MINNEAPOLIS–ST. PAUL — In a strategic move designed to reinforce its institutional sustainability and expand its community resonance across the Twin Cities and beyond, VocalEssence has officially announced the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors. Announced on September 25, 2026, this major governance expansion brings a diverse coalition of senior corporate executives, philanthropic strategists, human capital advisors, and civic leaders into the governing body of the renowned 58-year-old choral arts organization.
As non-profit performing arts institutions nationwide navigate evolving audience demographics, shifting funding paradigms, and broader cultural transformation, VocalEssence’s latest appointments signal a deliberate effort to pair artistic innovation with rigorous operational oversight. The new board members—Sooki Jalali, Harry Miller, Bunny Robinson, Carolyn Sleeth, Sunita Vongharath-Evenson, and Karen Voracek—will serve as civic ambassadors, driving major policy frameworks, brand positioning, and financial stewardship for the organization.
Executive Overview: A Strategic Infusion of Enterprise Leadership
The newly appointed cohort represents a rare convergence of corporate acumen, health technology expertise, cross-cultural entrepreneurship, and extensive arts administration experience. By tapping leaders from organizations such as Thrivent Charitable, Insulet, Medtronic, and the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), VocalEssence is positioning itself to tackle the multifaceted challenges confronting 21st-century cultural non-profits.
The board additions come at a pivotal juncture in VocalEssence’s 58-year trajectory. Rather than drawing exclusively from traditional arts patrons, the organization has intentionally curated a governing body capable of delivering high-level insights across executive search, corporate strategy, multicultural economic development, and philanthropic engineering.
"Our mission is to unite our community in song, and each one of our new board members creates an opportunity we deeply value—to connect with the new voices and new networks that are always growing in the place we’ve called home for more than half a century," stated Philip Brunelle, founder and artistic director of VocalEssence. "Serving on our board is a generous contribution of time, skill, and spirit, and we know these incredible professionals have insights and perspectives that will enhance VocalEssence beyond measure."
Echoing Brunelle’s enthusiasm, VocalEssence Executive Director Amy Jaine Wielunski emphasized the operational synergy the new cohort brings: "These new board members bring a powerful mix of executive leadership, HR, marketing, philanthropy, and arts governance experience to VocalEssence. Just as inspiring are their personal connections to our mission, from lifelong choral singers to newer enthusiasts, all united by the belief that singing has the power to bring people together."
Detailed Chronology: Evolving Governance Across Six Decades
To appreciate the significance of this expansion, one must contextualize VocalEssence’s governance evolution since its founding in 1969.
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| VOCALESSENCE GOVERNANCE TIMELINE |
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| 1969: Founded as Plymouth Music Series by Philip Brunelle; grassroots advisory. |
| 2002: Rebranded as VocalEssence; board expands focus to national/int'l outreach. |
| 2018: 50th Anniversary Campaign strengthens endowment & community programs. |
| 2020–2024: Board guides post-pandemic recovery, digital shift, DEI initiatives. |
| 2026: Induction of 6 cross-sector leaders to drive multi-year strategic roadmap. |
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1969–1990s: The Formative Era
Originally established as the Plymouth Music Series, the organization operated primarily under an advisory structure focused on regional concert production, local choral repertoire expansion, and modest community fundraising. -
2002: Strategic Rebranding & Scale
Rebranding to VocalEssence, the organization expanded its board structure to incorporate formal fiduciary subcommittees, national artistic partnerships, and broader educational outreach initiatives such as WITNESS and ¡Cantaré!. -
2020–2025: Resilience and Transformation
Navigating the global pandemic and subsequent shifts in performing arts attendance, the board spearheaded digital audience engagement programs, broadened equity initiatives, and stabilized operational reserve funds. -
September 2026: The Modern Executive Board
The formal induction of the six new directors represents the latest chapter in this timeline, shifting the board’s capacity toward enterprise-level scalability, executive HR infrastructure, high-growth commercial strategy, and multi-generational philanthropic engagement.
Individual Profiles: The New Directors
Sooki Jalali
Business Consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA)
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Minnesota, Sooki Jalali brings a powerful entrepreneurial background to VocalEssence. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business from the University of Minnesota, Jalali has founded three successful enterprises across the health, wellness, and business development sectors.
In her current capacity at MEDA, she works directly with BIPOC and ethnic business owners to scale operations, secure capital, and navigate market expansion. A passionate advocate for cross-cultural literacy, Jalali raised her three children (Mitra, Bijan, and Syrus) in a trilingual household, emphasizing Farsi, Korean, and English. Her extensive civic portfolio includes volunteer board work for the Ebenezer Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Hunger Solutions, and the Alliance for a New Humanity. Jalali is also a certified Deepak Chopra yoga instructor and a 2017 Man & Woman of the Year campaign nominee.
Harry Miller
Mentor & Volunteer Leader, SCORE Twin Cities
With over four decades of strategic advisory experience, Harry Miller specializes in guiding mission-driven non-profits and commercial enterprises through structural growth and organizational realignment. At SCORE Twin Cities, Miller counsels entrepreneurs on strategic development, fiscal planning, and strategic partnerships. His previous leadership roles encompass governance reform, non-profit fundraising mechanics, and board development, making him a critical resource for VocalEssence’s long-range fiscal strategy.
Bunny Robinson
Executive Consultant, Navigate Forward; Principal, Robinson-Robinson & Associates
Bunny Robinson is a veteran human resources executive and entrepreneur with deep roots in arts governance and civic advocacy. As an executive consultant with Navigate Forward, she advises C-suite leaders undergoing career transitions. Concurrently, through her search firm, Robinson-Robinson & Associates, Robinson has spent decades pioneering inclusive executive recruitment strategies.
