Nonprofit · EIN 41-1363849
VOCALESSENCE
Also known as VOCAL ESSENCE
Tax-exempt · MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55403
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $2,038,892 | $2,194,897 | -$156,005 | $8,715,225 | $154,569 | $8,560,656 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $1,819,284 | $2,189,915 | -$370,631 | $8,601,781 | $83,864 | $8,517,917 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,338,763
- of which government grants
- $70,983
- Program service revenue
- $228,924
- Investment income
- $471,667
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $315,172
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$862
- Other revenue
- -$462
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $449,510
- Other salaries and wages
- $459,641
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $1,069,532
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Occupancy
- $63,275
- Travel
- $21,491
- Depreciation
- $8,967
- Program services (functional)
- $1,708,421
- Management and general (functional)
- $189,096
- Fundraising (functional)
- $297,380
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $8,601,781
- Total assets, end of year
- $8,715,225
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $154,569
- Net assets, end of year
- $8,560,656
- Publicly traded securities
- $8,110,903
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $3,467,298
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $5,093,358
- Gross receipts
- $7,047,913
- Employees
- 47
- Volunteers
- 150
- Year formed
- 1969
- State of legal domicile
- MN
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHILIP BRUNELLE | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $165,571 | $557 |
| G PHILLIP SHOULTZ III | ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTO Officer | 40 | $93,443 | $7,813 |
| AMY WIELUNSKI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, END OF YEAR Officer | 40 | $93,035 | $3,422 |
| MARY ANN AUFDERHEIDE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, START OF YEAR Officer | 40 | $83,066 | $2,603 |
| TIMOTHY TAKACH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $3,500 | $0 |
| AMANDA STORM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN BARKELEW O'HAGAN | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN BURAN | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNA BOYLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNA OSTROUSHKO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BENJAMIN BRUNNETTE | ENSEMBLE SINGER REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BOB THACKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLINA MARANON-COBOS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CASSIE GARNETT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN DRESSEN | SECRETARY Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
23 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL FERNELIUS | PRESIDENT-ELECT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| DANIEL KANTOR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DAVID MONA | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DON SHELBY | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DORENE WERNKE | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| DOUG PARISH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH TRUESDELL SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| FRED MOORE | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JEFF SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JIM ODLAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| JOANNE REECK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| KRISTEN HOESCHLER O'BRIEN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| KRISTINE OBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| LISA LEWIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MARTHA DRIESSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| MARY TJOSVOLD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| NIKKI LEWIS | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| RHODA MHIRIPIRI-REED | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| RICHARD NEUNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| TANYA BRANSFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| TORRIE ALLEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
| VALTON HENDERSON | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 |
| BRIANNA HILL | VOLUNTEER CHORUS REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 39 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARY ANN AUFDERHEIDE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ENDING 6/17/24 Officer | 40 | $159,238 | $9,442 |
| PHILIP BRUNELLE | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $154,204 | $543 |
| G PHILLIP SHOULTZ III | ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $92,621 | $7,079 |
| AMY WIELUNSKI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BEGINNING 6/17/24 Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $6,690 | $0 |
| AMANDA STORM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AMBER CALES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN BURAN | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANN BARKELEW O'HAGAN | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ANNA BOYLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| AUTUMN GURGEL | VOLUNTEER CHORUS REPRESENTATIVE Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BENJAMIN BRUNNETTE | ENSEMBLE SINGER REPRESENTA Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| BOB THACKER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CAROLINA MARANON-COBOS | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| CASSIE GARNETT | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAN DRESSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIEL FERNELIUS | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DANIEL KANTOR | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID MONA | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DON SHELBY | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DORENE WERNKE | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DOUG PARISH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH TRUESDELL SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| FRED MOORE | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JEFF SMITH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JIM ODLAND | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JOANNE REECK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KRISTEN HOESCHLER O'BRIEN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| KRISTINE OBERG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| LISA LEWIS | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARGARET CHUTICH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MARTHA DRIESSEN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| MIRELLA CEJA-OROZCO | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| NIKKI LEWIS | LIFETIME BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RHODA MHIRIPIRI-REED | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| RICHARD NEUNER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TANYA BRANSFORD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TIMOTHY TAKACH | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| TORRIE ALLEN | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| VALTON HENDERSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1900 NICOLLET AVE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55403-3746
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- AMY WIELUNSKI, 1900 NICOLLET AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55403
- Signed the 990
- AMY WIELUNSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (612) 547-1451
- Website
- WWW.VOCALESSENCE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- CARPENTER EVERT & ASSOCIATES LTD
Mission
VOCALESSENCE CHAMPIONS CHORAL MUSIC OF ALL GENRES, CELEBRATING THE VOCAL EXPERIENCE THROUGH INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES COMMISSIONING OF NEW MUSIC, AND ENGAGING WITH DIVERSE CONSTITUENCIES.
