About AVE
History—AVE was formed in 1999 by eight friends who had sung together in a number of different ensembles, including Mountain Madrigals, a larger non-profit ensemble that sang almost exclusively Renaissance music, both madrigals and motets. After this group ended, we wanted to keep singing together, but to perform a wider range of music while building on our Renaissance roots. We also wanted to make money doing it, so we formed a for-profit partnership.
AVE has historically been a double quartet, with two on each part, and while in past years we have previously performed with as few as five members, we would like to get back to a double quartet if we are able to find singers who fit with us.
Repertoire—AVE sings a wide range of a cappella music—just about anything except barbershop and the contemporary a cappella style with beatboxing or vocal percussion (i.e. the style most collegiate a cappella groups currently perform.) We sing sacred music from the medieval period to the most recent compositions, but mostly Renaissance and contemporary, including choral arrangements of jazz standards, popular music, early American music, and Christmas carols.
Our arrangements range from 2 to 8 parts, and each member of the group is able to sing their own part alone and to be a soloist on occasion.
