The Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble originated as a group of Charlotte-Mecklenburg school music instructors who organized in the fall of 1978 to discuss the types of choral music being taught. What began as a conference became a voiced choir, comprised of musicians from all walks of life who are bound by their inextricable love for quality choral music. The group is still bringing crowds to their feet today.

This popular ensemble has an extremely extensive choral repertoire. In addition to classical, contemporary, jazz, spirituals and gospel music, its renditions of Broadway show tunes are favorite crowd-pleasers.

With its broad appeal and versatility, the Charlotte Contemporary Ensemble is in constant demand at civic, professional, religious, social and sporting events throughout the Carolinas .  The ensemble has performed for the openings of the Afro-American Cultural Center and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, as well as for former Mayor Harvey Gantt’s inauguration. Guest performances have also included singing for the North Carolina Music Educators Association State Conference in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as well as for the annual Arts Alive Festival held in Florence, South Carolina. They have also appeared with gospel artist Richard Smallwood, Charlotte’s own late jazz personality, Loonis McGlohan, Carolina Voices Mainstage Choir, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Opera Carolina (most recently with opera star Denyce Graves). They have performed the national anthem at home games of the Carolina Panthers and (former) Charlotte Hornets.