In a historic milestone for the ensemble, the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (SOTA)—the flagship youth performing group of the Minneapolis-based VocalEssence organization—embarked on their inaugural air-travel concert tour outside the Midwest from February 12 through February 16, 2026. The five-day excursion brought 37 high school vocalists and four accompanying staff members to Pennsylvania, establishing a vibrant cultural bridge between the Twin Cities and the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan region.
The tour represented far more than a conventional showcase of choral repertoire. Positioned at the intersection of musical excellence, historic immersion, and contemporary social discourse, SOTA’s itinerary encompassed high-level academic collaborations, performances in historic sanctuaries, and direct interactions with landmark civil rights history. From performing Dr. Rollo Dilworth’s monumental work Weather at Temple University to navigating real-time national debates over public history at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, the young musicians served as artistic ambassadors for Minnesota during a moment of heightened national reflection.
The journey underscored the growing national profile of VocalEssence’s youth initiative, demonstrating how choir programs can transcend aesthetic entertainment to become vehicles for civic engagement, cross-regional solidarity, and youth-led advocacy.
Detailed Chronology
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SOTA 2026 TOUR ITINERARY
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Date Primary Location Key Artistic & Cultural Milestones
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Feb 12, 2026 Old City Philadelphia, PA Historic district tour; President's House
exhibit narrative briefing.
Feb 13, 2026 Temple University, PA Joint rehearsal & performance of *Weather*;
educational masterclass with Dr. Rollo Dilworth.
Feb 14, 2026 Allentown, PA (Zion UCC) Exchange concert with Mosaic Youth Chorus in
Revolutionary War historic site.
Feb 15, 2026 African Episcopal Church Mardi Gras Jazz Mass & Feast of Absalom Jones;
of St. Thomas, PA Performance of "I Need You To Survive."
Feb 16, 2026 Minneapolis, MN (Return) Federal court restores President's House signage;
ensemble returns home.
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Day 1: Arrival, Historical Erasure, and Civic Lessons in Old City Philadelphia
Upon landing in Philadelphia on Thursday, February 12, 2026, the ensemble immediately immersed itself in the culinary and civic fabric of the city. After experiencing traditional Philadelphia fare, the group conducted a walking tour of the Old City historic district, home to foundational monuments of American governance including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, and the National Constitution Center.
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| DAY 1 SPOTLIGHT: THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE |
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| Location: Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA |
| Event: Interpretive signage addressing enslaved people removed via executive order. |
| Action: NPS Ranger "W" delivered oral history briefings directly to SOTA youth. |
| Outcome: Federal court enjoined the order, restoring signage on Feb 16, 2026. |
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The educational core of the afternoon took an unexpected turn at The President’s House, an open-air installation adjacent to the Liberty Bell Center that examines the paradox of slavery and freedom in early America. Just days prior to SOTA’s arrival, the site’s interpretive signage detailing the lives of nine enslaved individuals held by George Washington had been removed pursuant to a controversial federal executive mandate alleging the content "inappropriately disparaged" American heritage.
In response to the missing panels, National Park Service Ranger "W" met with the ensemble, delivering a detailed oral history to ensure the students received an unvarnished account of the site’s history. In a notable legal development, a federal district judge issued an injunction ordering the immediate restoration of the interpretive signage on February 16, the exact day the ensemble returned to Minnesota.
Day 2: Academic Collaboration, "Weather," and Artistic Resonances at Temple University
Friday, February 13, was dedicated to an intensive academic and artistic residency at Temple University’s Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts. SOTA joined forces with the Temple University Choir, the Temple University Wind Symphony, and Singing City—a prominent Philadelphia community choir—under the direction of renowned composer, conductor, and educator Dr. Rollo Dilworth.
[TEMPLE UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION]
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[SOTA Singers] [Temple University Choir] [Singing City]
(37 Vocalists) & [Wind Symphony] (Community Ensemble)
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Rehearsal & Staging
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v
Performance of "Weather"
(Composition by Dr. Rollo Dilworth,
text adapted from Claudia Rankine)
The combined forces rehearsed and performed Weather, Dr. Dilworth’s ambitious symphonic and choral setting of Claudia Rankine’s poem written in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd. SOTA had previously performed the work in 2025 as part of a multi-generational festival choir spearheaded by Minnesota’s One Voice Mixed Chorus. Performing the piece in Philadelphia alongside higher education and community ensembles created an emotional bridge between Minnesota’s recent history and the national struggle for racial justice.
