SING AND CELEBRATE season 49 2017 - 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 Sponsored by Thrivent Financial VocalEssence 49th Season Annual Report VocalEssence Singers Of This Age: Year One Under the visionary leadership of Associate Conductor, G. Phillip Shoultz, III, we have created a Youth Choir that revolutionizes the concept of choir and that reflects the diversity of our community in its membership. This year, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA) singers had workshops with 14 different artists representing a variety of artistic disciplines including: acting, th choreography, composing, dance, hip-hop, spoken word, singing,VocalEssence music theory, and aural skills. 49 Season Annual Report Through this choir, VocalEssence is awakening artistic expressionVocalEssence and creativity Singers in young Ofpeople, This Age: Year One championing the community-building power of group singing, and encouraging a wider circle of participation in the choral art form. Under the visionary leadership of Associate Conductor, G. Phillip Shoultz, III, we have created a Youth Choir that revolutionizes the concept of choir and that reflects the diversity of our Themes emerging from the focus group conducted by Strong and Starlike Consulting, Inc found community in its membership. This year, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA) singers had that participating students: workshops with 14 different artists representing a variety of artistic disciplines including: acting, • Gained confidence choreography, composing, dance, hip-hop, spoken word, singing, music theory, and aural skills. • Found a place of belonging Through this choir, VocalEssence is awakening artistic expression and creativity in young people, • Realized the power music has to bring people togetherchampioning the community-building power of group singing, and encouraging a wider circle of The singers took to the Orchestra Hall stage in the Februaryparticipation VocalEssence in the choral WITNESS: art form. Of Such I Dream concert sharing a performance of songs inspiredThemes by the poetryemerging of Langston from the Hughesfocus group and conducted by Strong and Starlike Consulting, Inc found following the theme of dreams. The year also provided otherthat participating opportunities students: to perform including a YEARcommunity ONE partners luncheon in February, an appearance in the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! 10th Anniversary Community Concert and a special role in the evening• Gained entertainment confidence for this year’s gala. • Found a place of belonging Under the visionary leadership of Associate Conductor, • Realized the power music has to bring people together G. PhillipLet’s Shoultz, take aIII, closer we launched look at a VocalEssence high school choral SOTA in Year Cultural Demographics arts programOne: that revolutionizes the concept of choir and The singers tookTwo or to the Orchestra Hall stage in the February VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I more races reflects the diversity of our community in its membership. Dream concert13% sharing a performance of songs inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes and This year, members• 57 students of VocalEssence from 14 Singers Twin Cities Of This schools Age following the theme of dreams. The year also provided other opportunities to perform including a had workshops with 14 different artists representing participated th a variety of artistic disciplines including: acting, community partners luncheon in February, an appearance in the VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! 10 • More than 30% of participants identify as Asian/Pacific choreography, composing, dance, hip-hop, spoken word, Anniversary CommunityWhite ConcertIslander and a special role in the evening entertainment for this year’s singing, music theory,Immigrant/Newcomer/Refugee. and aural skills. gala. 21% 41% Through this choir, VocalEssence is awakening artistic Let’s take a closer look at VocalEssence SOTA in Year Cultural Demographics expression and creativityIdentity in young Demographics people, championing African- One: Hispanic or American Two or the community-building power of group singing, and Latinx 21% more races encouraging a wider circle of participation in the choral 4% 13% Female 44 • 57 students from 14 Twin Cities schools art form. participated Male 14 Assessment of the inaugural impact of this program found • More than 30% of participants identify as Asian/Pacific White Islander that participatingIdentify as LGBTQIA students: 8 Immigrant/Newcomer/Refugee. 21% 41% • Gained confidenceTransitioning 2 • Found a place of belonging Identity Demographics African- • Realized the power music has to bring Hispanic or American Latinx 21% people together Female 44 4% What’s the impact on VocalEssence SOTA Singers in year one? The singers took to the stage at Orchestra Hall at the We asked them Malethe following questions:14 1 | Page February VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I Dream How important is SOTA to your life? concert sharing a performance of songs inspired by the Identify as LGBTQIA 8 poetry of Langston Hughes. The year also provided other 93% answered “Important” opportunities to perform including a community partners What impact has SOTA made on your life? Transitioning 2 luncheon in February, an appearance in the VocalEssence 84% answered “A lot” ¡Cantaré! 