Her distinguished board service spans state and national cultural bodies, including the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arts Midwest, and the State Programs Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Robinson currently serves on the board of the Cultural Fluency Initiative and has previously served on the boards of the United Way Minneapolis, the Conflict Resolution Center, and the Women’s Association of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities. Robinson holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and an MA in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University.
Carolyn Sleeth
Former Senior Vice President & U.S. General Manager, Insulet
Bringing executive corporate operational scale to VocalEssence, Carolyn Sleeth boasts over two decades of leadership in the medical device and healthcare technology sectors. Most recently at Insulet, Sleeth directed a 700-person commercial organization, driving top-line revenue growth exceeding 20% annually. Prior to her tenure at Insulet, she held major leadership roles across Medtronic’s aorta, venous vascular, and cardiac disease divisions, spearheading strategy, market development, and product positioning.
Sleeth holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Stanford University, a master’s degree in Russian, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Her deep corporate governance experience will offer VocalEssence high-level discipline in strategic planning and financial forecasting.
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson
Human Resources Executive & Community Advocate
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson specializes in organizational culture, talent development, and leadership alignment within mission-driven institutions. Throughout her HR executive career, Vongharath-Evenson has focused on creating human-centric systems that support institutional transformation and employee engagement. Her addition to the board addresses a critical strategic priority for modern arts organizations: building sustainable human capital frameworks and fostering workplace cultures that reflect the diverse communities they serve.
Karen Voracek
Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy, Thrivent Charitable
Karen Voracek brings more than 30 years of strategic, marketing, and operational leadership experience to the VocalEssence board. At Thrivent Charitable, she oversees enterprise strategy, donor relations, marketing initiatives, and service operations, aligning business strategy with philanthropic impact. Prior to her pivot into philanthropic executive leadership, Voracek spent nearly three decades in the corporate sector leading business transformation and customer experience portfolios.
A lifelong musician who began playing the clarinet in fifth grade and continues to perform in her parish choir, Voracek combines personal artistic passion with professional philanthropic rigor. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality. Voracek holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and German from Carroll University.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Institutional Dynamics
The expansion of VocalEssence’s board comes at a time when non-profit cultural institutions must balancing artistic ambition with commercial viability. According to industry metrics across the performing arts sector, organizations that integrate cross-functional corporate experience into their governance models experience higher rate stability in non-grant revenue and donor retention.
| Metric / Domain | Governance Advantage Delivered by New Board Cohort |
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| Commercial HR Strategy | Direct experience scaling 700-person organizations (Sleeth) and high-level executive search/DEI strategy (Robinson, Vongharath-Evenson). |
| Philanthropic Architecture | 30+ years of donor experience and philanthropic strategy expertise via Thrivent Charitable leadership (Voracek). |
| Small Business & Minority Enterprise | Direct access to BIPOC business networks and scaling strategies through MEDA leadership (Jalali). |
| National Arts Policy | Federal and state arts governance background including NEA, Arts Midwest, and MN State Arts Board (Robinson). |
| Business Development & Mentorship | Four decades of strategic business expansion and non-profit governance mentoring (Miller). |
By leveraging these complementary skill sets, VocalEssence is positioning itself to mitigate macroeconomic volatility, modernize its donor acquisition channels, and broaden its programmatic reach throughout the region.
Official Statements & Institutional Commentary
The appointments have generated strong optimism among both artistic and administrative leadership at VocalEssence, who view the new directors as pivotal to the organization’s next phase of growth.
"Our mission is to unite our community in song, and each one of our new board members creates an opportunity we deeply value—to connect with the new voices and new networks that are always growing in the place we’ve called home for more than half a century."
— Philip Brunelle, Founder & Artistic Director
Brunelle’s focus on "new voices and new networks" highlights the strategic necessity of expanding beyond traditional audience channels. As urban demographics evolve, cultural institutions must actively court new communities to maintain civic relevance.
"These new board members bring a powerful mix of executive leadership, HR, marketing, philanthropy, and arts governance experience to VocalEssence. Just as inspiring are their personal connections to our mission, from lifelong choral singers to newer enthusiasts, all united by the belief that singing has the power to bring people together."
— Amy Jaine Wielunski, Executive Director
Wielunski’s observations underscore an increasingly vital trend in arts administration: marrying passionate artistic advocacy with uncompromised enterprise management.
Future Outlook: Positioning for the 60th Anniversary Era
As VocalEssence approaches its landmark 60th anniversary later this decade, the integration of these six leaders will directly shape the organization’s strategic priorities. Industry observers anticipate that the enhanced board composition will drive several multi-year initiatives:
- Expansion of Community Engagement Initiatives: Leveraging Sooki Jalali’s background with MEDA and Bunny Robinson’s civic leadership to deepen audience engagement within historically underrepresented communities across the Twin Cities.
- Modernization of Philanthropic Pathways: Utilizing Karen Voracek’s expertise at Thrivent Charitable to structure sophisticated planned-giving models, donor retention campaigns, and endowment strategies.
- Operational & Talent Scaling: Applying Carolyn Sleeth’s commercial management background and Sunita Vongharath-Evenson’s HR executive insights to streamline internal operations, refine organizational culture, and support staff retention.
- Enhanced Business Governance: Drawing on Harry Miller’s SCORE mentorship experience to optimize board governance practices, programmatic ROI, and long-range organizational strategy.
Through this comprehensive board expansion, VocalEssence demonstrates that legacy cultural institutions can actively evolve—combining artistic excellence with forward-thinking leadership to secure their impact for generations to come.
