Minnesota Choral Leadership Takes National Stage At Lincoln Center’s Sing Democracy 250 Concert

NEW YORK CITY (May 24, 2026) A major national choral performance taking place today, Sunday, at Lincoln Center will carry strong artistic ties to Minnesota’s renowned choral organization VocalEssence through shared leadership, performers, and the broader Twin Cities community music network.

The concert, presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York as part of the nationwide Sing Democracy 250 initiative, will feature the Together In Hope Choir, the Mizzou University Singers, the Stuyvesant High School Oratorio Choir, and the Main Line Symphony Orchestra at David Geffen Hall inside Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Conducting the performance will be G. Phillip Shoultz III, who serves as Associate Artistic Director of VocalEssence while also leading the national Sing Democracy 250 initiative as its Artistic Director.

Although VocalEssence is not formally listed as a presenting or performing organization for Sunday’s event, the concert reflects significant overlap between the Minnesota-based choral institution and the broader Sing Democracy 250 movement.

The Together In Hope Choir, which anchors the national concert series, is deeply rooted in the Twin Cities arts community and includes vocal artists connected to Minnesota’s professional and community choral scene, where VocalEssence has long maintained a prominent role through performance, education, and civic engagement initiatives.

Sing Democracy 250 was launched through the Together In Hope Project, a Minnesota-based effort focused on using communal singing to promote civic participation, cross-cultural understanding, and democratic dialogue ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

The initiative’s mission closely mirrors work long associated with VocalEssence, which for decades has emphasized community-centered performance, multicultural collaboration, and music as a vehicle for social connection and public engagement.

According to official program materials released by DCINY and Sing Democracy 250 organizers, Sunday’s concert represents the third Signature Concert in the national series commemorating America’s semiquincentennial celebration.

The performance comes as Minnesota’s choral community continues to gain national visibility for its collaborative arts infrastructure and civic-focused musical programming, with leaders such as G. Phillip Shoultz III increasingly shaping conversations around music, democracy, and cultural engagement on national stages.

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.