10th Anniversary Community Concert, and a How likely are you to recommend SOTA to a friend? special role in the evening entertainment for this year’s Gala. 97% responded “Likely” LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT VOCALESSENCE 1 | Page SINGERS OF THIS AGE (VE SOTA) IN YEAR ONE: Do you feel that your singing voice Have you learned more about dancing • 57 students from 14 Twin Cities schools participated has expanded or improved since and movement since joining • 79% students of color joining VocalEssence Youth Choir? VocalEssence Youth Choir? • More than 30% of participants identify 92% as Immigrant/Newcomer/Refugee. 100% 96% 100% 80% WHAT’S THE IMPACT ON VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF 69% 62% 80% THIS AGE PARTICIPANTS IN YEAR ONE? 60% We asked them the following questions: 60% 36% How important is VE SOTA in your life? 40% 40% • 93% answered “Important” 26% 20% What impact has VE SOTA made on your life? 20% 8% 4% 0% • 84% answered “A lot” 0% YES NO How likely are you to recommend VE SOTA to a friend? YES NO • 97% responded “Likely” December May December May Page 2 Participant Quotes: 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT “Choir was just an interest and something I deeply liked; but after hearing stories of many who rely on music for life I realized music is actually life-giving.” “Philip, Rhiannon, Gavin and Chadwick all guided us through this amazing experience and have made this community the loving and positive environment that it is.” “This program is amazing and I want it to continue.” “I’ve always wanted to, and now I feel I can truly express my feelings through song.” 2 | Page VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE PARTICIPANT QUOTES: “Choir was just an interest and something I deeply liked; but after hearing stories of many who rely on music for life I realized music is actually life-giving.” “Phillip, Rhiannon, Gavin, and Chadwick all guided us through this amazing experience and have made this community the loving and positive environment that it is.” “This program is amazing and I want it to continue.” What’s the impact on VocalEssence SOTA Singers in year one? We asked them the following questions: “I’ve always wanted to, and now I feel I can How important is SOTA to your life? truly express my feelings through song.” 93% answered “Important” What impact has SOTA made on your life? 84% answered “A lot” How likely are you to recommend SOTA to a friend? 97% responded “Likely” Do you feel that your singing voice Have you learned more about dancing has expanded or improved since and movement since joining joining VocalEssence Youth Choir? VocalEssence Youth Choir? 92% 100% 92% 96% 100% 80% 69% 62% 80% 60% 60% 60% 36% 40% 40% 26% 26% 20% 20% 20% 8% 4% 4% 0% 0% YES NO YES NO December May December May Participant Quotes: 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT Page 3 “Choir was just an interest and something I deeply liked; but after hearing stories of many who rely on music for life I realized music is actually life-giving.” “Philip, Rhiannon, Gavin and Chadwick all guided us through this amazing experience and have made this community the loving and positive environment that it is.” “This program is amazing and I want it to continue.” “I’ve always wanted to, and now I feel I can truly express my feelings through song.” 2 | Page SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 1 Finlandia Forever 1 The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers opened the season celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Finland’s independence performing music of Finnish composers with Osmo Vänskä on clarinet, Sara Pajunen on fiddle, and Philip Brunelle conducting. 2 Bach & Bluegrass Jamboree VocalEssence joined Monroe 2 Crossing and the Minnetonka High School Treble Choir to perform Carol Barnett’s Mortals and Angels: A Bluegrass Te Deum. 3 Welcome Christmas VocalEssence shared the spirit of the holiday season with four performances of Welcome Christmas across the Twin Cities. 5 4 Star of Wonder The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers rang in the holiday season with a kid-friendly holiday concert. 5 VocalEssence WITNESS: Of Such I Dream This year’s VocalEssence WITNESS 6 Concert celebrated the life and work of Langston Hughes. 6 VocalEssence Vintage Voices Robert Graham led VocalEssence Vintage Voices choirs at Trillium Woods in Plymouth, Sabathani Senior Center in Minneapolis, and the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul. 7 7 Together We Sing The second annual VocalEssence Together We Sing Festival brought 178 people from the community together to make music and give back. Page 4 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT VOCALESSENCE OUT AND ABOUT ACDA-MN State Conference The VocalEssence Chorus was selected to be a featured choir at this year’s Minnesota American Choral Director’s Association State Conference at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN. They performed works by Powell, Argento, Bach, and Runestad.