VocalEssence Welcome Christmas Concert

VOCALESSENCE SINGS TIDINGS OF... JAZZ AND MARIACHI
VocalEssence celebrates the holidays with Dave Brubeck's ode to Christmas and more

WHO: Musical ensemble VocalEssence celebrates its 45th holiday season with five concerts devoted to the music of legendary jazz great Dave Brubeck, as well as a selection of other Christmas favorites. The winter program features pianist Dan Chouinard and local Mexican folk group Mariachi Mi Tierra along with the 100-voice VocalEssence Chorus and 32-voice Ensemble Singers.

WHAT: Welcome the holiday season Latin-style with VocalEssence and Dave Brubeck’s charming Christmas cantata La Fiesta de la Posada.Each Welcome Christmas show will also include traditional holiday delights, as well as the winning carols from the 16th annual Welcome Christmas Carol Contest.

HOW: Tickets are available for $10 and up; youth ages 6-18 and students with a valid college ID are eligible for half-price tickets. For more info and to buy tickets, please call 612-371-5656 or visit www.vocalessence.org.

WHEN AND WHERE: There are five concerts throughout the Twin Cities:
Sat., Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater.
Sun., Dec. 8 at 4 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis
Fri., Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m., Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Apple Valley
Sat., Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Colonial Church of Edina
Sun., Dec. 15 at 4 p.m., Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis

WHY: VocalEssence, called "one of the irreplaceable music ensembles of our time" by Dana Gioia, past chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, impacts thousands of students, singers, and composers each year through its initiative programs, contests, and support for innovative art. VocalEssence was founded in 1969 and has debuted more than 160 commissions and world premieres. For more information, visit www.vocalessence.org.