MINNEAPOLIS, MN — September 25, 2026 — VocalEssence, one of America’s premier choral arts organizations, has officially announced the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors. The incoming directors bring a potent combination of corporate executive leadership, human resources expertise, philanthropic management, medical technology development, and deep civic governance to the 58-year-old non-profit institution.
As VocalEssence continues to navigate an evolving cultural landscape in the Twin Cities and nationally, these appointments reflect a deliberate strategy to reinforce the organization’s financial resilience, expand its community reach, and enhance its operational governance. The board expansion comes at a pivotal juncture as performing arts organizations across the country recalibrate their business models to meet shifting demographic trends, dynamic funding ecosystems, and emerging modes of audience engagement.
Executive Overview
The newly appointed board members—Sooki Jalali, Harry Miller, Bunny Robinson, Carolyn Sleeth, Sunita Vongharath-Evenson, and Karen Voracek—join VocalEssence at a moment of significant institutional momentum. Functioning as ambassadors, fiduciary stewards, and strategic advisors, the Board of Directors plays an indispensable role in safeguarding the non-profit’s financial health while guiding its long-range artistic and educational initiatives.
The incoming cohort brings expertise spanning high-growth corporate enterprises, non-profit turnarounds, state and national arts funding panels, and cross-cultural community engagement. Their collective mandate will focus on driving fiscal stability, elevating donor experience, broadening access to choral music, and embedding inclusive governance practices throughout 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," 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."
Amy Jaine Wielunski, Executive Director of VocalEssence, highlighted the operational and strategic value of the cohort: "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: Five Decades of Governance and Artistic Growth
To understand the strategic significance of these new board appointments, it is essential to examine the historical trajectory of VocalEssence and the evolution of its leadership model over the past nearly six decades.
1969: Founded
as the Plymouth Music Series by Philip Brunelle in Minneapolis.
│
1970s–1990s: National recognition grows through international tours, recording contracts,
│ and commissions of new choral works.
│
2002: Rebranded as VocalEssence to reflect a broader community mission and expanding ensemble structure.
│
2010s: Institutionalization of educational outreach (WITNESS, ¡Cantaré!) and expansion of donor engagement.
│
2020–2025: Navigation of post-pandemic audience recovery, digital transition, and operational realignment.
│
Sept 25, 2026: Appointment of six multi-sector leaders to the Board of Directors to execute
the next era of strategic expansion.
1969–1980s (Establishment and Artistic Foundation): Founded in 1969 by Philip Brunelle as the Plymouth Music Series, the organization initially operated as a parish-adjacent concert series before rapidly expanding into an independent regional power. Early governance focused primarily on music production, choral excellence, and localized fundraising.
1990s–2000s (Institutional Expansion and Rebranding): As the ensemble’s national reputation grew through radio broadcasts, commercial recordings, and international tours, the board structure expanded to include corporate and civic leaders. In 2002, the organization officially rebranded as VocalEssence, signaling a broader community footprint and a commitment to diverse musical traditions.
2010s (Community Integration and Educational Programming): The board prioritized the funding and governance of flagship community initiatives, including the WITNESS program—celebrating African American composer contributions—and ¡Cantaré!, which brings Mexican composers into Twin Cities classrooms.
2020–2025 (Resilience and Operational Pivot): Facing the disruptions of the global pandemic, VocalEssence’s board guided the organization through digital programming, structural adjustments, and public-health transitions, ensuring uninterrupted financial viability.
September 2026 (Strategic Board Enlargement): The addition of six executive directors marks the culmination of a multi-year effort to diversify board skill sets, bringing advanced corporate strategy, philanthropy, and human resources governance to bear on the organization’s future.
Detailed Profiles: The New Governance Leadership
Sooki Jalali
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Minnesota from her teenage years, Sooki Jalali brings a background combining biological science, business development, and cross-cultural advocacy to VocalEssence. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business, Jalali is a serial entrepreneur who has established three successful enterprises across the health, wellness, and business consulting sectors.
Currently serving as a Business Consultant at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), Jalali works directly with minority entrepreneurs and business owners, offering strategic advisory services to help underrepresented enterprises scale effectively. Her civic service includes board and volunteer commitments with the Ebenezer Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (where she was nominated for the Man & Woman of the Year campaign in 2017), Hunger Solutions, and the Alliance for a New Humanity. Jalali is also a certified yoga instructor trained under Dr. Deepak Chopra. Her trilingual fluency (English, Korean, and Farsi) and commitment to cultural integration offer VocalEssence strong connections across multicultural business networks.
Harry Miller
With more than 40 years of experience in organizational strategy, business development, and team leadership, Harry Miller brings executive-level advisory capabilities to the VocalEssence board. Throughout his four-decade career, Miller has specialized in guiding both commercial enterprises and mission-driven non-profits through periods of structural transformation, market adaptation, and strategic growth.
