Founded in 1992 by Artistic Director Deborah Jenkins Teske, the Colorado Vocal Arts Ensemble is dedicated to traditional choral works and new, innovative programming. While remaining primarily an a cappella chamber ensemble, CVAE performs with other organizations on a regular basis. Past collaborations have included work with the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale, the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs, The Denver Brass, Ormao Dance Company, and the Colorado Youth Ballet. Dedicated to educational outreach, CVAE has shared the choral art with thousands of community members. CVAE’s successful high school residency program, Gateways: Opening Doors to the Choral Art mentors secondary choral programs throughout the area. CVAE was honored to serve a year-long appointment as Visiting Ensemble-in-Residence at Colorado College for the 2008-2009 academic year. The ensemble returned to the college again in 2011 to present a collaborative concert with the Colorado College Chamber Chorus. Voice, Verse and Vision, a multimedia arts collaboration involving singers, poets, visual artists, and composers, received Chorus America’s Education Outreach Award for 2003. This prestigious award brought CVAE national recognition for a highly effective program at minimal cost. CVAE was the recipient of the Pikes Peak Arts Council’s Arts/Business/Education award for 2003, the Arts Council’s award for Best Concert by a Small Ensemble, first in 2005 for Wintersong, in 2010 for The Color of Grace, a Taylor Memorial Concert, and most recently, for Voices of Light in 2011 with the Chamber Orchestra of the Springs. The Ensemble has performed extensively throughout the state of Colorado and ventured into new territory with a seven-day tour of Southern California in 2006. As a featured performer at the 2002 Chorus America conference in Denver, CVAE was honored to represent Colorado Springs to the entire North American choral music community. Now entering its 21st season, CVAE has established a tradition of choral performance at the highest level of innovation and professionalism.