Carolina Vocal Arts Ensemble was founded in 2006 and is directed by Stephen Field. The Ensemble is a friendly group of people who love to sing and have fun while approaching classical music with committment and focus. With a diverse repertoire in multiple languages, including choral masterworks, operatic choruses, spirituals and complex choral pieces, CVAE gives dedicated volunteer singers the opportunity to perform with full orchestra and professional soloists.

The choir is made up of members from all ages, musical backgrounds, religious backgrounds and levels of vocal ability. In their scholarly and professional lives, these singers are engaged in a variety of industries, including visual and performing arts, religion, teaching, fundraising, early childhood development, the law, human resources, retirement and more. In 2007, the Ensemble initiated a High School Apprentice Singer Program to allow students with an aptitude for singing the opportunity to participate in repertoire not typically available to them at local schools.

CVAE is currently in its fourth season, now forty members strong. The commitment and enthusiasm exhibited in the audition-based community choral ensemble is in tribute to the passion displayed by the ever-growing audience of classical music lovers in the Wilmington area. With world-class soloists and the finest instrumentalists, audiences are bound to discover a true cultural gem, right in their own hometown.