During a post-concert panel discussion, Dr. Dilworth formally introduced the high schoolers as visitors "from Minneapolis," prompting a standing ovation and vocal expressions of solidarity from the audience. Following the public performance, Dr. Dilworth conducted a private masterclass and clinic with SOTA, refining their vocal technique and interpretation in preparation for their upcoming performance at VocalEssence’s annual WITNESS concert series in the Twin Cities.
Day 3: Historical Sanctuary and Inter-Youth Solidarity in Allentown
On Saturday, February 14, the tour traveled 65 miles northwest of Philadelphia to Allentown, Pennsylvania. The destination was the historic Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ, a sanctuary built over 250 years ago that famously concealed the Liberty Bell beneath its floorboards in 1777 to prevent British troops from melting it down for munitions.
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| DAY 3 SPOTLIGHT: ALLENTOWN EXCHANGE |
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| Host Venue: Historic Zion's Reformed UCC (Revolutionary War Liberty Bell site) |
| Partner Ensemble: Mosaic Youth Chorus (Allentown, PA) |
| Core Theme: Cross-regional youth empowerment through choral literature |
| Audience Impact: Capacity audience; pastoral address emphasizing national unity |
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In this historic setting, SOTA engaged in an exchange concert with the Mosaic Youth Chorus, an Allentown-based youth ensemble founded on the principle of leveraging music for societal good. The two choruses rehearsed shared repertoire, held peer-to-peer dialogues, and presented a joint public concert to a packed auditorium.
During the program’s conclusion, the church’s senior pastor addressed the assembly, highlighting the social imperative of youth vocal ensembles in bridging regional and ideological divides. The pastor noted that the presence of young artists from Minnesota serving as civic ambassadors delivered a powerful message of hope and shared purpose.
Day 4: Sacred Spaces, Cultural Resistance, and Gospel Traditions at St. Thomas
The final full day of the tour, Sunday, February 15, began with cultural exploration at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where students climbed the iconic steps featured in the film Rocky. The ensemble then moved to the historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, established in 1792 as the first Black Episcopal congregation in the United States by Absalom Jones.
[ST. THOMAS AFRICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH - SUNDAY SERVICE]
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[Feast of Absalom Jones] [Mardi Gras Jazz Mass]
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Spoken Exhortations &
Calls to Civic Engagement
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G. Phillip Shoultz, III Spontaneous Re-Program
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Performance of "I Need You To Survive"
(by Hezekiah Walker)
SOTA was invited to serve as featured guest performers during a service commemorating both the Feast of Absalom Jones and a traditional Mardi Gras Jazz Mass. The service combined liturgical jazz, historical remembrance, and impassioned sermons addressing contemporary civil liberties.
Sensing the solemnity and urgency of the service, SOTA Founding Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III altered the ensemble’s planned finale moments before taking the chancel. Introducing the young musicians as artists from Minnesota, Shoultz led the ensemble in a spontaneous, arrangement of Hezekiah Walker’s gospel classic, "I Need You To Survive." The congregation joined in, transforming the performance into a shared moment of solidarity and mutual support.
Supporting Context & Metrics
Key Tour Metrics
The operational and artistic scope of the 2026 East Coast tour demonstrates the scale of VocalEssence’s commitment to youth development:
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| SOTA 2026 TOUR: KEY METRICS |
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| Total Student Vocalists | 37 |
| Total Administrative & Artistic Staff | 4 |
| Total Geographic Footprint (Miles Traveled) | ~2,200 miles (round-trip)|
| Distance Traveled to Regional Exchange (Allentown) | 65 miles |
| Institutional Collaborators | 4 major organizations |
| Public Performances & Services Delivered | 3 major events |
| Historical Sites & Cultural Institutions Engaged | 6 key locations |
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Institutional Partnerships Engaged
Temple University Department of Choral Activities (Philadelphia, PA)
Singing City Choir (Philadelphia, PA)
Mosaic Youth Chorus (Lehigh Valley, PA)
African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas (Philadelphia, PA)
One Voice Mixed Chorus (Saint Paul, MN – prior collaborator for Weather)
[REGIONAL COOPERATIVE CHORAL NETWORK]
Minneapolis, MN Philadelphia, PA
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| VocalEssence (SOTA) |<=====>| Temple University |
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v v
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| One Voice Mixed Chorus| | Singing City |
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v
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| Mosaic Youth Chorus |
| (Allentown) |
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Historical and Socio-Political Context
The 2026 tour took place against a backdrop of ongoing national debates regarding public history, civil rights curricula, and the role of the arts in social advocacy. SOTA’s experience at The President’s House site highlighted the friction surrounding public memory and historical stewardship in federal park lands.
