MINNEAPOLIS–ST. PAUL — On September 25, 2026, VocalEssence—one of the nation’s premier choral music organizations—officially announced the election of six distinguished civic, corporate, and community leaders to its Board of Directors. As the 58-year-old nonprofit navigating an evolving performing arts landscape, the addition of these board members represents a deliberate, strategic reinforcement of its executive governance, fiduciary oversight, and community outreach frameworks.
The newly appointed directors bring a diverse multi-disciplinary skill set encompassing medical device commercialization, strategic philanthropy, executive human resources, cross-cultural entrepreneurship, and national arts administration. Their appointments come at a pivotal moment as VocalEssence deepens its footprint across the Twin Cities metropolitan area and expands its national profile.
Executive Overview
The expansion of the VocalEssence Board of Directors reflects a sophisticated approach to modern nonprofit governance. Rather than relying solely on traditional arts patronage, VocalEssence has assembled a board cohort capable of addressing complex operational, financial, and cultural imperatives.
The six new board members are:
Sooki Jalali, Business Consultant at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA) and serial entrepreneur;
Harry Miller, Business strategist, executive mentor, and development leader at SCORE Twin Cities;
Bunny Robinson, Executive Consultant at Navigate Forward, Principal Consultant at Robinson-Robinson & Associates, and veteran arts policy advisor;
Carolyn Sleeth, High-growth medical device executive and former Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager at Insulet;
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson, Senior human resources executive and nonprofit culture strategist;
Karen Voracek, Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy at Thrivent Charitable.
In their capacity as directors, these individuals will serve as dual-purpose fiduciaries and institutional ambassadors. They are tasked with guiding major policy determinations, sustaining long-term financial health, and widening the organization’s network among diverse demographic and business sectors across Minnesota and beyond.
Detailed Chronology: Evolution of Governance at VocalEssence
To understand the strategic import of the September 2026 appointments, one must examine the organizational trajectory of VocalEssence over its nearly six-decade history.
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| VOCALESSENCE GOVERNANCE TIMELINE |
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| 1968: Founded as Plymouth Music Series by Artistic Director Philip Brunelle. |
| 2002: Rebranded as VocalEssence to reflect expanding choral mission & ensembles. |
| 2018: 50th Anniversary marked by aggressive endowment and community expansion. |
| 2024–2025: Strategic audit identifies key needs in HR, MedTech, and DEI growth. |
| Sept 2026: Induction of 6-member board cohort to bolster 58-year legacy. |
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1968 (Inception): Founded by Philip Brunelle as the Plymouth Music Series, the organization began as a local choral initiative designed to explore overlooked classical and contemporary vocal works. Early governance relied on a small core of dedicated patrons.
2002 (Rebranding & Restructuring): The organization officially adopted the name VocalEssence to better communicate its broadening mandate, which included professional ensembles (the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers), large volunteer choruses (the VocalEssence Chorus), and extensive youth education initiatives like WITNESS and Cantare.
2018–2023 (Institutional Maturity): Celebrating its half-century milestone, VocalEssence expanded its programmatic scope while recognizing the need for robust institutional systems to navigate macro-economic shifts, shifting audience demographics, and evolving philanthropic models.
2024–2025 (Governance Planning): Under executive leadership, VocalEssence conducted a comprehensive board matrix analysis. The leadership identified key areas requiring deeper operational expertise: scalable corporate strategy, equity-focused talent acquisition, specialized gift planning, and cross-cultural community engagement.
September 25, 2026 (Board Induction): The election of the six new directors concludes a multi-year recruitment cycle, aligning organizational needs with seasoned professionals from Minnesota’s corporate, philanthropic, and civic ecosystems.
Supporting Context & Metrics: Detailed Profiles of the Appointees
The incoming board cohort offers an unprecedented blending of corporate scaling, strategic human capital management, and grassroots community builder networks. Below is a detailed analysis of the backgrounds and capabilities each director brings to the organization.
1. Cross-Cultural Entrepreneurship and Economic Equity
Sooki Jalali
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and relocating to Minnesota as a teenager, Sooki Jalali earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Business from the University of Minnesota. An entrepreneur who has launched three ventures in health, wellness, and corporate development, Jalali currently serves as a Business Consultant at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA).
Strategic Fit: At MEDA, Jalali directly assists minority business owners in scaling operations, securing capital, and navigating market barriers. Her experience bridges economic development with community outreach.
Community Footprint: A certified yoga instructor trained under Dr. Deepak Chopra, Jalali has held leadership and volunteer roles with the Ebenezer Foundation, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Hunger Solutions, and the Alliance for a New Humanity. In 2017, she was nominated for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year fundraising campaign.
Cultural Perspective: Raising three biracial children (Mitra, Bijan, and Syrus) in a multicultural household, Jalali prioritized bilingual literacy in Farsi and Korean, bringing a lived commitment to cross-cultural integration that aligns with VocalEssence’s inclusive programming.
Harry Miller
Harry Miller brings over 40 years of corporate strategy, organizational scaling, and business development experience to the board. As a mentor and volunteer leader with SCORE Twin Cities, Miller has counseled hundreds of small business owners and nonprofit founders through critical pivot points.
Strategic Fit: Miller’s extensive involvement in SCORE’s fundraising, governance, and volunteer leadership initiatives equips him to assist VocalEssence in refining its multi-year revenue strategies and board engagement protocols.
Focus Area: Specialized in organizational change management, team leadership development, and building public-private partnerships that secure institutional sustainability.
2. Human Capital, Arts Governance, and Equity Recruitment
Bunny Robinson
Bunny Robinson brings a rich resume spanning human resources, educational publishing, advertising, media broadcasting, and state-level arts policy. Currently an Executive Consultant with career transition firm Navigate Forward and Principal Consultant at Robinson-Robinson & Associates (RRA)—a retained executive search firm focusing on diverse talent slates—she offers elite expertise in organizational design.
