VocalPoint Chorus is pleased to feature Minnesota-based singer-songwriter musician Chastity Brown and multi-disciplinary visual artist Cadex Herrera, at their February concerts Driven by Dignity: Supporting low-cost car repair through the work of The Lift Garage.

The February 5 and 6 concerts will amplify The Lift Garage’s mission: to provide people a vehicle out of poverty through providing low-cost quality car repair, connecting with community partners to strengthen the support network, and linking customers to needed resources. Located near the Minneapolis 3rd Precinct on Lake Street, The Lift Garage is committed to its community and the people it serves.

Headliner Chastity Brown, with roots in Tennessee, grew up surrounded by country and soul music. In the full gospel church of her childhood, she played saxophone and drums and found her singing voice and a passion for music. A storyteller in the blues tradition, she’s premiered works with the Minnesota Orchestra, she’s been featured on NPR’s “Favorite Session,” CMT, American Songwriter, the London Times, Paste Magazine and others and she’s toured the U.S. and abroad, appearing on the U.K.’s Later….with Jools Holland. Melding folk, roots, and soul music with topical lyrics, her music seems especially timely.

VocalPoint Artistic Director/Conductor Jennifer Anderson is grateful and enthusiastic for VocalPoint’s 11th season. “I am so grateful, after such a challenging time for the arts community, to again use the power of music and art to shine a spotlight on such an important organization as The Lift Garage; telling their compelling story of dignity and service to the community is an honor. I can’t think of a musician more suited to be our headliner than Chastity Brown with her passion for using music as a call to action.” Anderson continues, “The visual artist this year is Cadex Herrera whose incredible mural at George Floyd Square has been seen around the world. We have commissioned Mr. Herrera to create two larger installations for us as backdrops for our concerts.”

Cadex Herrera, with muralists Xena Goldman and Greta McClain, created the striking and now iconic portrait of George Floyd that remains at the site of his murder. Originally from Belize, Central America, Herrera continues to bring awareness to humanitarian, social and environmental in justices by championing his culture, history, people of color, immigrants and marginalized peoples and he aims to create art that empowers the viewer as well as elevate the subjects and themes that he explores through his work. During the concert weekend, selections from Herrera’s Advocates: Portraits of Activists will be displayed in the gallery as well as commissioned pieces within the concert performance space.

Amidst a vibrant and rich Minnesota choral community, VocalPoint Chorus stands out as a rare choral experience for the singers and the audience. Over six intensive weeks, singers stretch themselves to learn repertoire that is thematically chosen to reflect and relay the message and mission of the selected organization being amplified during the concert weekend. VocalPoint programs are multi-sensory collaborations that weave messages of awareness and hope throughout, taking audiences on an informational, emotional, and artistic journey. In the past ten seasons, VocalPoint has raised over $200,000 for nine different non-profits; previous concert highlights include hosting panels of the AIDS quilt, being dazzled by the puppets of In the Heart of the Beast, singing with the multi-Grammy winning Sounds of Blackness, and sharing the stage with alternative hip hop group Flobots.

Concerts are at 4 p.m. Central Time on Feb. 5 and Feb. 6; in-person location is at Central Presbyterian Church, a wheelchair-accessible venue. VocalPoint requires all guests to present proof of either full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours prior to attending the in-person event in compliance with local regulations.

A ticketed live-stream option is available with a 1-time simulcast of the 4 p.m. CT concert viewers select.

This concert is geared for an adult/teen audience, not young children. Due to the vaccination requirement, we encourage families with young children to stream our concert.

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased at vocalpointchorus.org or from a chorus member.
Adults: $15 in advance and stream / $20 at the door
Ages 5 – 18 and college students: $15

A free-will donation collected at the concerts will 100% support The Lift Garage.

Contacts:
• Email media@vocalpointchorus.org
• Call Artistic Director Jennifer Anderson at
651-789-9612 Links:
• VocalPoint Chorus
• The Lift Garage
• Chastity Brown
• Cadex Herrera
• Venue: Central Presbyterian Church