VocalEssence

VocalEssence
  • Who We Are
    • About VocalEssence
    • Performing Ensembles
    • Staff
    • Collaborators
    • Board of Directors
      • VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Advisory Council
      • VocalEssence WITNESS Advisory Council
    • Advancing Inclusion, Access, and Equity
  • What We Do
    • Why Sing?
    • Concerts and Events
    • Celebrating Black Excellence
    • Musical Moments with Philip Brunelle
    • Learning and Engagement Programs
    • Contests and Awards
    • Commissioning and Recording
    • Accessibility
  • Stories & Results
    • #vesotashareshope
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • GPS & Friends
    • Inclusion Access and Equity
    • Musical Moments
    • Performing Ensembles
    • Schools & Education
    • Take 5 with GPS
    • Together We Sing
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
      • Bridge to the Future Campaign
    • Engage a Choir
    • Sing with Us
    • Join the Board
    • Volunteer
    • Work at VocalEssence
  • Login
  • On Demand
  • Buy Tickets
  • Donate
Search
More...

Board of Directors

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • email

The VocalEssence Board of Directors serve as ambassadors for the organization in the larger community. They also guide VocalEssence in all major policy decisions while ensuring the financial stability of VocalEssence.

Board Officers

Carolina Gustafson, President
Program Manager, Institute for Advanced Study, University of Minnesota

David Myers, Past-President
Professor Emeritus, Music Education and Creative Studies and Media Former Director, School of Music, University of Minnesota

Torrie Allen, Vice President
President and CEO, Arts Midwest

Daniel Fernelius, Secretary
Senior Development Officer, Let’s Encrypt

Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien, Treasurer
Business Management Consultant

Board of Directors

Mary Ann Aufderheide (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Executive Director, VocalEssence

Philip Brunelle (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Founder and Artistic Director, VocalEssence

G. Phillip Shoultz, III (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Associate Conductor | Director of Learning and Engagement, VocalEssence

Tanya M. Bransford
District Court Judge, Hennepin County District Court

Barbara Burwell
Community Leader

Mirella Ceja-Orozco
Co-Executive Director/Immigration Attorney Minnesota Freedom Fund

Margaret Chutich
Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court

Dan Dressen
Associate Provost, St. Olaf College

Martha Driessen
Professional Photographer

Anna K. B. Finstrom
Associate, Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Cassandra Garnett
HR Director Global RD&E & CDS, Ecolab

Carolina Gustafson
World Affairs Events Manager, Global Minnesota

RJ Heckman
Vice Chairman, Korn Ferry Hay Group

Valton Henderson
HR and DEI practitioner, Robert Half International

Daniel Kantor
Composer and Business Developer

Lisa Merklin Lewis
Retired Vice President and Chief Counsel of the Employment Law Group in the General Counsel’s Office, Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Paul H. McDonough
Chief Financial Officer, CNO Financial Group

Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed
Superintendent, Hopkins Public Schools

Fred Moore
Retired President and CEO, Fiserv Health, Inc.

Richard Neuner
President, Neuner Consulting

Jim Odland
Vice President and Managing Counsel, Thrivent Financial

Joanne Reeck
Chief Inclusion Officer, Augsburg University

Don Shelby
Retired News Anchor & Reporter, WCCO-TV Minneapolis

Elizabeth Truesdell Smith
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Allina Heath

Jeff Smith
Vice President–Philanthropy and Advocacy, Vista Prairie Communities

Amanda Storm Schuster
Director of Donor Impact, Clean Air Task Force

Kristina Rodel Sorum (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Ensemble Singer Representative, VocalEssence

Timothy C. Takach
Composer

Rabindra Tambyraja (Ex-Officio Non-Voting)
Singer Representative, VocalEssence

Lifetime Directors

Ann Barkelew
Ann Buran
Art Kaemmer
Nikki Lewis
Mike McCarthy*
Dave Mona
Dorene Wernke

Honorary Directors

Dominick Argento*
William Bolcom
Dave Brubeck*
Aaron Copland*
Håkan Hagegård
Louise Heffelfinger*
Eskil Hemberg*
Betty Hulings*
Sigrid Johnson*
James Earl Jones
Garrison Keillor
Donald Mitchell*
Helmuth Rilling
John Rutter
Peter Schickele
Dr. André J. Thomas
Eric Whitacre

*In remembrance

Board Member Links

VocalEssence Board Portal

  • Who We Are
    • About VocalEssence
    • Performing Ensembles
    • Staff
    • Collaborators
    • Board of Directors
      • VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! Advisory Council
      • VocalEssence WITNESS Advisory Council
    • Advancing Inclusion, Access, and Equity

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
  • About Us
    • About VocalEssence
    • Press Room
    • Annual Report
    • Financial Information
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • VocalEssence COVID Protocols
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Sing with Us
    • Volunteer
    • Work at VocalEssence
  • Connect
    • Email Sign Up
    • Contact Us/Location
    • Chorus Connection
    • VocalEssence Board Login
  • VocalEssence
  • 1900 Nicollet Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55403
  • Phone: 612-547-1451
  • Fax: 612-547-1484
  • info@vocalessence.org
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 VocalEssence. All rights reserved.

https://www.vocalessence.org/who-we-are/board-of-directors

This website uses cookies for necessary functions and to enhance your browsing experience.

Accept & Continue