Please join the Chorale in welcoming our new dynamic duo
Shekela Wanyama and Eugene Sandel
Shekela and Eugene will be co-leading the Youth Choirs Program for the 2024-25 School Year
so our singers will get the opportunity to work with, and learn from both conductors.
Those lucky kids!
Please take a moment to read their bios. Wowza! These are some pretty talented people.
They are already hard at work brainstorming this summer's Choir Camp and next Fall's programming.
Eugene and Shekela are also a part of the Chorale's symphonic chorus
and Dr. Wanyama will be our guest conductor in the Fall for our
Bridges/Puentes: Expanding the Canon Series in partnership with our friends at Border CrosSing.
She will be exploring the theme of climate and water activism in a program titled
"Requiem for Water" with music by Indian-American composer, Reena Esmail.
They will officially begin their new positions July 1st.
Please reach out to the Chorale office at [email protected] if you would like to contact them in the meantime.
Shekela Wanyama and Eugene Sandel
Shekela and Eugene will be co-leading the Youth Choirs Program for the 2024-25 School Year
so our singers will get the opportunity to work with, and learn from both conductors.
Those lucky kids!
Please take a moment to read their bios. Wowza! These are some pretty talented people.
They are already hard at work brainstorming this summer's Choir Camp and next Fall's programming.
Eugene and Shekela are also a part of the Chorale's symphonic chorus
and Dr. Wanyama will be our guest conductor in the Fall for our
Bridges/Puentes: Expanding the Canon Series in partnership with our friends at Border CrosSing.
She will be exploring the theme of climate and water activism in a program titled
"Requiem for Water" with music by Indian-American composer, Reena Esmail.
They will officially begin their new positions July 1st.
Please reach out to the Chorale office at [email protected] if you would like to contact them in the meantime.
Shekela Wanyama (she/her/hers) builds community through crafting innovative and meaningful choral experiences. A freelance conductor-educator based in Minneapolis, Wanyama serves on the faculty of the University of Minnesota, Hamline University, and the music staff at Unity Church-Unitarian. Recent conducting engagements have included programs with the Minnesota Chorale, Singers in Accord, and Vocalpoint. A passionate educator, Wanyama taught middle and high school choir for over ten years in public, charter, and independent schools. She serves on the faculty for the Seattle Kodaly Levels Program and has a certification in Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy. Wanyama presents at choral and education conferences on repertoire for developing voices, building community in choir, contemporary repertoire by composers of the Global Majority, and holistic chorus preparation. She holds a DMA in conducting from the University of Minnesota, an MM in choral conducting from Temple University, a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and is a proud graduate of the Minneapolis Public Schools. She lives and gardens on Dakota land.
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Eugene Sandel (he/they) is a Minneapolis based music educator, performer, and composer. Born and raised in New Jersey, Eugene studied Vocal Music Education at St. Olaf College and graduated Cum Laude. Upon graduating, he moved to Minneapolis and has since taught 6-12 Vocal Music and Music Theory at Richfield Public Schools. Eugene joined the Minnesota Chorale for the 2023-24 season and also sings at Westminster Presbyterian Church as the baritone section leader. This upcoming summer, they will be a part of The Summer Singers, a professional vocal ensemble based in the Twin Cities. Eugene has performed works such as the Brahms Requiem, Jocelyn Hagen's Notebooks of Leonardo DaVinci, and Carol Barnett's Bluegrass Mass. Eugene is eager and excited to work with MYC and Prelude and looks forward to their journey with the choirs.
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