VocalEssence

VocalEssence
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Program History

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VocalEssence WITNESS is critical for many of the students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a professional event at a major concert hall. We believe that an educational and performance experience such as VocalEssence WITNESS gives students an opportunity to learn from exceptional role models, increasing their self-esteem and creating a desire to continue exploring ways to express themselves through the arts.

In 1991, VocalEssence created WITNESS in partnership with Reatha Clark King, former Executive Director of the General Mills Foundation, to celebrate the artistic contributions of African Americans to the fine arts and to our common cultural heritage. By commissioning new works and programming rarely heard works by African American composers, we help broaden ideas about African American musical expression and introduce important new voices to our audiences through concerts, recordings and radio broadcasts. The first commission—David Baker’s WITNESS: Six Original Compositions in a Spiritual Style—inspired the name for our program.

VocalEssence WITNESS has made it possible to initiate collaborations with African American artists in many disciplines. A Minnesota State Arts Board Cultural Collaborations Grant supported our partnership with St. Paul visual artist Ta-coumba Aiken, whose art has become the visual representation of VocalEssence WITNESS on all ads and publications. Aiken’s large, colorful banners provide a stunning visual backdrop for VocalEssence WITNESS concerts, and his artwork adorns our VocalEssence WITNESS CD covers.

Past Composers

  • Michael Abels
  • David Baker
  • Ysaye Barnwell
  • William Banfield
  • Larry Farrow
  • Jonathan Bailey Holland
  • Joseph Jennings
  • Bobby McFerrin
  • Rosephanye Powell
  • Patrice Rushen
  • Evelyn Simpson-Curenton
  • Alvin Singleton

Past Individual Artists

  • James Earl Jones
  • Rita Dove
  • Billy Taylor
  • Melanie DeMore (pictured above)
  • Jubilant Sykes
  • Stephen Salters
  • Anthony Elliott
  • Patrice Rushen
  • Paul Shaw
  • Marietta Simpson
  • Yolanda Williams

Past Performing Ensembles

  • Moore by Four
  • Morehouse College Glee Club
  • Sounds of Blackness
  • Spelman College Glee Club
  • The Steele Family
  • The Fairfield Four
  • Leigh Morris Chorale
  • Fisk Jubilee Singers

Recent Stories

  • Bridge to the Future Meets Goal March 24, 2023
  • VocalEssence Radio Special—Song of Joy: The Mendelssohns on YourClassical MPR March 24, 2023
  • VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Perform at WCCO Holiday Tree Lighting December 22, 2022
  • VocalEssence Holiday Programming 2022 December 15, 2022
  • Thank you for your support at the VocalEssence 2022 Gala! November 4, 2022
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  • 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
  • Phone: 612-547-1451
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https://www.vocalessence.org/what-we-do/learning-and-engagement-programs/witness/program-history

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