Furthermore, the performance of Dr. Dilworth’s Weather connected SOTA directly to the lineage of protest music. Written as an artistic response to the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the piece utilizes complex choral textures, spoken word, and symphonic accompaniment to reflect on structural injustice and collective resilience. By presenting this work alongside East Coast collegiate and community ensembles, SOTA brought an authentic local perspective to a piece of national significance.
Official Statements
Reflecting on the tour’s artistic and civic outcomes, key leaders across the participating organizations provided formal commentary on the significance of the residency:
G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Founding Conductor, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age: "When we step onto the stage or into the pulpit in a city like Philadelphia, we aren’t just presenting notes on a page—we are carrying the lived experiences, the struggles, and the resilience of our Minneapolis community. Watching our young people pivot seamlessly at St. Thomas to sing ‘I Need You To Survive’ demonstrated that they understand music not as a static script, but as a living instrument of empathy and real-time human connection. This tour proved that our youth are not merely future leaders; they are active civic leaders right now."
Rhiannon Fiskradatz, Operations Manager, VocalEssence Singers Of This Age: "Taking 37 high school students on their first major flight tour outside the Midwest was a monumental operational undertaking, but the programmatic returns were extraordinary. From navigating complex historical sites like the President’s House exhibit to executing high-level symphonic collaborations at Temple University, our singers met every moment with profound maturity, artistic discipline, and curiosity."
Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Composer and Professor of Choral Music, Temple University: "The presence of the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age at Temple University brought an irreplaceable depth of authenticity to our performance of ‘Weather.’ Music serves as a conduit for systemic truth-telling and collective healing. When SOTA sang alongside our university students and community members, the geographic distance between Minneapolis and Philadelphia evaporated, replaced by a unified, undeniable message of shared humanity."
Presiding Clergy, Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ (Allentown, PA): "To host these two exceptional youth ensembles—Mosaic and SOTA—in a sanctuary that literally sheltered the symbols of American liberty during the Revolutionary War was deeply moving. In an era marked by profound polarization, these young voices offered a powerful reminder of what unity looks like when anchored in purpose and mutual respect."
Future Outlook
The success of SOTA’s 2026 Pennsylvania tour marks a new era in the ensemble’s expansion and artistic trajectory. Historically focused on regional education and performance throughout Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, VocalEssence plans to utilize this milestone as a blueprint for future national exchange programs.
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SOTA STRATEGIC ROADMAP (2026 AND BEYOND)
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Domain Immediate Focus (Q1-Q2 2026) Long-Term Vision (2027+)
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Repertoire & Concerts *WITNESS* Concert Series Expand commissioned works
incorporating Dilworth's repertoire. focused on social justice.
Institutional Links Sustain artistic ties with Establish annual national youth
Mosaic Youth Chorus & Temple. choral exchange networks.
Civic Advocacy Incorporate history workshops Embed historical literacy into
into tour preparation. touring curricula nationwide.
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Immediate Programmatic Next Steps
VocalEssence WITNESS Concert Series:
Building directly upon the masterclass conducted by Dr. Rollo Dilworth at Temple University, SOTA will feature several of Dilworth’s compositions in the upcoming WITNESS performances at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The WITNESS program celebrates the contributions of African American creators to mainstream culture.
Curricular Integration of Historic Literacy:
In light of the ensemble’s experience at the President’s House exhibit in Philadelphia, VocalEssence leadership plans to formalize historical and civic literacy briefings as a standard component of all future tour preparation.
Sustained Youth Exchange Networks:
VocalEssence administrators are exploring formalizing long-term digital and artistic exchanges between SOTA and the Mosaic Youth Chorus of Allentown, creating a permanent channel for cross-regional youth artistic collaboration.
By synthesizing rigorous musical training with direct civic engagement, the VocalEssence Singers Of This Age have established a transformative model for contemporary youth choral music. As the ensemble moves forward, it remains anchored in its foundational ethos—echoing the words of long-time collaborator Melanie DeMore—to continuously "Lead With Love" and demonstrate that for young artists across America, Together We Sing is both a operational model and a imperative for civic impact.
