Review: VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum have joined forces to offer an annual contest encouraging the composition of new carols. Over the years hundreds of worthy carols have been submitted. "Behold This Heavenly Night" presents the world premiere of some of these contest-winning carols alongside outstanding arrangements of more familiar melodies. Also included is the U.S. premiere of John Rutter's new "Carol of the Magi" and a unique arrangement of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" translated into Latin by Philip Brunelle and his son Christopher. 

Songlist: Ding Dong! Merrily on High, What Child, The Piping Carol, Un Nacimento, A Mother's Carol, I Wonder as I Wander, Sweet Was the Song, Night of Silence, See Amid the Winter Snow, In the Bleak Midwinter, The Shepherd and the King, Carol of the Magi, Calm on the Listening Ear, The Darkest Midnight in December, Jingle Bells, Welcome the Kin, The Virgin's Cradle Hymn, Behold the Dark and Bitter Night, It Fell Upon the High Midnight, Rudolphus Rubrinasus

Review: Storyteller Garrison Keillor and conductor Philip Brunelle lead a harmonious celebration of all things Thanksgiving with the melodious voices of the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers and their special guests, singer Jearlyn Steele and pianist Richard Dworsky. Along the way we learn that Thanksgiving really isn't all about the turkey - it's actually all about the pie.

Songlist: America, Comfort Ye, Let All Things Now Living, Egyptian Thanksgiving Song, Sonnet: Supper, All About Pie, I'll Be Home, More About Pie, Table Grace, The Final Word About Pie, Alleluia, Psalm, His Eye Is on the Sparrow, This Little Light of Mine

Review: VocalEssence WITNESS recordings showcase the music of trailblazing African American composers - the soul of American classical music. William Grant Still's music for chorus, orchestra and organ brings the blues into the concert hall, ragtime to the ballet stage and the Old World into a new era!

Songlist: Wailing Woman, Swanee River (Old Folks At Home), And The Lynched Him On A Tree, We've Swung Him Higher, Look Dere, Oh, Sorrow, He Was Her Baby, They Took Away His Freedom, They Left Him Hanging, Miss Sally's Party, The Square Dance, Tia's Dance, Toby And Tip's Dance, The Country Dance, Miss Sally's Dance, Jim Slick's Dance, The Cake Walk Contest, Reverie, Elegy

Review: The world premiere recording of Carol Barnett and Marisha Chamberlain's bluegrass mass - a joyful affirmation of life expressed in sophisticated choral sound and jubilant bluegrass harmonies written especially for the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and bluegrass band Monroe Crossing. In addition ten American masterworks spanning the centuries, originally recorded for the national radio program Saint Paul Sunday, from Billings to Bolcom and beyond. The composers represented here display a passion for voices and what they can convey through song. Each is among the most respected in blending American song and text.

Songlist: The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass, O Praise the Lord of Heaven, The Paper Reeds by the Brooks, Beneath These Alien Stars, The Day is Done, I Cannot Dance, O Lord, Sing, My Soul, His Wondrous Love, Heritage, Zuni Sunrise Song, Water Night, My Soul's Been Anchored

Review: In 1991 founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle and 24 mixed-voice VocalEssence presented "Witness," the first of an enduring series of concerts focused on the music of African American Composers. It was taken from "Witness: Six Original Compositions in a Spiritual Style," commissioned for Jubilant Sykes and VocalEssence. Visiting several area high schools while soloist Sykes was in Minneapolis for the premiere led VocalEssence to create an award-winning educational outreach program, bringing the talents of African Americans to thousands of Minnesota school students. A Woodwind Quintet and Jazz Ensemble perform with VocalEssence on the 18 pieces of "Dance Like The Wind," Undine Smith Moore's lovely "Mother to Son," "We Shall Walk Through the Valley" and "Tambourines to Glory," the title tune--William Banfield's beautiful instrumental, "My Soul Hath Found Refuge In Thee" (Psalm 91), by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton," Adolphus Hailstork's soaring "Nocturne," two selections from Billy Childs' "Piece for Stringed Orchestra" and David Baker's eclectic "Images, Shadows and Dreams: Five Vignettes." "Dance Like the Wind" is thought-provoking and moving music by eight modern, cutting-edge African American composers.

