The VocalEssence Vintage Voices program for older adults has expanded to a new site in partnership with Keystone Community Services at West Seventh Community Center. Called the Keystone Community Singers, the choir is open to anyone age 55 and older who can carry a tune.

“I had been looking for a fun and encouraging singing group when I discovered Keystone Community Singers. On my first visit I knew I had found the golden note. I nearly cried—I had finally found the singing group I had searched for for so long. Interestingly, the choir packet of music was labeled singing for joy…. It is free to be a member, and we have the benefit of practicing healthy singing techniques, vocalizing correctly, and learning or brushing up on our musical skills. We learn to harmonize with our voices and make a lot of good friends.”
– Joy Christiansen, Keystone Community Singers

What’s Next?

Vintage Voices celebrates its 10^th Anniversary throughout our 2024-2025 season, which will include fun and celebratory events to commemorate the special occasion and raise funds for future sustainability of the program.

VocalEssence celebrated the accomplished 21-year tenure of Mary Ann Aufderheide, Executive Director before her official retirement in June 2024. Notable initiatives established during Mary Ann’s tenure include:

• ¡Cantaré!, an ongoing collaboration with Mexican choral composers to celebrate Mexican culture, developing a library of Spanish-language musical resources
• VocalEssence Singers Of This Age, a choir for urban teenagers focusing on artistic development and building lifelong skills
• The Lullaby Project, which engages young mothers and their babies through song
• The Vintage Voices choirs for older adults.

“I can’t think of a better colleague than Mary Ann—she is a fine musician and that talent made her invaluable in understanding the psyche of singers, instrumentalists—and conductors,” says Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence artistic director and founder. “She has been compassionate, understanding, wise, and supportive in advancing the work of VocalEssence within the community—nationally and internationally.”

What’s Next?

Amy Jaine Wielunski joined VocalEssence as Executive Director in June 2024, bringing with her 22 years of non-profit experience at organizations with local, state-wide, and national reach. Read more about Amy here. 

VocalEssence presented two commissioned world premieres during the 2023-2024 season. The first was a premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s “A Song in My Heart” on October 29, 2023 in partnership with the soprano and alto voices of the St. Olaf Choir, to commemorate the incredible legacy of Sigrid Johnson—“Sig” to everyone who knew her—late Associate Conductor of VocalEssence and Director of St. Olaf’s Manitou Singers.

The second was a world premiere on December 9 and 10, 2023 of “Three Latvian Yuletide Folksongs” by composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, who The Boston Globe says “is emerging as perhaps the world’s hottest young choral composer.” The performances took place at Northrop Auditorium and incorporated their famous Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. These new works bring VocalEssence to 369 world premieres and 312 commissions throughout the organization’s history.

“I thought the world of Sig,” Jocelyn Hagen said. “She was brilliant and had amazing ears… She knew what she wanted, and she didn’t hide her emotions. She made music with such passion.”

What’s Next?

In April 2025, VocalEssence will present the MacMillan Festival, a week-long festival featuring the music of world-renowned Scottish composer and conductor Sir James MacMillan, including a world premiere commission performed in the majestic Cathedral of Saint Paul.

Thomasina Petrus, left, sings next to Junauda Petrus, right. Photo credit: Kyndell Harkness

At this year’s WITNESS: Leading with Love concert, VocalEssence was thrilled to feature a showcase of eleven Black makers and entrepreneurs who align themselves with the message of “leading with love.”

Target Atrium at Orchestra Hall was bustling with activities such as book readings, singing, improv comedy, food samples, goods purchased, and information exchanged. The event was a huge hit with concert attendees and the showcase participants.

“The event was great and we loved everything about it. The concert guests were energizing and supportive of all of the vendors and artists.”
—Black-Owned Business and Artist Showcase Participant 

What’s Next?

VocalEssence is working with partners on creating an immersive experience as part of the performance of The Concert Version of the Musical KRISTINA to explore immigrant stories and experiences.

In February 2024, the VocalEssence Chorus performed at the Midwestern Region American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. This was the first time that a VocalEssence ensemble was selected by a blind audition to perform at a regional ACDA conference and is a distinguished honor for the organization. This was the first-ever and largest out of state performance for the VocalEssence Chorus, with 102 singers making the trip.

In Summer of 2024, members of VocalEssence Singers Of This Age traveled to Sioux Falls, SD, for two mini tours where they connected with other local high school singers, attended a songwriting workshop at Augustana University, performed at senior living facilities, and had time for fun at Wild Water West and delicious Milky Way ice cream.

“Our ACDA performance How to Hold On: ReAwakening Love invites listeners to join us in our quest to live, act, speak, and work in ways that call for the revival of love, the rebirth of peace, and the emergence of a community where violence ceases. The music highlights the work of Black and Brown composers and poets, but also includes the work of allies whose creative works amplify silenced voices and support the fight for justice.”
—G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Associate Artistic Director

What’s Next?

The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers will embark on a tour to the UK in the summer of 2025. VocalEssence is preparing a companion tour open to the public to join the organization on their travels and performances.

VocalEssence continued our Songs from the Heart engagement at Longfellow Alternative High School—where teen parents attend with their children. 20 young parents participated in the program with their children and received more than 80 hours each of engagement with VocalEssence artistic staff and guest artists.

According to a study published by WolfBrown Consulting, “In their earliest years, children learn the languages and accents they hear at home, they absorb the songs and stories of their community, and along with them, beliefs and values that guide their thinking and actions.”

What’s Next

VocalEssence has received a renewal of grant funding from Chorus America, funded through Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies to continue the work of Songs from the Heart. This extension of our engagement will expand our impact on program participants. Over time, Songs from the Heart has not only helped to improve the parent-child bond, but has also increased attendance rates at the school, helping to boost graduation rates.