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| BUNNY ROBINSON: GOVERNANCE MATRIX |
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| Academic Background | BFA in Theatre (Univ of Illinois), MAOL (St. Catherine Univ) |
| Arts Policy Service | MN State Arts Board, Arts Midwest, NEA State Programs Panel |
| Civic Leadership | United Way Mpls, Conflict Resolution Center, Election Judge |
| Mediation Expertise | Contract Mediator, Minnesota Department of Education |
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Strategic Fit: Robinson’s background directly connects arts policy with practical HR execution. Her past 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., provide VocalEssence with high-level artistic governance insights.
Civic Commitment: A Chicago native who earned a BFA in Theatre from the University of Illinois and a Master of Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University, Robinson’s civic service spans 20 years as a local election judge, alongside board terms with United Way Minneapolis, Missions Inc. Programs, and the Conflict Resolution Center. She remains a contract mediator for the Minnesota Department of Education.
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson
Sunita Vongharath-Evenson is an executive HR leader whose career centers on cultural transformation, talent alignment, and mission-driven organizational development.
Strategic Fit: Vongharath-Evenson provides the strategic HR framework needed to support VocalEssence’s expanding workforce, contractor network, and administrative apparatus.
Focus Area: Enhancing organizational dynamic systems, leadership development pathways, and employee/performer wellness protocols within nonprofit operating constraints.
3. Corporate Scaling, Commercial Execution, and Strategic Philanthropy
Carolyn Sleeth
Carolyn Sleeth represents the upper echelons of Minnesota’s medical technology executive corps, boasting over two decades of commercial leadership. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President and U.S. General Manager at Insulet, where she commanded a 700-person commercial division and spearheaded sustained annual revenue growth exceeding 20%.
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| CAROLYN SLEETH: PROFESSIONAL PROFILE |
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| Executive Roles | SVP & US GM at Insulet; Leadership roles at Medtronic |
| Performance | Managed 700-person team; Achieved 20%+ annual revenue growth |
| Academic Credentials| BA History (Stanford), MA Russian, MBA (Chicago Booth) |
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Strategic Fit: Sleeth’s past operational oversight at Medtronic—leading the vascular and cardiac business units—gives her command over complex financial structures, cross-functional execution, and market expansion strategy.
Educational Foundation: A California native resident in Minneapolis for two decades, 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 corporate acumen provides the board with elite fiscal governance capabilities.
Karen Voracek
Karen Voracek serves as Vice President of Donor Experience, Marketing & Strategy at Thrivent Charitable. With more than 30 years of corporate and philanthropic executive experience, Voracek operates at the nexus of strategic marketing, product management, donor retention, and organizational innovation.
Strategic Fit: Voracek’s deep expertise in structured charitable giving, combined with her commercial marketing prowess, directly addresses the modern donor engagement lifecycle. She offers VocalEssence sophisticated strategies for planned giving, capital campaigns, and donor acquisition.
Arts & Academic Integration: A lifelong musician who played clarinet from fifth grade onward and sings in her parish choir, Voracek holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a BA in International Relations and German from Carroll University. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality.
Official Statements and Institutional Analysis
The leadership of VocalEssence emphasized that these board appointments were designed to align artistic ambitions with operational excellence.
Philip Brunelle, Founder and Artistic Director: "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: "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."
Executive Analysis of Strategic Intent
Transitioning from Patronage to Strategic Governance: The selection of executives from high-growth sectors (MedTech, wealth management, search firms) signals a departure from purely legacy patronage. VocalEssence is positioning itself to apply corporate-grade analytics, strategic marketing, and governance to non-profit operations.
Mitigating Post-Pandemic Performing Arts Risks: Like many national performing arts organizations, regional choral bodies face shifting audience subscriptions and changing philanthropic models. The combined skill set of Sleeth (scaling), Voracek (donor experience), and Miller (strategy) establishes a robust defense against structural financial volatility.
Strengthening Diversity and Community Engagement: The inclusion of Jalali, Robinson, and Vongharath-Evenson reinforces VocalEssence’s ongoing mandate to diversify its audience, patron base, and performance repertoire, ensuring equity is integrated into high-level fiduciary decisions.
Future Outlook: VocalEssence in 2026 and Beyond
As VocalEssence integrates these six leaders into its governing structure, the organization is poised to launch several long-term initiatives aimed at expanding its regional and national footprint.
Capital Expansion & Endowment Growth: Leveraging Karen Voracek’s insights at Thrivent Charitable and Carolyn Sleeth’s enterprise scaling experience, VocalEssence aims to optimize its long-term endowment funds, ensuring stable operational capital for commissioned works and international tours.
Community-Centric Programmatic Outreach: Under guidance from Sooki Jalali and Bunny Robinson, the organization plans to expand its localized educational initiatives—including its flagship WITNESS program, which celebrates the contributions of African American creators to classical and vocal music—into previously underserved Twin Cities suburbs and regional Minnesota schools.
National Arts Policy Leadership: Utilizing Bunny Robinson’s extensive background with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Minnesota State Arts Board, VocalEssence intends to position itself as a thought leader in arts advocacy, advocating for public funding, equitable grant distribution, and community arts access.
Audience Acquisition in the Digital Era: With input from marketing and HR specialists, the organization will refine its multi-channel distribution strategies, using digital performance broadcasts and interactive digital educational tools to reach global audiences.
With a consolidated governance team blending artistic heritage and enterprise strategy, VocalEssence enters its 58th year equipped to maintain fiscal stability, elevate choral performance standards, and deepen its engagement across the Midwest culture sector.
