Tenth Annual Essentially Choral

The tenth annual Essentially Choral reading session, co-sponsored by VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum, took place April 26-28, 2012. Composers André Brégégère (Brooklyn, NY), Timothy J. Brown (Denver, CO), James Kallembach (Chicago, IL), Elizabeth Lim (New York, NY), Kala Pierson (Brooklyn, NY), and Jake Runestad (Minneapolis, MN) were chosen to have their works read by the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers, a 32-voice professional chorus directed by Philip Brunelle.

The six composers spent the weekend in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where they attended professional development sessions, participated in VocalEssence’s rehearsals and received one-on-one mentoring with VocalEssence Artistic Director Philip Brunelle and composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate. 

The weekend culminated in a public reading session of the composers’ works.  Many of the singers commented that participating in the Essentially Choral reading session is one of their favorite activities of the year.  Composer James Kallembach remarked that “Essentially Choral was, by far, the best composer workshop experience I’ve ever had”. 

Essentially Choral is made possible through the generous support of the Jerome Foundation and The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc.

For more information about Essentially Choral, please visit http://www.composersforum.org/program/essentially-choral.

Photo above, from L to R: André Brégégère, Timothy J. Brown, Elizabeth Lim, James Kallembach, Kala Pierson, Jake Runestad, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, Philip Brunelle.