VocalEssence 49th Season Brochure

SING AND CELEBRATE season

49 2017 - 2018

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

1900 Nicollet Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55403

season

49 2017 - 2018

VOCALESSENCE.ORG

PAID

Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 1547 This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota.

DEAR FRIEND, Everyone loves a celebration and our 49th Season is a time to party! As VocalEssence prepares for our 50th anniversary, we’re presenting a series of concerts that celebrate significant milestones in the history of our world, our nation, and our organization.

Finlandia Forever will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Finnish independence with our favorite Finns, Minnesota Orchestra Music Director Osmo Vänskä and fiddler Sara Pajunen. Bach & Bluegrass Jamboree marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation by marrying Bach and American bluegrass with the help of Monroe Crossing and composer Carol Barnett. Welcome Christmas hails the sounds of Minnesota by saluting Minnesota composers and the 20th anniversary of the Carol Contest.

VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I Dream pays tribute to the Harlem Renaissance on the centennial of its birth and features the inaugural performance of the new VocalEssence Youth Choral Arts Initiative. And the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! 10th Anniversary Concert will mark an important milestone for our most beloved cultural programs.

The subscription series will conclude with Rutter Returns, a can’t-miss concert that officially kicks off our 50th anniversary with highlights from our first 49 seasons and the world premiere of a new piece written for VocalEssence by international choral luminary, John Rutter, who will be conducting us that evening. We can think of no finer way to mark the occasion.

Join us in song as we sing the virtues of past, present, and future!

Together we sing, and you are a key part of our chorus.

Philip Brunelle Artistic Director & Founder

ORDER YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS TODAY! WHY SUBSCRIBE?

• Best Deal of the Season with Reserved, Preferred Seating • Discounted Tickets for Guests • Free Ticket Exchanges & Lost Ticket Replacement • Pay It Forward Program: Worried that you cannot make a performance? Subscribers are automatically a part of the Pay It Forward Program where a turned back ticket goes to a student to attend a VocalEssence concert.

VocalEssence partners with Project SUCCESS to offer free tickets to more than 100 students annually.

HOW TO PLACE YOUR ORDER

The Minnesota Orchestra Box Office is pleased to provide ticketing services for the 49th VocalEssence season.

ONLINE vocalessence.org/subscribe

G. Phillip Shoultz, III Associate Conductor & Education Program Director

WHY SUBSCRIBE?

BY PHONE 612-371-5642 BOX OFFICE HOURS In Person: Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 2 PM Phone: Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 5 PM THE MORE YOU BUY, THE MORE YOU SAVE! SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE

PRICE/TICKET

Full 5-Concert Subscription 4-Concert Subscription 3-Concert Subscription

season

49 2017 - 2018

$28 $30 $32

SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE AUGUST 7, 2017

49 th SEASON

Sing and Celebrate Finlandia Forever Sun, Sept 24, 2017 Bach & Bluegrass Jamboree Fri, Nov 10, 2017 Bach’s Mighty Fortress Community Sing Sat, Nov 11, 2017

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

FINLANDIA FOREVER Sun, Sept 24, 2017 at 4 PM and 7 PM Nelson Hall, American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Osmo Vänskä, clarinet | Sara Pajunen, fiddle While the land of the midnight sun has long been known for refreshingly bright ideas—from saunas to cell phones—its musical contributions are equally innovative. Favorite Finns Osmo Vänskä and Sara Pajunen will help us celebrate 100 years of Finnish independence, performing music of Sibelius, Rautavaara, Mäntyjärvi, Saariaho, and others. Catch “Finn Fever” and join in with a chorus of Sibelius’s Finlandia.

Presented in partnership with the American Swedish Institute and national FinnFest USA.

Welcome Christmas Dec 2-10, 2017 Star of Wonder Sat, Dec 9, 2017 Together We Sing Festival Sat, Jan 13, 2018 VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I Dream Sun, Feb 18, 2018 River Songs & Tales Northern Minnesota Tour Apr 4-8, 2018 Rutter Returns Sat, Apr 21, 2018 Community Sing with John Rutter Sun, Apr 22, 2018 Gala: VocalEssence Choralia Sun, May 6, 2018 VocalEssence ¡Cantaré!

