VocalEssence

VocalEssence Together We Sing.

VocalEssence draws upon the power of singing together to nurture community, inspire creativity, affirm the value of all persons, and expand the influence of choral music.

On 6:30 PM on Thursday, May 14th, the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age will perform the final concert in a year-long ser...
05/12/2026

On 6:30 PM on Thursday, May 14th, the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age will perform the final concert in a year-long series called Stories the Land Holds at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. The theme of their program is called Changing, Growing, and Celebrating.

The series organizers write: "After a year of learning together, of making new and renewed connections with one another and the land, let’s celebrate with food, friendship, art making, and an interactive multi-disciplinary concert.

The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA), a Twin Cities teen choir led by G. Phillip Shoultz, III, will perform a dynamic, multi-genre concert reflecting on Land, Home, and Community. Together, we’ll look ahead with hope—exploring how we can be a beacon of love, inclusivity, and grace in our everyday lives."

Stories the Land Holds: Changing, Growing, and Celebrating
Thursday, May 14th
6:30 PM
Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
4801 France Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55410
Free!

05/11/2026

Join GPS for our weekly gathering of the community in song. Let's sing about the blossoms of May. Take 5 is live at 9a CDT. Come and Sing!

� New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! �

The MPR special featuring How To Hold On: Songs Of Comfort and Solace, an album recorded by Melanie DeMore and the Vocal...
05/07/2026

The MPR special featuring How To Hold On: Songs Of Comfort and Solace, an album recorded by Melanie DeMore and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers last year will re-air tonight and next Tuesday. Don't miss out on this beautiful exploration of the songs, the artists, and the album!

How To Hold On is a reflection in song about the difficulties and beauty of being a human being. Through the music of Melanie DeMore, we are encouraged to keep our hearts open and not be afraid to let ourselves ache, cry, and rejoice at being alive.

Enjoy the special on YourClassical!
It'll also be available soon to stream on MPR's website. We'll post the link in our Stories when it's live!

It's time for the VocalEssence Vintage Voices springtime concerts! First up are the Keystone Community Singers:"Join us ...
05/06/2026

It's time for the VocalEssence Vintage Voices springtime concerts! First up are the Keystone Community Singers:

"Join us for an uplifting evening of music that reminds us of the strength we find in one another. Through soaring harmonies and soul-stirring melodies, The Power of We explores the profound bonds that connect us — the neighbors who show up, the hands that reach out, and the voices that rise together in times of joy and need.

This concert features beloved songs of compassion, togetherness, and hope — a musical journey through the moments that remind us we are never alone. From tender anthems of friendship to powerful choruses of solidarity, every note is a testament to what we can achieve when we stand as one.

Come ready to be moved. Come ready to belong."


❓Have you contributed to VocalEssence this year? Take a moment to see if your employer will match your giving. An employ...
05/04/2026

❓Have you contributed to VocalEssence this year? Take a moment to see if your employer will match your giving.

An employer match is a powerful way you can amplify your support of VocalEssence.

This month we spoke with Lorinda Chagnon, a soprano in the Chorus and VocalEssence donor, about why she supports VocalEssence with an employer match:

“Not only is an employer match essentially ‘free money’ to maximize my giving, it's also a unique way that my employer can acknowledge and support causes I care about personally. It's an easy way to feel more engaged at my job and with VocalEssence.

Most employer matching programs are very easy to use and very under-utilized! Taking just a few minutes to submit for a match can result in a big impact for VocalEssence.”

Join Lorinda and check if your employer will match your giving. Visit vocalessence.org/donate for more information.

Joyful gathering, indeed! Thank you to everyone who made yesterday's event such an extraordinarily meaningful one! It wa...
05/04/2026

Joyful gathering, indeed! Thank you to everyone who made yesterday's event such an extraordinarily meaningful one! It was a one-of-a-kind collaboration between many artistic partners, and everyone brought their A game. We could not be more appreciative to the performers, audience, staff, donors, and volunteers who made it the beautiful day that it was. Bravo!



Phantom Chorus Theatre
Bollywood Dance Production by RGK Dance Academy
Los Alegres Bailadores
HOPE Community Academy's Hmong dance team
Jhadiya Steele
Niibox

05/04/2026

May the 4th be with you on this first Monday in May. Take 5 is live at 9a CDT. Join the song. Come and Sing!

