VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder of VocalEssence, is an internationally renowned conductor, choral scholar and performer. Believing that listeners and musicians alike must experience music of many genres and styles, he has worked enthusiastically-and tirelessly-to expand audiences for rarely heard works of the past and unique new music. His conducting engagements have taken him across the United States, South America and Europe including the New York Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, the Berkshire Choral Festival and Oregon Bach Festival.

In 2002, Philip served as president of the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music, which took place in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He served on the Artistic Advisory Committee for the Eighth World Choral Symposium in Denmark 2008. In 2006, he served as artistic director and conductor of America Sings!, a concert held in Washington, DC to launch the NEA initiative, American Masterpieces: Choral Music. He chaired the program committee for the American Guild of Organists national convention in the Twin Cities in June 2008. He also serves on the boards of Chorus America, the International Federation for Choral Music and St. Olaf College.

Among his many awards are honorary doctorates from St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. John's University and United Theological Seminary. In 2003, Chorus America honored Philip with its most prestigious award, the Michael Korn Founder's Award for Development of the Choral Art, and in 2005 he was chosen as the recipient of the A.P. Anderson Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts in Minnesota. In December 2005, Philip was invested as an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire in recognition for his service as an "ambassador for the United Kingdom within the music world." American Composers Forum named Philip Brunelle "2007 Champion of New Music" for his support of contemporary music and the composers of today.

Awards and accolades

• Honorary doctorates: St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. John's University, United Theological Seminary
• Awards: Kodaly Medal (Hungary), Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden), Minneapolis Award, F. Melius Christiansen Award (highest honor of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association), Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, U.S. Bank Sally Ordway Irvine Award, GMCVA Copper Top Award, Mpls.St.Paul "Best Impresario", Michael Korn Founder's Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art (Chorus America's highest lifetime achievement award), honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE); Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit
• Board of Regents of St. Olaf College, Board of Directors of International Federation for Choral Music, Board of Directors of Chorus America
• Recent guest conductorships: BBC Singers, Houston Symphony, Hollywood Bowl, Berkshire Choral Festival

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