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St. Olaf Regent named to Order of the British Empire

By David Gonnerman '90
January 5, 2006

VocalEssence and the British Consulate-General in Chicago have announced that choral conductor Philip Brunelle, a member of the St. Olaf Board of Regents, has been recognized for his outstanding service to British music and culture by being named an Honorary Member of Order of the British Empire (MBE). British Ambassador Sir David Manning conferred the award in a private ceremony at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., Dec. 5.

BrunelleTeach
St. Olaf Regent Philip Brunelle conducted a workshop for St. Olaf students and other participants during the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Forum at St.Olaf.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry that recognizes all levels of service to England, embracing achievement in many fields, including the arts, sciences and public service. Citizens of the United States may be named as honorary members.

"The award of an Honorary MBE to Mr. Brunelle is in recognition of his record of musical achievement, his promotion of musical links between Britain and the U.S., and his introduction to the U.S. of some exceptional British music -- in particular the best of contemporary British choral music," noted Ambassador Manning in presenting the award. "Thanks to Philip Brunelle's hard work and dedication, VocalEssence has become an Ambassador for the United Kingdom within the music world."

"Philip Brunelle has an extraordinary record of musical achievement," says Andrew Seaton, British Consul-General, Chicago. "I am delighted that Mr. Brunelle's many achievements have been officially recognized through the award of an Honorary MBE. It is enormously well deserved."

Read more about Brunelle's award at VocalEssence.org.

Philip Brunelle
Born in 1943 in Faribault, Minn., Brunelle attended Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota. He distinguished himself at the age of 19 by becoming the youngest musician ever engaged by the Minnesota Orchestra. In 1969, at age 25, he became choirmaster and organist of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, a position he holds to this day. That same year he founded the Plymouth Music Series, which has since grown into VocalEssence, a nonprofit with a $1.7 million annual budget, considered one of America's premier choral arts organizations.

Brunelle is adding his MBE to a list of many previous honors, including honorary doctorates from St. Olaf College, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. John's University and United Theological Seminary. His international awards include Hungary's Kodaly Medal and Sweden's Royal Order of the Polar Star. Choral music awards include the F. Melius Christiansen Award (the highest honor of the American Choral Directors Association in Minnesota) and the Michael Korn Founder's Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art (Chorus America's highest lifetime achievement award).

With Katryn Conlon, VocalEssence.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.