Program accomplishments
- ARTISTIC SERIES - THE ARTISTIC SERIES FEATURED 8 CONCERTS INVOLVING OUR 32-MEMBER PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLE SINGERS, OUR 120-VOICE VOLUNTEER CHORUS, OUR 45-MEMBER TEENAGE CHOIR (SOTA), OUR 60-MEMBER VINTAGE VOICES OLDER ADULT CHOIR, GUEST ARTISTS OF CULTURALLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, AND PROFESSIONAL ORCHESTRAL MUSICIANS, ALL LED BY THE VOCALESSENCE ARTISTIC STAFF. THE CONCERTS WERE PERFORMED AT NOTABLE VENUES AROUND THE TWIN CITIES INCLUDING ORDWAY CONCERT HALL, NORTHROP AUDITORIUM, CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PAUL, AND THE AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE. VOCALESSENCE ALSO COMMISSIONED AND PREMIERED THE WORK OF THREE COMPOSERS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND FEATURED SCOTTISH COMPOSER SIR JAMES MACMILLAN IN WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL IN APRIL 2025. EACH CONCERT IS VIDEO RECORDED FOR LATER RELEASE TO SERVE THE DIFFERING PREFERENCES OF OUR AUDIENCE. CONCERT VIDEOS WERE PROFESSIONALLY RECORDED AND EDITED AND HOSTED ON THE VOCALESSENCE WEBSITE FOR FREE VIEWING. 7,560 PEOPLE ATTENDED IN-PERSON CONCERTS; CONCERT VIDEOS RECEIVED 2,700 VIEWS; 48,700 PEOPLE INTERACTED WITH VOCALESSENCE VIA ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND RADIO BROADCASTS REACHED 1,690,000.Expenses $1,085,537 · revenue $229,324
- LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS - OUR LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE FOCUSED IN SEVERAL AREAS. WITNESS CELEBRATES AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND MUSIC, REACHING 3,370 STUDENTS IN 42 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE GREATER TWIN CITIES METRO AREA AND ENGAGING THE VOCALESSENCE SINGERS AND 8 WITNESS TEACHING ARTISTS TRAINED IN MUSIC, DANCE, AND THEATER. THE CANTARE PROGRAM CONNECTS MEXICAN COMPOSERS WITH TWIN CITIES METRO AREA SCHOOLS WHERE PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT MEXICAN CULTURE AND MUSIC THROUGH REHEARSING AND PERFORMING NEW CHORAL WORKS. TEACHING RESOURCES AND VIDEOS ARE ALSO MADE AVAILABLE ON A TEACHERS' PORTAL ON THE VOCALESSENCE WEBSITE. OUR VINTAGE VOICES CHOIRS ARE IN THREE LOCATIONS AND ENGAGED 110 OLDER ADULTS THROUGH SIX 13-WEEK SESSIONS OF CREATING, REHEARSING, AND PERFORMING A PROGRAM OF MUSIC, POETRY, AND PERSONAL REFLECTIONS PRESENTED TO AUDIENCES TOTALLING 680 PEOPLE. THE VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE (SOTA) BRINGS TOGETHER 45 TEENAGE STUDENTS OF DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS FROM 15 HIGH SCHOOLS IN MINNEAPOLIS, ST. PAUL, ST. LOUIS PARK, ROBBINSDALE, AND MAPLEWOOD. 40 WEEKLY REHEARSALS INVOLVE INSTRUCTION IN MUSICIANSHIP, MOVEMENT, CHOREOGRAPHY, DRAMA, LYRICS, AND AN INTRODUCTION TO MULTIPLE MUSICAL STYLES THROUGH GUEST PRESENTERS. SOTA PERFORMED ON ALL VOCALESSENCE ARTISTIC SERIES CONCERTS AS WELL 10 ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES IN THE TWIN CITIES.Expenses $284,142
- SPECIAL PROGRAMS -INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN CHORAL PERFORMANCE AND ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT, VOCALESSENCE IS ENGAGED IN OTHER SPECIAL PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN 2024-25, VOCALESSENCE ENGAGED IN 19 ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES, REACHING AN AUDIENCE OF 13,300, AND 3 ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS, REACHING AN AUDIENCE OF 110. ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES INCLUDE MUSIC FESTIVALS, CORPORATE APPEARANCES, FUNDRAISING EVENTS, SENIOR RESIDENCES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS' PERFORMING SEASONS. VOCALESSENCE ALSO HOSTED MEXICAN CULTURAL AMBASSADORS, VOZ EN PUNTO, FOR A WEEKLONG RESIDENCY IN SEPTEMBER 2024, AND UNDERTOOK A RECORDING SESSION WITH SINGER, COMPOSER, ENTERTAINER, MELANIE DEMORE, CREATING 14 NEW RECORDED TRACKS OF HER MUSIC.Expenses $338,742
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 41-1363849
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1979
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Arts, culture and humanities (A680)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $8,715,225
- Income (IRS master file)
- $7,047,913
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $2,038,892 | $2,194,897 | $8,715,225 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $1,819,284 | $2,189,915 | $8,601,781 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $2,258,659 | $2,094,920 | $8,221,817 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 41-1363849).
Questions about VOCALESSENCE
- What is the EIN of VOCALESSENCE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of VOCALESSENCE is 41-1363849.
- Is VOCALESSENCE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1979.
- Are donations to VOCALESSENCE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does VOCALESSENCE file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of VOCALESSENCE due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did VOCALESSENCE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of VOCALESSENCE?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names AMY WIELUNSKI.
- Who are the officers and directors of VOCALESSENCE?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 38 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $165,571 (PHILIP BRUNELLE, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does VOCALESSENCE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $2,038,892, expenses of $2,194,897 and total assets of $8,715,225 at year end.
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