Songlist: Mother To Son, We Shall Walk Through the Valley, Lamentations: Black Folk Song Suite, An Old Black Woman, Homeless and Indistinct, Dance Like The Wind, Tambourines to Glory, My Soul Hath Found Refuge In Thee, Nocturne, Piece for String Orchestra, Images, Shadows and Dreams: Five Vignettes

Review: Reflecting the shared American heritage like a patchwork quilt, this is a charming collection of folksongs performed by conductor Philip Brunelle and the 32-voice VocalEssence Ensemble Singers with guitar, harmonica, accordion, bass and piano. Whether passed along by tradition or composed by a known songwriter, all of these songs have a melody that you can hum, sing and remember! Thanks to Norman Luboff, Edwin Fissinger, Jack Halloran, and the dynamic team of Alice Parker & Robert Shaw, there are wonderful arrangements that capture the atmosphere of each in choral settings.

Songlist: Oh, Dear! What Can the Matter Be?, Down in the Valley, Black is the Color, Skip to My Lou, Dixie, Camptown Races, Laura Lee, Oh Susanna, Gentle Annie, Goin' to Boston, Seeing Nellie Home, The Lonesome Valley, Shenandoah, Hooray for the Cowboys, Red River Valley, Tumblin' Tumbleweed, Riders in the Sky, Cool Water

Review: The world premiere recording of Conrad Susa's beloved Carols & Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest, plus a delightful collection of carols from around the world, tied together by their diversity and charm. Featuring the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers with woodwinds, cello, bass, harp, guitar and percussion under the direction of conductor Philip Brunelle.

Songlist: Carols & Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest, What Sweeter Music, Sussex Carol, Sing Hallelu!, Pat-a-Pan!, Go, Tell it on the Mountain, Christ Was Born on Christmas Day, O Little Town of Bethlehem, The Friendly Beasts, Infant Holy, Infant Lowly, Ding, Dong, Merrily on High, 'Tis Winter Now, It came Upon the Midnight Clear, Away in a Manger, The Holly and the Ivy

Review: Philip Brunelle, founder and artistic director, leads 24 mixed-voice, MN-based VocalEssence in the "Witness" concert series-this one focused on African American spirituals and gospel music. Joining them are Moore by Four, an ensemble of Minneapolis-based jazz vocalists, and several accompanists on piano, drums and bass. 16 powerful, soulful tunes here: "Witness," "Hush, Somebody's Callin' My Name," "Death Is Gonna Lay His Cold Icy Hands On Me," the upbeat "Walk Together, Children," the powerful a cappella hymn "Were You There," the Moses Hogan-arranged "Elijah Rock," the Jester Hairston-arranged "In Dat Great Gittin' Up Mornin'," "Go Where I Send Thee," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and the Michael Abels-arranged title tune, "What a Mighty God." This is a wonderful collection of spirituals and Gospel tunes, authentic and sung with soul and spirit by one of the best Choruses (and jazz ensembles) on the planet. Great stuff!

Songlist: Witness (Jack Halloran), Hush! Somebody's Callin' My Name, Death Is Gonna Lay His Cold Icy Hands on Me (arr. Andre Thomas), Walk Together, Children (arr. William Henry Smith), Were You There?, Elijah Rock, This Train (arr. Sanford Moore), Jesus, Lover of My Soul (arr. Richard Smallwood), My Lord, What a Mornin', Go Down Moses, In Dat Great Gittin' Up Mornin' (arr. Jester Hairston), Crucifixion (Adolphus Hailstork), Go Where I Send Thee (arr. Andre Thomas), Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Go, Tell It on the Mountain (arr. Sanford Moore), What A Mighty God (arr. Michael Abels)