PLATINUM2024

VocalEssence

Together We Sing

aka VOCAL ESSENCE   |   Minneapolis, MN   |  www.vocalessence.org

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Mission

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.

Ruling year info

1979

Executive Director

Amy Jaine Wielunski

Artistic Director, Founder

Philip Brunelle

Main address

1900 Nicollet Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55403 USA

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EIN

41-1363849

NTEE code info

Music (A68)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

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Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

VocalEssence Learning & Engagement Programs

VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs are specifically designed for people ages 0-90+ to connect, create, and learn across cultures.
In each of our programs, we:
- Connect people with renowned choral experts—giving them the opportunity to learn directly from exceptional role models.
- Blend music and the study of cultures present in Minnesota’s diverse population.
- Provide opportunities to perform and attend performances in a major concert hall.
- Help people achieve higher levels of self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement in the community.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Preteens
Young adults
Older adults
Seniors

Where we work

  • Minneapolis, MN

  • Saint Paul, MN

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of free participants on field trips

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

VocalEssence Learning & Engagement Programs

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total number of paid seats filled for performances

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total number of free seats filled for performances

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Founded in 1969, Minneapolis-based VocalEssence has decades of history as one of the world’s premier choral music organizations. But despite its global influence, VocalEssence has kept its focus local—consistently pioneering ways to strengthen Minnesota’s community through thrilling musical experiences.

Mission: 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.

Vision: VocalEssence seeks to be forward-thinking—a singing community where all find belonging. Aspiring to inspire, we discover, celebrate, and build lasting experiences that transform hearts and minds. We strive to create connections that honor dimensions of difference and to serve as a catalyst for change among singers, audiences, choral organizations, and communities.

Values:
Curiosity & Discovery
Artistry & Creativity
Innovation & Inspiration
Collaboration

As a professional choral organization, we live our values in order to:
Bridge societal difference,
Remain open to continuous learning,
Celebrate singing as an essential human expression

What We Do
At VocalEssence, we engage people of all ages and cultures in our community through innovative, enticing choral music programming, such as:

CONCERTS & EVENTS
VocalEssence brings our community together through song. Our concerts and events inspire people of all ages to connect with each other, hear beautiful music, and create music of their own.

LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
VocalEssence Learning & Engagement programs are specifically designed for people ages 0-100+ to connect, create, and learn across cultures. In each of our programs, we:
- Connect people with renowned choral experts—giving them the opportunity to learn directly from exceptional role models.
- Blend music and the study of cultures present in Minnesota’s diverse population.
- Provide opportunities to perform and attend performances in a major concert hall.
- Help people achieve higher levels of self-esteem, self-expression, and engagement in the community.

CONTESTS & AWARDS
Whether you are an experienced composer, a singer-songwriter interested in writing choral music, or a high school choir director who embraces the importance of creativity in programming, VocalEssence wants to engage you further in the choral arts.

COMMISSIONING & RECORDING
VocalEssence has championed new music and unearthed forgotten gems to discover wonderful music that often goes unheard. Since our inception in 1969 through 2025, we have commissioned 312 new works and performed a total of 602 midwest, United States, and world premieres!

The results of our work speak for themselves. Here are just a few of our accomplishments:
- Our ensembles perform for and engage with more than 20,000 people each year
- We’ve received the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for adventurous programming of contemporary music six times.
- More than 125,000 students have participated in the VocalEssence WITNESS program since its inception.
- We’ve been honored with more Chorus America awards than any other ensemble nationwide, including the once-in-an-organizational-lifetime Margaret Hillis Achievement Award for Choral Excellence.
- As of January 2025, VocalEssence has performed 143 midwest premieres, 90 United States premieres, and 369 world premieres, of which 312 were newly commissioned works.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

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Financials

VocalEssence
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

VocalEssence

Board of directors
as of 01/27/2025
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Carolina Maranon-Cobos

Institute for Advanced Study, University of Minnesota

Term: 2020 - 2025

Daniel Fernelius

Let's Encrypt

Valton Henderson

Robert Half Internationa

Dan Dressen

St. Olaf College

Kristen Hoeschler O'Brien

Consultant

Torrie Allen

Arts Midwest

Anna Boyle

Dorsey & Whitney, LLP

Tanya M Bransford

Hennepin County District Court

Philip Brunelle

VocalEssence

Ben Brunnette

Target

Martha Driessen

Photographer

Cassandra Garnett

Ecolab

Brianna Hill

Daniel Kantor

Composer

Lisa Merklin Lewis

Ameriprise Financial

Rhoda Mhiripipi-Reed

Hopkins Public Schools

Richard Neuner

Neuner Consulting

Kristine Oberg

U.S. Bank

Jim Odland

Thrivent

Anna Ostruoushko

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

Doug Parish

Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc.

Joanne Reeck

Augsburg University

Jeff Smith

Vista Prairie Communications

Amanda Storm

Carbon Mapper

Timothy C. Takach

Composer

Bob Thacker

Consultant

Mary Tjosvold

CEO, Mary T. Inc

Elizabeth Truesdell Smith

Allina Health

Amy Jaine Wielunski

VocalEssence

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 1/27/2025
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female
Sexual orientation
Decline to state
Disability status
Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person with a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.