On September 25, 2026, Minneapolis-based choral arts organization VocalEssence announced a major expansion of its governing leadership, appointing six new members to its Board of Directors. The appointments come at a pivotal juncture for the 58-year-old non-profit institution as it navigates an evolving cultural landscape, shifting philanthropic models, and the imperative to deepen community engagement across the Twin Cities metropolitan area and beyond.
The newly appointed board members—Sooki Jalali, Harry Miller, Bunny Robinson, Carolyn Sleeth, Sunita Vongharath-Evenson, and Karen Voracek—bring a sophisticated blend of executive management, human resources, high-growth commercial scaling, philanthropic strategy, and public arts governance experience. Serving as both fiduciaries and community ambassadors, the expanded board is tasked with overseeing major policy decisions, ensuring long-term financial solvency, and broadening the organization’s geographic and cultural reach.
This strategic governance enhancement reflects a broader trend among legacy performing arts institutions: embedding cross-sectoral corporate, entrepreneurial, and public policy expertise into board governance to complement artistic vision with institutional resilience.
Detailed Chronology & Organizational Evolution
Founded in 1968 by Artistic Director Philip Brunelle—originally under the banner of the Plymouth Music Series—VocalEssence has grown from a local church-affiliated concert initiative into one of the world’s premier choral music organizations. Over nearly six decades, the organization has expanded to encompass multiple performing ensembles (including the professional VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers, as well as youth initiatives like VocalEssence Vintage Voices and Lullaby Project), commissioned hundreds of world premieres, and earned international acclaim for its advocacy of underrepresented composers.
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| VOCALESSENCE TIMELINE |
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| 1968: Founded as Plymouth Music Series by Philip Brunelle. |
| 2002: Rebranded as VocalEssence to reflect broader community & global mission. |
| 2018: 50th Anniversary Season celebrated; expansion of youth and senior outreach. |
| 2026: Appointments of 6 cross-sector leaders to Board of Directors at 58th year. |
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The expansion of the Board of Directors in September 2026 marks the culmination of a multi-year governance review led by Executive Director Amy Jaine Wielunski and Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. As non-profit performing arts organizations adapt to post-pandemic audience behaviors, changing corporate donor landscapes, and shifting demographic realities, the VocalEssence leadership sought board candidates capable of driving innovation across six core competencies:
Enterprise Scaling & Commercial Strategy
Diversity, Equity, and Executive Search
Small Business Consulting & Economic Development
Philanthropic Stewardship & Donor Experience
Organizational Culture & Human Capital
State and Federal Arts Policy Integration
By integrating leaders from healthcare, financial services, public policy, and entrepreneurship, VocalEssence is positioning itself to scale its educational programming, diversify its revenue streams, and preserve its financial foundation ahead of its upcoming 60th anniversary milestone.
Supporting Context & Profiles of New Appointees
The six new board members represent a diverse cross-section of Minnesota’s corporate, civic, and philanthropic ecosystems. Their professional trajectories provide insight into the specific domain expertise VocalEssence intends to leverage.
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| NEW BOARD MEMBER MATRIX |
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| Name | Primary Expertise | Key Organization |
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| Sooki Jalali | Business Consulting & Wellness | MEDA |
| Harry Miller | Strategy & Small Business Mentorship| SCORE Twin Cities |
| Bunny Robinson | HR, Exec Search & Public Arts Board | Navigate Forward / RRA|
| Carolyn Sleeth | MedTech Execution & Enterprise Scale| Former Insulet / Medtronic |
| Sunita Vongharath-Evenson| HR Leadership & Change Management | Non-Profit HR Sector |
| Karen Voracek | Philanthology & Donor Experience | Thrivent Charitable |
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Sooki Jalali: Cross-Cultural Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Minnesota, Sooki Jalali holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business from the University of Minnesota. A serial entrepreneur who has established three businesses in health, wellness, and business development, Jalali serves as a Business Consultant at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA). In this capacity, she assists minority business owners in scaling enterprises and accessing capital.
Jalali’s civic engagement includes board and volunteer service with the Ebenezer Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Hunger Solutions, and the Alliance for a New Humanity. A certified yoga instructor trained under Dr. Deepak Chopra, Jalali brings extensive experience in cross-cultural community outreach, donor campaign management (including a 2017 nomination for Man & Woman of the Year), and multicultural network integration. Her background aligns with VocalEssence’s goal of broadening its audience base within diverse urban communities.
Harry Miller: Strategic Planning and Organizational Governance
With more than four decades of experience advising commercial and mission-driven entities, Harry Miller specializes in organizational strategy, corporate development, and team leadership. As a mentor and volunteer leader with SCORE Twin Cities, Miller counsels small business owners and entrepreneurs on navigating growth, operational structuring, and institutional strategy.
At SCORE, Miller has led initiatives focused on development, fundraising, and governance reform. His appointment to VocalEssence reinforces the board’s capacity for long-term strategic oversight, financial modeling, and structured risk management during economic transitions.
Bunny Robinson: Human Resources, Executive Search, and Arts Governance
Bunny Robinson brings extensive experience in human capital management, public arts policy, and institutional governance. She currently serves as an Executive Consultant with Navigate Forward—a career transition firm serving C-suite executives—and is the Principal Consultant at Robinson-Robinson & Associates (RRA), a retained executive search firm specializing in inclusive talent acquisition.
