MINNEAPOLIS–ST. PAUL, MN — VocalEssence, one of the nation’s premier choral arts organizations, has announced the appointment of six distinguished community, corporate, and civic leaders to its Board of Directors. The expansion marks a major strategic milestone for the 58-year-old nonprofit institution as it seeks to broaden its philanthropic reach, enhance organizational governance, and 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 diverse array of cross-industry expertise spanning executive human resources, medical device commercialization, business transformation, philanthropic strategy, and public arts governance.
As official fiduciaries and community ambassadors, board members at VocalEssence play a dual role: providing governance oversight and financial stewardship while actively extending the organization’s reach into new civic and cultural networks.
Executive Overview: Strengthening Governance in a Dynamic Arts Landscape
Founded in 1968, VocalEssence has built an international reputation for artistic excellence, community innovation, and the advocacy of contemporary and underrepresented choral literature. As performing arts organizations navigate shifting audience demographics, evolving fundraising models, and post-pandemic cultural landscapes, robust governance has become a prerequisite for long-term sustainability.
The addition of these six leaders reflects a deliberate effort by VocalEssence leadership to fortify its institutional backbone. By assembling executives with backgrounds in scaling multi-million-dollar enterprises, managing public arts grants, and leading complex organizational transformations, VocalEssence is positioning itself to expand its educational and performance initiatives.
"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, VocalEssence Artistic Director and Founder. "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."
Executive Director Amy Jaine Wielunski emphasized the operational and strategic timing of the appointments, pointing to the varied skill sets the cohort introduces to the organization’s governance body.
"These new board members bring a powerful mix of executive leadership, HR, marketing, philanthropy, and arts governance experience to VocalEssence," Wielunski said. "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."
Detailed Chronology & Governance Context
The governance expansion comes at a pivotal period in VocalEssence’s 58-year trajectory. Originally established as the Plymouth Music Series, the organization evolved into VocalEssence, growing from a single volunteer ensemble into a multi-faceted cultural enterprise. Today, the organization encompasses professional and community choral ensembles—including the VocalEssence Chorus, Ensemble Singers, and youth ensembles—alongside extensive learning programs serving thousands of regional students and older adults annually.
Over the past decade, board recruitment within major arts institutions has increasingly shifted away from purely transactional fundraising toward holistic governance frameworks. Modern arts boards require a matrix of skills that balance fiscal risk management, human capital optimization, public policy advocacy, and community-embedded diplomacy.
The strategic onboarding process concluded in September 2026 with the formal confirmation of the six appointees, whose combined professional backgrounds address critical operational areas:
- Commercial Scale & Strategic Growth: Integrating corporate strategy methodologies into artistic enterprise management.
- Cultural & Civic Governance: Leveraging deep historical ties with state arts boards, civic commissions, and national arts panels.
- Philanthropic Engineering: Expanding donor engagement models through sophisticated planned giving and charitable gift structuring.
- Talent & Organizational Culture: Implementing human resources strategies aligned with institutional equity and inclusion goals.
Strategic Profiles: The New Appointees
1. Sooki Jalali: Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Economic Development, and Community Health
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Minnesota, Sooki Jalali brings a multifaceted background in biological sciences, business management, and cross-cultural entrepreneurship to the VocalEssence board. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business, Jalali has founded three successful enterprises across the health, wellness, and business development sectors.
Currently serving as a Business Consultant at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), Jalali specializes in helping diverse and ethnic business owners scale operations, secure capital, and navigate complex market environments. Her governance perspective is informed by extensive grassroots community service, including past advisory and volunteer roles with the Ebenezer Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Hunger Solutions, and the Alliance for a New Humanity. Jalali, who raised her three children to be bilingual in Farsi and Korean, is also a certified yoga instructor trained under Dr. Deepak Chopra. Her intersection of business scaling expertise and deep community roots enhances VocalEssence’s outreach to diverse entrepreneurial networks across the region.
2. Harry Miller: Organizational Strategy and Small Business Mentorship
Harry Miller joins the board with over forty years of experience steering business strategy, team leadership, and organizational development across corporate and nonprofit sectors. As an active mentor and volunteer leader with SCORE Twin Cities, Miller has dedicated his recent career to advising entrepreneurs and small business owners on strategic growth, financial structuring, and operational resilience.
Within SCORE, Miller has led key initiatives focused on volunteer governance, fundraising strategy, and organizational sustainability. His appointment to the VocalEssence board reinforces the institution’s focus on long-term capacity building, strategic clarity, and operational alignment during periods of organizational evolution.
3. Bunny Robinson: Human Resources Leadership and Arts Public Policy
Bunny Robinson brings decades of experience in executive human resources, search consulting, and high-level arts governance. Robinson currently serves as an executive consultant with Navigate Forward, advising C-suite executives through professional transitions, and is the principal consultant at Robinson-Robinson & Associates (RRA), a retained executive search firm specializing in inclusive executive recruitment.
Robinson’s governance background in the arts is extensive. She previously served on the Minnesota State Arts Board, the board of Arts Midwest, and the State Programs Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. Beyond cultural governance, her civic footprint includes board tenure 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, alongside a 20-year term as an election judge ending in 2025.
Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University, Robinson also serves as a contract mediator for the Minnesota Department of Education. Her dual expertise in arts public policy and executive search positions her as a key asset for board stewardship and talent strategy.
