MINNEAPOLIS — September 25, 2026 — In a major move designed to solidify its long-term financial strategy, community outreach, and executive governance, VocalEssence has formally announced the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors.
Entering its 58th year as one of the premier choral arts organizations in the United States, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit is augmenting its board with executives spanning healthcare technology, philanthropic management, human resources, management consulting, and civic arts advocacy.
The governance expansion comes at a pivotal period for performing arts institutions nationwide, as organizations face shifting audience demographics, evolving fundraising models, and the need for deeper community integration. The newly appointed directors—Sooki Jalali, Harry Miller, Bunny Robinson, Carolyn Sleeth, Sunita Vongharath-Evenson, and Karen Voracek—bring a combined multi-decade track record of corporate, entrepreneurial, and public-sector leadership to the organization.
Executive Overview
The primary directive of the VocalEssence Board of Directors is twofold: serving as institutional ambassadors within the broader regional and national communities, and exercising fiduciary oversight to ensure the fiscal health and policy alignment of the 58-year-old organization.
With this six-member cohort, VocalEssence expands its board’s functional domain across critical operational disciplines:
Healthcare & Commercial Scaling: Integration of high-growth corporate strategy and medical technology expertise.
Philanthropy & Donor Strategy: Strategic leverage of institutional giving and charitable foundation management.
Human Capital & Organizational Leadership: Enhanced oversight in executive search, mediation, and talent development.
Entrepreneurship & Inclusion: Scaled support for diverse business ecosystems and multicultural outreach initiatives.
By bringing together corporate leaders and seasoned arts administrators, VocalEssence aims to protect its heritage while implementing modern strategic practices across its performance, educational, and community programs.
Founded in 1968 by Artistic Director Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence has evolved from a local choral initiative into an internationally recognized arts organization. Over nearly six decades, the institution has commissioned hundreds of new works, built an extensive discography, and launched regional education initiatives such as WITNESS and Cantaré, which bring music education to thousands of students annually across the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
VocalEssence Governance & Operational Evolution
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1968 1990s–2000s 2020–2025 2026 & Beyond
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• Founded by • National/Int'l • Post-Pandemic • Board Expansion (6 New Directors)
Philip Brunelle Recognition Adaptation • Dual Focus: Commercial Scaling
• Focus on Choral • Education Programs • Community Outreach & Deep Civic Engagement
Excellence (*WITNESS*, *Cantaré*) Expansion • 58th Anniversary Strategic Push
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The decision to expand the board follows a comprehensive organizational review led by Executive Director Amy Jaine Wielunski. As performing arts entities navigate post-pandemic recovery, changing consumer habits, and broader economic shifts, VocalEssence’s strategic posture requires a board capable of navigating high-level corporate strategy, complex institutional philanthropy, and grassroots civic engagement.
The appointment of these six directors marks the culmination of a multi-month candidate evaluation process aimed at diversifying the board’s professional skill sets and strengthening connections across the Twin Cities’ business and cultural ecosystems.
Detailed Profiles of the New Board Directors
Sooki Jalali
Business Consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA)
Sooki Jalali brings a background in entrepreneurship, commercial growth, and cross-cultural community building. Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Minnesota, Jalali earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business from the University of Minnesota. She has founded three ventures across health, wellness, and business development.
Currently serving as a Business Consultant at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), Jalali advises minority business owners on enterprise growth, capital access, and operational scaling. Her civic involvement includes volunteer leadership with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society—where she was nominated for the Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign in 2017—alongside service with the Ebenezer Foundation, Hunger Solutions, and the Alliance for a New Humanity. Jalali is also a Deepak Chopra-certified yoga instructor and fluent in English, Farsi, and Korean.
Harry Miller
Small Business Advisor & SCORE Twin Cities Mentor
Harry Miller brings over four decades of operational strategy, business development, and team leadership experience to the VocalEssence board. Throughout his career, Miller has concentrated on helping corporate and mission-driven entities scale their operations, restructure internal workflows, and form strategic partnerships.
As an active mentor and volunteer leader with SCORE Twin Cities, Miller counsels entrepreneurs and small business executives through critical growth phases and strategic realignments. Within SCORE, he has led key development, fundraising, and governance initiatives aimed at strengthening organizational resilience. His addition to the VocalEssence board reinforces the institution’s focus on long-term corporate governance, strategic planning, and operational discipline.
Bunny Robinson
Executive Consultant & HR Leader
Bunny Robinson brings a long career in human resources executive leadership, mediation, and high-level arts governance. Robinson currently serves as an Executive Consultant with Navigate Forward, a career transition firm advising C-suite executives, and is the Principal Consultant at Robinson-Robinson & Associates, a retained executive search firm focusing on executive talent acquisition.
