Vocalessence

Learning and engagement programs - our learning and engagement programs are focused in several areas. Witness celebrates african american culture and music, reaching 3,370 students in 42 schools throughout the greater twin cities metro area and engaging the vocalessence singers and 8 witness teaching artists trained in music, dance, and theater. The cantare program connects mexican composers with twin cities metro area schools where participants learn about mexican culture and music through rehearsing and performing new choral works. Teaching resources and videos are also made available on a teachers' portal on the vocalessence website. Our vintage voices choirs are in three locations and engaged 110 older adults through six 13-week sessions of creating, rehearsing, and performing a program of music, poetry, and personal reflections presented to audiences totalling 680 people. The vocalessence singers of this age (sota) brings together 45 teenage students of diverse cultural backgrounds from 15 high schools in minneapolis, st. Paul, st. Louis park, robbinsdale, and maplewood. 40 weekly rehearsals involve instruction in musicianship, movement, choreography, drama, lyrics, and an introduction to multiple musical styles through guest presenters. Sota performed on all vocalessence artistic series concerts as well 10 additional community performances in the twin cities.

Special programs -internationally recognized as a leader in choral performance and organizational management, vocalessence is engaged in other special performances and workshops throughout the year. In 2024-25, vocalessence engaged in 19 additional performances, reaching an audience of 13,300, and 3 additional workshops, reaching an audience of 110. Additional performances include music festivals, corporate appearances, fundraising events, senior residences, and other organizations' performing seasons. Vocalessence also hosted mexican cultural ambassadors, voz en punto, for a weeklong residency in september 2024, and undertook a recording session with singer, composer, entertainer, melanie demore, creating 14 new recorded tracks of her music.