Sir James MacMillan

Minnesota is poised for a remarkable musical celebration as acclaimed Scottish composer Sir James MacMillan visits for an extensive two-week residency featuring performances with the Minnesota Orchestra and VocalEssence. The visit, which runs from March 28 to April 6, represents a significant cultural event for the state's vibrant choral community.

The seeds for this musical residency were planted four years ago when Philip Brunelle, VocalEssence artistic director and founder, first encountered MacMillan at a lecture in Gloucester, England.

"When I first met Sir James I heard him give a lecture, and it was so riveting. He was so deep in what he was talking about in terms of music and its role in the world," Brunelle explained during a recent interview. "And I went up to him after and said, okay, so now when is it you're coming to Minneapolis?"

What began as an aspiration has evolved into a comprehensive musical experience spanning orchestral performances, sacred choral works, educational opportunities, and a world premiere.

MacMillan's visit kicks off with performances at Orchestra Hall on March 28 and 29, where he will conduct the Minnesota Orchestra in a program featuring two of his own works — "Woman of the Apocalypse" and "Kiss on Wood" with cellist Sonia Mantell — alongside pieces by Wagner, Rachmaninoff, and Rimsky-Korsakov.

On April 4 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, seven Twin Cities church choirs will present "Voices for a Cathedral," a free concert of MacMillan's sacred music. Each choir will perform one of his anthems, culminating in all 250 voices joining together for a world premiere composition conducted by MacMillan.

The festival concludes April 6 at the Ordway Concert Hall with "Sacred Voices," featuring two major MacMillan works — "Seven Last Words from the Cross" and "The Sun Danced" — performed by the VocalEssence Chorus and Ensemble Singers together with the University of Minnesota's University Singers and a 45-piece orchestra.

"It's a true privilege to have an internationally-known composer of his stature here for a healthy stretch of time and events, allowing our 'choral country' citizens to connect to the man and his music," said Brunelle.

Beyond performances, MacMillan's visit emphasizes education and community engagement. Throughout the week of March 31-April 4, he will lead workshops with high school students across the Twin Cities metro, encouraging improvisation skills—an approach he regularly fosters in Scotland. Graduate students at the University of Minnesota will benefit from masterclasses in composition and conducting, while MacMillan will also present to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute on April 3.

"When I have invited guest composers from around the world, my goal has been that they are composers that I want to show in a broader way, not just a single choral concert," Brunelle noted. "And in the case of Sir James, he has a very big interest in young people. So I knew that I wanted to make sure that was part of our week with him."

The April 6 concert will feature South African soprano Goitsemang Lehobye, whom Brunelle previously worked with in Cape Town. Now completing her doctorate at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Lehobye brings the vocal power necessary for the demanding orchestral setting.

"You need to have a soprano with not only a beautiful voice, but a big voice that can carry over the orchestra," Brunelle explained. "And she's that kind of person."

Excitement for MacMillan's visit continues to build among Minnesota's choral community. Erik Finley, vice president of artistic planning for the Minnesota Orchestra, noted, "His compositions are brilliantly crafted and emotionally vivid, and these two weeks of performances are going to be memorable."

MacMillan is widely recognized as the leading contemporary composer for voices and orchestra in the United Kingdom. His work draws inspiration from his Scottish Catholic faith and sacred music traditions, with his anthem "Who Shall Separate Us?" having been commissioned for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.

"He's a lovely, wonderful man," Brunelle shared. "The kind of person you want to make music with."