4. Carolyn Sleeth: Corporate Commercial Leadership and Scaled Operations
Carolyn Sleeth brings more than two decades of senior executive leadership within the medical device and healthcare industries to VocalEssence. Most recently, Sleeth served as Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager at Insulet Corporation, where she oversaw a 700-person commercial division and drove annual revenue growth exceeding 20%. Prior to her tenure at Insulet, she spent many years in executive positions at Medtronic, guiding marketing, market development, and corporate strategy for the company’s vascular and cardiac disease divisions.
A native of California, Sleeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Stanford University, a Master’s degree in Russian, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Having resided in the Twin Cities for 20 years, Sleeth offers the board deep expertise in large-scale operational management, corporate sponsorship development, and market analysis.
5. Sunita Vongharath-Evenson: Organizational Culture and HR Executive Leadership
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson is an established human resources executive and nonprofit leader specializing in organizational culture, executive coaching, and mission-aligned talent development. Throughout her corporate and civic career, Vongharath-Evenson has focused on creating sustainable organizational frameworks that foster employee engagement and operational resilience.
Her appointment aligns with VocalEssence’s internal strategic priority to strengthen institutional culture and ensure that its administrative and artistic operations are backed by modern human resource practices.
6. Karen Voracek: Philanthropic Strategy, Enterprise Innovation, and Artistic Advocacy
Karen Voracek currently serves as Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy at Thrivent Charitable. With over 30 years of leadership experience spanning the corporate and philanthropic sectors, Voracek leads enterprise strategy, marketing, donor relations, product management, and service operations.
Prior to her leadership role at Thrivent Charitable, Voracek spent nearly three decades in the corporate sector directing customer experience, marketing, and corporate transformation initiatives. In addition to her executive experience, Voracek maintains a lifelong personal connection to music as a clarinetist and active choral singer in her local parish choir.
Voracek, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and German from Carroll University and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, also serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality. Her background at the intersection of donor psychology, strategic marketing, and choral performance brings valuable strategic perspective to VocalEssence’s philanthropic development efforts.
Supporting Analysis: Matrix of Governance Capabilities
The composition of the new board cohort directly matches the operational demands facing major performing arts non-profits in the modern environment:
+--------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Board Member | Primary Professional Focus | Strategic Governance Contribution |
+--------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Sooki Jalali | Entrepreneurship & Business Consulting (MEDA) | Diverse business scaling & community integration |
| Harry Miller | Strategy & Non-Profit Advisory (SCORE) | Long-term growth strategy & mentor frameworks |
| Bunny Robinson | Executive Search & Public Arts Governance | Arts policy, NEA/State board experience, HR |
| Carolyn Sleeth | Commercial Operations & Exec Leadership (Insulet) | Enterprise expansion, revenue growth modeling |
| Sunita Vongharath-Evenson| Executive Human Resources & Change Management | Organizational culture & workplace stewardship |
| Karen Voracek | Philanthropic Strategy & Marketing (Thrivent) | Capital campaign strategy & donor experience |
+--------------------------+----------------------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------+Official Statements and Institutional Context
The dual statements issued by artistic and administrative leadership highlight a unified approach to the organization’s next phase of growth.
Philip Brunelle’s comments emphasize continuity of mission paired with institutional evolution. Having led VocalEssence since its inception in 1968, Brunelle’s vision relies on continuous renewal through community engagement. By framing board service as an infusion of "new voices and new networks," Brunelle underscores the choir’s mandate to serve as a reflection of the increasingly diverse Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Amy Jaine Wielunski’s remarks focus on operational integration. As Executive Director, Wielunski oversees the administrative, financial, and promotional operations that sustain VocalEssence’s artistic programs. The incoming cohort provides direct strategic support across critical operational areas:
- Fundraising & Philanthropic Diversification: Leveraging Voracek and Miller’s donor strategy backgrounds to expand major giving and corporate sponsorship programs.
- Equity and Civic Alignment: Utilizing Robinson and Jalali’s deep connections within public arts funding bodies and diverse business communities to ensure programs remain accessible and culturally responsive.
- Scalable Operational Planning: Applying Sleeth and Vongharath-Evenson’s executive experience in corporate growth and human capital management to refine VocalEssence’s organizational infrastructure.
Future Outlook: VocalEssence and the Choral Landscape
As VocalEssence moves forward, the expansion of its Board of Directors provides a solid foundation for several upcoming strategic priorities:
- Educational Outreach Expansion: Expanding flagship youth and community initiatives—such as WITNESS, which celebrates the contributions of African American creators to the arts, and Cantaré, which brings Mexican composers into local classrooms—into additional school districts across Minnesota.
- Digital and Regional Accessibility: Investing in expanded digital broadcasting and regional touring to bring choral performances to audiences beyond the traditional concert hall.
- Financial Endowment Resilience: Building long-term endowment reserves to buffer against macroeconomic shifts and insulate artistic programming from economic fluctuations.
By adding these six leaders to its governance structure, VocalEssence reaffirms its commitment to blending artistic excellence with structured management. The unified strength of its board ensures that as the institution honors its 58-year history, it remains well-positioned to innovate, engage new audiences, and demonstrate the transformative power of choral music for generations to come.