� New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! �

It's here! Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices happens today! Pre-concert fun - free to the public & including performances, c...
05/03/2026

It's here! Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices happens today! Pre-concert fun - free to the public & including performances, creative activities, and food trucks - start at 2 PM, while the ticketed concert begins at 4 PM. Tickets can still be purchased at the door!

Our final performance partner spotlights are the Hmong Dance Team from HOPE Community Academy and vocalist Jhadiya Steele. They'll be joining us for a beautiful afternoon of song, dance, culture, creativity, and JOY!

HOPE Community Academy’s Hmong Dance Team is a vibrant, student-centered program led by coaches Pa Nhia Moua and Kyra Thor. Rooted in cultural pride and expression, the team honors Hmong history through movement while building strong technical dance skills. Open to grades 6–12, dancers meet twice weekly to grow in teamwork, discipline, and confidence. The program blends traditional and contemporary influences, creating space for creativity and identity exploration.

Grounded in values of community, perseverance, and respect, Hmong Dance empowers students to become expressive performers and thoughtful leaders, both on and off the stage, while preserving and celebrating their cultural heritage.

--------------------
JHADIYA STEELE
At just 22, Jhadiya is already making waves in gospel and soul music. Grounded in the legendary Steele family legacy and boldly carving her own path, she is a dynamic vocalist, writer, composer, and worship leader with a voice full of power, precision, and spirit.



More information can be found at https://www.vocalessence.org/

We are excited to announce RGK Dance Academy as our next Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices performance partner. Their exciti...
05/01/2026

We are excited to announce RGK Dance Academy as our next Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices performance partner. Their exciting brand of Bollywood-inspired dance is sure to raise some energy at the Ordway on Sunday!

RGK Dance Academy, founded by Renu Kumar in 2004, is a leading Modern Indian dance institution known for its dynamic Bollywood-inspired programming.
Blending folk, contemporary, semi-classical, and classical forms like Kathak and Bharatanatyam with styles such as hip-hop and salsa, the academy has trained over 2,000 students and produced 96 original works, including 19 annual Bollywood dance-dramas in Minnesota.

Renu leads a dedicated team in creating performances that highlight the power of storytelling through dance, often exploring real-life themes and multicultural connections. Beyond performance, RGK Dance Academy fosters a vibrant, inclusive community where students engage in dance and theater while deepening their understanding of Indian culture.

Through classes, productions, and annual charity events, RGK Dance Academy empowers youth and supports local and global causes—using the arts to inspire, connect, and give back.

https://rgkdance.org/

SUNDAY, MAY 3rd
Ordway Concert Hall
2:00-4:00 PM
A Joyful Gathering - a pre-concert party of food, music and creative activities
Free & Open to the Public!

4:00 PM
Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices concert
Tickets: https://www.vocalessence.org/event/concert-global-rhythms-joyful-voices/

Bollywood Dance Production by RGK Dance Academy

Today's Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices performance partner post highlights the work of Phantom Chorus Theatre! We are del...
04/30/2026

Today's Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices performance partner post highlights the work of Phantom Chorus Theatre! We are delighted that they'll be bringing their unique brand of artistry and whimsy to the stage with us this Sunday!

Phantom Chorus Theatre is a grass-roots non-profit theatre company specializing in collaborative, experimental, original
works or adaptations. Through the mediums of puppetry, movement, music, and multimedia, they strive to harness the power of imagination–to make the impossible real. With a focus on accessibility and community outreach, their aim is to bring a unique theatrical experience to a wide audience.

Co-artistic directors Thalia Kostman and Marc Berg have been collaborators since 2016. Having worked together on a variety of projects–and sharing a passion for puppetry, movement, and mask–they decided to form Phantom Chorus Theatre as a way to foster not only their own artistic voices, but the voices of their fellow company members and collaborators.

SUNDAY, MAY 3rd
Ordway Concert Hall
2:00-4:00 PM
A Joyful Gathering - a pre-concert party of food, music and creative activities
Free & Open to the Public!

4:00 PM
Global Rhythms, Joyful Voices concert
Tickets: https://www.vocalessence.org/event/concert-global-rhythms-joyful-voices/



Address

1900 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
55403

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 2pm

Telephone

+16125471451

Website

http://www.vocalessence.org/donate

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