Aberdeen Vocal Ensemble (AVE) was formed in November 1999 by David Mogendorff, Richard Perrie and Brian Gunnee as an independent offshoot of the Total Aberdeen Youth Choir, allowing local members to continue performing demanding choral music to as high a standard as possible throughout the year.

In 2000 the ensemble won an award at the Glasgow Music Festival in Glasgow City Halls, gave its first performance in King's College Chapel at the University of Aberdeen performing several works including Byrd's Mass for 4 Voices and also made its radio debut as guest artists on BBC Scotland's "Take the Floor". AVE ended the year with a series of their own Christmas Concerts in Aberdeen and also a joint one with the Stonehaven Chorus.

AVE provided entertainment at the 2001 Aberdeen International Youth Festival AGM and followed this with a spring recital in Aberdeen's Queens Cross Church to help raise funds for their new piano. Another award was gained at the Glasgow Music Festival and the ensemble also took part in a fundraising concert for Aberlour Child Care Trust in the University of Dundee's Bonar Hall.

The ensemble took a year out in 2002 to allow its members to concentrate on other projects but formed again in January 2003 for a concert in Kemnay with Inverurie Choral Society. This partnership continued in June 2003 for a concert in the Chapel of Garioch.

 AVE revived its partnership with the Stonehaven Chorus in May 2004 for a very successful performance of Vaughan Williams Mass in G Minor in Saint James' Kirk, Stonehaven.

In December 2006 the London based marketing company Key Events commissioned AVE to arrange a number of pop songs in the style of Christmas Carols as part of a national publicity campaign for the Bacardi brand.  Around a dozen vocal groups performed in cities throughout the UK and Ireland with AVE providing groups in Aberdeen, Belfast, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.

October 2007 saw AVE successfully break into the colourful world of musical theatre with a fully staged production of Hot Mikado at Aberdeen Arts Centre.

AVE also continue to sing regularly at private events such as corporate functions and weddings.

Founder Members

Soprano:  Claire Angus, Lauren Hart, Lindsay MacGregor

Alto:  Kathryn Long, Mary Miller

Tenor:  Richard Perrie

Bass: Brian Gunnee, David Mogendorff