As an active mentor and volunteer leader with SCORE Twin Cities, Miller regularly advises small business owners and startup founders on corporate governance, revenue development, and strategic partnerships. Within SCORE, he has played an active role in shaping fundraising, volunteer leadership, and organizational development initiatives. His deep familiarity with the Minnesota corporate and non-profit ecosystem provides VocalEssence with veteran guidance on long-term sustainability and strategic planning.
Bunny Robinson
Bunny Robinson is an executive human resources consultant and entrepreneur whose career spans HR management, media broadcasting, educational publishing, and civic service. She currently serves as an Executive Consultant with Navigate Forward, a specialized firm assisting C-suite executives during career transitions, and operates as Principal Consultant at Robinson-Robinson & Associates (RRA), a retained executive search firm focused on building diverse leadership pipelines.
Robinson’s governance experience in the arts and public service is extensive. She has previously served on the Minnesota State Arts Board, Arts Midwest, and the State Programs Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. Her regional non-profit service includes board directorships 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, Robinson holds a B.F.A. in Theatre from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership (MAOL) from St. Catherine University.
Carolyn Sleeth
Carolyn Sleeth joins the board with over two decades of leadership experience in the medical device and healthcare technology sectors. Most recently, Sleeth served as Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager at Insulet Corporation, where she oversaw a commercial division of 700 employees and drove sustained annual revenue growth exceeding 20 percent.
Prior to Insulet, Sleeth spent many years at Medtronic in high-level leadership positions across marketing, corporate strategy, and commercial development within the cardiac and vascular disease divisions. 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 experience in scaling complex operations, commercial execution, and financial oversight adds significant analytical rigor to the VocalEssence board.
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson is an HR executive and non-profit leader who specializes in organizational design, leadership development, and workplace culture transformation. Throughout her career, Vongharath-Evenson has partnered with mission-driven enterprises to build human capital strategies that support long-term institutional health and foster inclusive workplace environments.
Her appointment brings critical human resources governance to VocalEssence, providing expertise in executive coaching, organizational alignment, and staff retention. Vongharath-Evenson’s strategic approach focuses on leveraging internal cultural strength to drive public-facing mission impact.
Karen Voracek
Karen Voracek brings over 30 years of corporate and non-profit strategy experience to VocalEssence, currently serving as Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy at Thrivent Charitable. In this capacity, she leads enterprise-wide initiatives spanning strategic planning, donor experience optimization, marketing, product management, and operational services.
Before her tenure at Thrivent Charitable, Voracek spent nearly three decades in the corporate sector leading business transformation, brand strategy, and customer experience portfolios. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality. Voracek holds an MBA from the University of University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and German from Carroll University. A lifelong musician who plays the clarinet and sings in her parish choir, Voracek combines commercial strategy with a deep commitment to the choral arts.
Supporting Context & Strategic Metrics
The addition of these six directors reflects broader structural demands within the performing arts sector. Non-profit governance models have increasingly shifted away from purely philanthropic custodianship toward active, skills-based board leadership capable of tackling complex operational challenges.
Diversification of Revenue Streams: As traditional subscription models change across the arts sector, organizations must balance individual philanthropy, enterprise partnerships, foundation grants, and earned income. The inclusion of leaders from Thrivent Charitable and commercial healthcare ensures VocalEssence maintains sophisticated financial models.
Equity and Talent Acquisition: Hiring and retaining artistic and administrative talent requires specialized HR methodologies. With Robinson and Vongharath-Evenson joining, VocalEssence gains expert leadership in human capital and inclusive executive recruitment.
Cross-Sector Networking: By engaging leaders embedded in local organizations such as MEDA, SCORE Twin Cities, and local civic bodies, VocalEssence strengthens its links to emerging business communities across the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area.
Official Statements
The leadership of VocalEssence emphasized that the new directors reflect both the artistic identity and administrative requirements of the organization as it enters its 58th year.
"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."
— Philip Brunelle, Founder and Artistic Director, 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."
Looking ahead, the expanded Board of Directors will guide VocalEssence through several key operational initiatives over the 2026–2027 fiscal year and beyond:
Long-Term Strategic Planning: The board will assist executive leadership in refining the organization’s strategic plan, focusing on sustainable financial growth, digital engagement, and audience diversification.
Expansion of Community Engagement: Utilizing the deep community networks of the new directors, VocalEssence aims to scale its educational programs, bringing choral music experiences to underrepresented school districts and neighborhood centers.
Enhancing Endowment and Annual Giving Capabilities: Leveraging expertise from executive leaders in charitable management, the organization plans to modernize its donor pipelines, planned giving options, and corporate sponsorship strategies.
Maintaining Artistic Distinction: With a solid operational and fiduciary base, VocalEssence remains positioned to continue commissioning new works, recording premiere choral compositions, and presenting diverse international choral repertoire.
By integrating executive strategy with artistic vision, VocalEssence reinforces its status as a vital cultural institution in Minnesota, ensuring that its mission to foster community through song remains vibrant for generations to come.