Robinson’s governance experience in the arts includes appointments to the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arts Midwest, and the State Programs Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. She currently sits on the board of the Cultural Fluency Initiative and serves as a contract mediator for the Minnesota Department of Education. Her past civic contributions span leadership roles 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. Robinson holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) from St. Catherine University.
Carolyn Sleeth
Former Senior Vice President & General Manager, Insulet Corporation
Carolyn Sleeth joins the board following a 20-year career in the medical technology and commercial leadership sectors. Most recently, Sleeth served as Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager at Insulet Corporation, where she led a 700-person commercial organization and drove consistent annual revenue expansion exceeding 20 percent.
Prior to her executive tenure at Insulet, Sleeth spent years at Medtronic leading commercial strategies for its aorta and venous vascular divisions, as well as holding senior marketing and market development roles within the cardiac disease unit. 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. Her expertise in enterprise management, commercial strategy, and team scaling adds strong executive capabilities to the board.
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson
Human Resources Executive & Organizational Strategist
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson brings deep
expertise in strategic human resources, talent management, and organizational culture within mission-driven entities. Throughout her career, Vongharath-Evenson has partnered with non-profit and private institutions to design leadership development programs, guide change management efforts, and build sustainable internal infrastructures.
Her appointment aligns with VocalEssence’s internal strategic focus on expanding its workplace practices, fostering talent retention, and deepening institutional connections across diverse Minnesota communities.
Karen Voracek
Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy, Thrivent Charitable
Karen Voracek brings over 30 years of corporate and philanthropic leadership experience to VocalEssence. At Thrivent Charitable, Voracek oversees enterprise strategy, donor experience, marketing, product management, and service operations, focusing on charitable giving and institutional philanthropy.
Before joining Thrivent Charitable, Voracek spent nearly three decades in the corporate sector leading business transformation, strategy, and customer experience initiatives. Alongside her professional career, Voracek is an active amateur musician—having played the clarinet since childhood and sung in parish choirs—and currently 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 & Strategic Metrics
The addition of these six directors reflects a broader trend among major American performing arts institutions seeking to adapt to changing non-profit economics. According to sector data, arts organizations increasingly rely on mixed revenue streams—balancing traditional box office sales with individual philanthropy, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.
Professional Competency Distribution (New Appointees)
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| Expertise Area | Primary Appointees Associated |
+------------------------+----------------------------------------+
| Executive & HR Strategy| Bunny Robinson, Sunita Vongharath-Ev |
| Commercial & Business | Carolyn Sleeth, Harry Miller |
| Philanthropy & Giving | Karen Voracek |
| Community & Inclusion | Sooki Jalali |
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VocalEssence’s board expansion balances corporate rigor with community-focused leadership:
Revenue Diversification: With directors possessing expertise at major corporations like Medtronic, Insulet, and Thrivent Charitable, the board gains added capacity to refine its long-term fundraising and endowment strategies.
Civic & Arts Governance Infrastructure: The inclusion of seasoned governance leaders—such as Bunny Robinson, with experience spanning the NEA and Minnesota State Arts Board—ensures high standards of policy compliance and civic alignment.
Cross-Sector Networking: By engaging advisors from MEDA and SCORE Twin Cities, VocalEssence expands its network into emerging business communities and diverse entrepreneurial networks across Minnesota.
Official Statements
Executive leadership at VocalEssence highlighted the strategic value of the newly expanded board, emphasizing both personal passion and professional expertise.
Philip Brunelle, Founder and Artistic Director of VocalEssence:
"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 of VocalEssence:
"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
As VocalEssence advances into its 2026–2027 season and prepares for its upcoming 60th anniversary milestone, the newly constituted board will help guide the organization through several key initiatives:
Expanding Regional Presence: Enhancing touring schedules and performance partnerships across greater Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.
Deepening Educational Access: Extending the reach of the WITNESS and Cantaré programs into underserved school districts, leveraging community partnerships cultivated by the new directors.
Sustainable Financial Modeling: Developing modern fundraising models that combine traditional donor support with innovative corporate partnerships.
Artistic Innovation: Supporting original compositions and cross-cultural musical collaborations that reflect the demographics of the modern Twin Cities community.
With an expanded leadership team that blends business acumen, non-profit governance experience, and a shared commitment to the arts, VocalEssence is well-positioned to maintain its legacy of musical excellence while building a sustainable model for the future.
