Choral Arts Ensemble has been inspiring audiences throughout southeast Minnesota with performances of outstanding choral music since its founding by Rick Kvam in 1985.  The singers of CAE are active community members from a wide variety of professions, including teachers, farmers, doctors, bankers, computer technicians, and church leaders, all drawn together to create excellent music and contribute to the artistically thriving life in and around Rochester.

 

The choir rehearses weekly from August through May for a challenging four-five program concert series.  Repertoire includes a cappella works, from the Renaissance to the present day, as well as a variety of choral/orchestral works ranging from J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor to Beethoven's Mass in C to Honegger’s King David.  Furthermore, since 1996 CAE has commissioned and/or premiered more than fifty new choral works.  CAE’s catalog of 15 CDs includes Minnesota Voices and Hail, Minnesota! both of which feature works by Minnesota composers.

 

We have collaborated locally with the Rochester Symphony, Honors Choirs of SE Minnesota, Rochester Art Center, Janet Lang Dancers and regionally with the Great River Shakespeare Festival, The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Dale Warland Singers. For five years CAE’s Christmas at Assisi concert has been broadcast on KSMQ public television and the choir has selections played regularly on Classical Minnesota Public Radio on the daily playlist, the Choral Stream or the Regional Spotlight segment.  

 

The choir does an annual Family Holiday Concert at the public library as well as a Community Sing each summer (presented in partnership with the University of Minnesota-Rochester CONNECTS free lecture series). In addition, there are regular preview concerts at Charter House, a local retirement community, and on the Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Music Program.  

 

Since 1998 CAE has partnered with the Mayo Clinic to coordinate its Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Music Program - Monday noontime concerts in the Lips Atrium on the Mayo campus. These free concerts feature a wide variety of performers, including CAE, and music (e.g. bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, jazz, ethnic, classical); they are open to patients, staff, and the general public.