10th Anniversary Concert Tues, May 22, 2018

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

BACH & BLUEGRASS JAMBOREE Fri, Nov 10, 2017 at 8 PM Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers | Monroe Crossing Get ready for toe-tappin’, knee-slappin’ fun as VocalEssence breathes new life into J.S. Bach and the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation with special guest, Monroe Crossing.

Hear VocalEssence perform some of Bach’s most jubilant music alongside gospel bluegrass tunes and a regional premiere of Carol Barnett’s Bluegrass Te Deum with Monroe Crossing and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers.

BACH’S MIGHTY FORTRESS COMMUNITY SING Sat, Nov 11, 2017 at 10 AM Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville

ADD-ON Sing the songs of a German master! Join us for EVENT a morning of fellowship and song performing Bach’s Cantata No. 80 – Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God) as well as other Bach chorales and choruses to celebrate 500 years since the Protestant Reformation.

Tickets are FREE but advanced registration required.

Refreshments will be served.

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

WELCOME CHRISTMAS

RUTTER RETURNS

Sat, Dec 2, 2017 at 7:30 PM Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Apple Valley Fri, Dec 8, 2017 at 7:30 PM Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville Sat, Dec 9, 2017 at 4 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis Sun, Dec 10, 2017 at 4 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers

Sat, Apr 21, 2018 at 8 PM Cathedral of Saint Paul VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers John Rutter, guest conductor

There’s no place like home for the holidays, so join us to hear the warm sounds of a Minnesota Christmas. This year we salute many of the composers that call Minnesota home in a blend of the most beloved music of the season. Fall in love with new carols as we celebrate the 20th year of our national carol competition in the way it first began—with music for a cappella chorus.

STAR OF WONDER

Sat, Dec 9, 2017 at 9:30 AM and 11 AM Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis

ADD-ON EVENT

Clap, wiggle, and sing along to your favorite carols at our 45-minute holiday concert. Sit up close and experience the wonder of choral singing (maybe for the first time). Pillows, baby bottles, and teddy bears welcome!

Tickets: $12 Adults, $8 Child (4-17); FREE (Age 3 & Under)

On the eve of our golden anniversary, see VocalEssence shine as never before when we revisit some of our best-loved performances and hit new heights in the inspiring Cathedral of Saint Paul. The incomparable John Rutter returns to conduct Feel the Spirit, a cycle of his spiritual arrangements for chorus and chamber orchestra, as well as a new piece he penned to celebrate our upcoming 50th anniversary.

COMMUNITY SING WITH JOHN RUTTER

Sun, Apr 22, 2018 at 3 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis

Britain’s John Rutter invites you to join him for an afternoon of “sweeter music” as he leads you through a selection of his favorite choral works. Enthusiastic singers of all levels are welcome.

Tickets: $25 (includes music)

SAVE THE DATE

Tickets for the following 49th season events will be available soon. Check vocalessence.org for more information.

TOGETHER WE SING FESTIVAL

Sat, Jan 13, 2018 Creative Arts Secondary School, Saint Paul

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

OF SUCH I DREAM Sun, Feb 18, 2018 at 4 PM Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis VocalEssence Chorus | VocalEssence Youth Choral Arts Initiative Dream of a better world as we pay tribute to the Harlem Renaissance, on the 100th anniversary of its birth, through song, poetry, hip-hop, dance, and more. Hear the debut of the VocalEssence Youth Choral Arts Initiative as well as the world premiere of William Banfield’s chamber symphony, I Trust Harlem Is Still There, based on the letters of Langston Hughes. Be inspired and challenged to become an agent of change in our community.

ADD-ON EVENT

RIVER SONGS & TALES NORTHERN MINNESOTA TOUR

Apr 4-8, 2018 Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Detroit Lakes, Brainerd, & Alexandria, Minnesota

GALA: VOCALESSENCE CHORALIA Sun, May 6, 2018 Hilton Minneapolis

VOCALESSENCE ¡CANTARÉ!

10TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Tues, May 22, 2018 at 7 PM Ordway Music Theater, Saint Paul