About VocalEssence

• Founded in 1969, as a music outreach program of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis
• Incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1979
• Annual Budget: $2.5 million
• Endowment/Artistic Advancement Fund: $7.4 million (established 1987)

STAFF

• Executive Director: Amy Jaine Wielunski
• Artistic Director and Founder: Philip Brunelle
• Associate Artistic Director: G. Phillip Shoultz, III
• Learn more about our staff here.

MISSION

VocalEssence provides opportunities that draw upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the impact of choral music.

VISION

VocalEssence seeks to be forward-thinking—a singing community where all find belonging. Aspiring to inspire, we discover, celebrate, and build lasting experiences that transform hearts and minds. We strive to create connections that honor dimensions of difference and to serve as a catalyst for change among singers, audiences, choral organizations, and communities.

VALUES

OUR VALUES:

Curiosity & Discovery
Artistry & Creativity
Innovation & Inspiration
Collaboration

As a professional choral organization, we live our values to
• Bridge cultural difference,

• Remain open to continuous learning,

• Celebrate singing as an essential human expression.

ACTIVITIES

• Concert Series: 6+ events annually in the Twin Cities area
• Artistic Forces: Four performing ensembles comprised of more than 250 singers of all ages
• Learning & Engagement Programs: Focused on engaging youth and older adults through educational resources, workshops, performances, and opportunities to sing together
• Regional and international concert appearances
• Recordings for radio broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio, National Public Radio, and more
• 21 commercial recordings released to date

In more than 50 years, VocalEssence has:

• • Shared the love of music with more than half a million people at concerts everywhere from St. Peter, MN to Shanghai, China, sharing the stage with national and international guest artists including Dave Brubeck, Aaron Copland, Dessa, James Earl Jones, The King’s Singers, Sweet Honey In The Rock®, Dr. Billy Taylor, Sounds of Blackness, Eric Whitacre, William Bolcom, and The Rolling Stones.
  • Inspired more than 200,000 people of all ages to sing together through our Learning & Engagement programs
  • Commissioned more than 300 new works, more than half of which were written by composers of color and indigenous people
  • Achieved a balanced operating budget and established a healthy endowment fund
  • Consistently received funding from the Arts & Culture Legacy Amendment of the Minnesota State Arts Board for new initiatives implemented throughout the state