David Cowarden
If the chorus of voices filling Weber Music Hall on the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) campus could be seen, they might look something like the northern lights hanging in the sky, each rising and falling in columns of color and mixing together in a cosmic dance.
Those voices, 75 in all, came from a combination of UMD students and members of VocalEssence, a premier choral organization that presented a one-day masterclass in vocal performance at UMD in late September.
“This is a touchstone point that people will remember for their lives,” says Christopher Mason, an assistant professor and director of choral activities in the UMD Department of Music.
Leading the masterclass was VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle, an internationally renowned conductor and choral music scholar. In addition to performing alongside members of VocalEssence, the students were able to receive immediate feedback from Brunelle.
“We were immersed with them,” says Keegan Foster, a music performance student.
Fellow student Ben Jorgenson appreciated the opportunity to interact with working professionals in the music industry. “You get to see someone already doing what you hope to do someday,” he says.
Following the masterclass, students joined the VocalEssence choir for one combined piece during an evening concert at Weber Music Hall.
The masterclass was supported by the Robert and Kathleen Carlson Choral Music Fund.
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