Robinson’s governance background in the arts is extensive:
Former Board Member: Minnesota State Arts Board
Former Regional Representative: Arts Midwest
Former Panelist: State Programs Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C.
Civic & Non-Profit Governance: Board service with United Way Minneapolis, the Conflict Resolution Center, Missions Inc. Programs, and the Women’s Association of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities.
A contract mediator for the Minnesota Department of Education with a BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois and a Master of Organizational Leadership (MAOL) from St. Catherine University, Robinson offers VocalEssence seasoned oversight in executive compensation, talent retention, diversity programming, and public-sector arts funding.
Carolyn Sleeth: MedTech Execution and Enterprise Commercial Scale
Carolyn Sleeth provides high-level corporate management and commercial scaling experience derived from over two decades in the medical device industry. Most recently, Sleeth served as Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager at Insulet Corporation, where she managed a 700-person commercial organization and sustained double-digit annual revenue growth exceeding 20%.
Prior to Insulet, Sleeth held senior executive positions at Medtronic, managing the aortic and venous vascular businesses alongside strategic roles in cardiac disease management. Educated at Stanford University (B.A. in History) and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA), Sleeth brings operational rigor, large-scale budget oversight, and strategic growth planning to the VocalEssence fiduciary team.
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson: Organizational Culture and Human Capital Strategy
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson is an HR executive and non-profit leader with a focus on institutional culture, change management, and leadership development. Throughout her career in mission-driven organizations, Vongharath-Evenson has designed human capital frameworks aimed at employee retention, workplace equity, and organizational alignment.
Her appointment addresses an imperative for contemporary non-profits: maintaining healthy internal workforce dynamics, fostering staff retention, and ensuring that internal organizational practices align with public-facing community missions.
Karen Voracek: Strategic Philanthropy, Marketing, and Donor Engagement
Karen Voracek serves as Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy at Thrivent Charitable, bringing over 30 years of corporate and philanthropic leadership experience. At Thrivent Charitable, Voracek directs enterprise strategy, marketing, service operations, and donor engagement frameworks, specializing in charitable giving strategies and planned gifts.
Voracek spent nearly three decades in corporate strategy and business transformation before transitioning into the philanthropic sector. In addition to her professional role, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality and holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. As an active musician—having played clarinet since childhood and sung in parish choirs—Voracek bridges the gap between high-level financial stewardship and a direct personal commitment to the choral arts.
Official Statements & Executive Commentary
The leadership team at VocalEssence highlighted the strategic importance of these appointments, emphasizing how the new board members’ varied backgrounds align with the organization’s broader mission.
Philip Brunelle, Founder and Artistic Director, noted the importance of bringing in fresh perspectives to support the organization’s long-term vision:
"I’m delighted to welcome our new board members to the organization. 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. 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."
Amy Jaine Wielunski, Executive Director, emphasized the functional capabilities the new class brings to institutional operations:
"These new board members bring a powerful mix of executive leadership, HR, marketing, philanthropy, and arts governance experience to VocalEssence. I am thrilled to welcome them on board! 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. I am excited at the opportunity to work with each of them as we grow our impact across the Twin Cities and beyond."
Future Outlook & Strategic Imperatives
The expansion of VocalEssence’s Board of Directors positions the organization to address key operational challenges facing non-profit arts institutions in the late 2020s.
Key Governance Priorities (2026–2030)
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| STRATEGIC GOVERNANCE PRIORITIES |
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| 1. AUDIENCE DIVERSIFICATION: Expanding reach into immigrant & multicultural hubs. |
| 2. FINANCIAL RESILIENCE: Leveraging med-tech & corporate models for revenue growth.|
| 3. PLANNED GIVING: Utilizing Thrivent-backed philanthropy frameworks. |
| 4. ADVOCACY & FUNDING: Tapping into NEA & State Arts Board grant channels. |
| 5. WORKFORCE RETENTION: Applying modern executive HR & mediation practices. |
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Capital Diversification and Planned Giving: With Karen Voracek and Carolyn Sleeth on the board, VocalEssence is well-positioned to expand its endowment through structured corporate sponsorships, planned giving programs, and donor retention strategies, reducing reliance on single-ticket sales.
Equity-Driven Community Engagement: Leveraging Sooki Jalali’s networks in minority-owned business ecosystems and Bunny Robinson’s extensive arts governance history, the organization can deepen outreach to underrepresented communities, ensuring concert programming and educational initiatives reflect the evolving demographics of the Twin Cities.
Operational Optimization and Talent Management: Sunita Vongharath-Evenson and Bunny Robinson provide internal governance support, ensuring VocalEssence remains an attractive employer for top-tier artistic and administrative talent amid a competitive market for non-profit professionals.
Public Policy and Arts Advocacy: Robinson’s prior roles with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Minnesota State Arts Board give VocalEssence a direct voice in state and national policy discussions regarding arts funding and community arts education.
As VocalEssence approaches six decades of operation, this expanded governing board establishes a strong operational and strategic foundation, ensuring the institution remains financially stable, culturally relevant, and deeply integrated into the civic fabric of Minnesota.
