VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Teachers who will be participating in the 2008-2009 WITNESS School Program must attend a half day orientation seminar, which includes an introduction to the VocalEssence WITNESS School Program, an overview of the VocalEssence Teacher Resource Guide, the opportunity to engage with WITNESS Teaching Artists and strategies on incorporating WITNESS materials in the school curricula. The cost of the seminar is $20, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and parking. Each participant also receives four clock hours of professional development credit and a copy of the WITNESS Teachers Guide.

Sing with superstar choral composer Eric Whitacre!

The composer will lead a community sing event, conducting a number of his greatest hits, including Animal Crackers, Sleep, The Seal Lullaby, and Lux Aurumque.* Eric will also discuss his compositions and will participate in a question and answer session.

Attendance is limited to 225 singers. Tickets for this event are $25 and include sheet music.

Reserve your space for the community sing event now!

You may also be interested in attending the Eric Whitacre Extravaganza concert on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.

Conducted by the composer, the concert will feature VocalEssence, The St. Olaf Choir and the Minnesota High School Honors Choir performing an Eric Whitacre world-premiere composition composed for specifically for this event.

Purchase single tickets for "Eric Whitacre Extravaganza"

Purchase tickets as part of a VocalEssence subscription package!

*Repertoire is subject to change

VocalEssence and American Composers Forum have chosen five composers to participate in the May 2008 Essentially Choral reading session. The public is invited to attend a working rehearsal of their new music for voices and instruments on Saturday, May 31.

Essentially Choral provides an opportunity for emerging composers to develop their skills in writing for choral ensemble, either a cappella or with instruments. The program is co-sponsored by American Composers Forum and VocalEssence with the generous support of the Jerome Foundation. The selected composers are:

Elizabeth Joan Kelly (Tallahassee, FL): Tiare Tahiti (trumpet, piano)
Jonathan Kolm (Austin, TX): On the Beach at Night (a cappella)
Matthew Van Brink (New York, NY): A Thousand Tender Passages (harp, cello)
Scott Sandersfeld (Minneapolis, MN): And Every Stone Shall Cry (a cappella)
David Mercer (Minneapolis, MN): Psalm 43 (a cappella)

The public reading session on Saturday, May 31, 2008 from 10 am to 1 pm at The Music Room, SPCO Center, Third Floor (408 St. Peter Street, Saint Paul).

VocalEssence celebrates the 90^th birthday anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with music dedicated to and inspired by his life and vision. Influenced by Dr. King, jazz legend Dr. Billy Taylor performs his composition Peaceful Warrior, a three-movement work written for chorus, orchestra and jazz trio.

Listen to Minnesota Public Radio host John Birge and conductor Philip Brunelle as they discuss Billy Taylor's music, including samples of music from Peaceful Warrior

Listen to John Birge and composer Dr. Billy Taylor discuss the inspiration behind Peaceful Warrior

Create your subscription of three or more VocalEssence performances and save!

“Big band” orchestra, soloists, the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers and conductor Philip Brunelle gather to celebrate the music of Duke (Edward Kennedy) Ellington — not only a great performer and band leader, but also considered the most important composer in jazz history.

Duke Ellington’s adventurous spirit opened the way for the next generation of African American composers including William Banfield and Stephen Newby, and the first half of the concert will explore the “Ellington Effect” — how these composers and others have been influenced by his music.

Ellington's career was accelerated by his national radio appearances on the weekly Cotton Club broadcast, making his name a household word in America. After intermission, Sanford Moore will be our host for a re-enactment of the grand old days of the radio program, complete with sound effects by Tom Keith (the sound guru of A Prairie Home Companion).

The highlight of our radio program will be music from Ellington's "Sacred Concerts" — a fusion of jazz, classical music, choral music, spirituals, gospel and blues featuring Dennis Spears as baritone soloist.

Expect unique, dramatic sounds from WITNESS: The Duke Ellington Effect...including a first for VocalEssence – chorus with tap dancer!