Our Story
About Asheville Vocal Ensemble
“an exceptional and engaging vocal octet with eclectic programming while maintaining an emphasis on traditional choral music performed at the highest level.”
Though AVE has its roots in sacred and secular music of the High Renaissance, the group performs a cappella music from a wide variety of musical literature, from classical to jazz and pop, for concerts, church services, and special events. Run democratically, all members contribute to the selection, artistic interpretation, and development of each piece.
Originally formed as 'Pastyme’ in 1999 by a group of friends who enjoyed making music with each other, the members of [AVE] are all active in the Western North Carolina music community, singing with church choirs, the opera, and musical theatre.
The group has also performed at numerous venues and churches in the Southeast, including the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, the Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta, the Echo Early Music Festival, Imagine - A Community Concert at Diana Wortham Theater, Biltmore Estate and the FEI World Equestrian Games, Tryon, N.C.
our Singers
Pamela Miller
Soprano
Pamela is currently employed at UNC Asheville as the Program Support Administrator for the Department of Music and New Media. Pam is the soprano soloist and section leader of the Trinity Episcopal Church choir. She has been a soloist with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, a member and manager of the Asheville Choral Society (ACS), and a member of the ambassador ACS group Tempus. Before moving to Asheville, she sang in the Washington DC area with The Oratorio Society of Washington (now the Washington Chorus), the Cantate Chamber Singers, and also dabbled with Irish music singing. Recently she has started creating visual art and studying painting and mixed media techniques. Pam spends time with her husband Robin Smith at the family farm petting cows, painting, and training new puppy Harriet.
Nana Hosmer Griffin
Soprano/Alto
Nana has had the pleasure of singing with many vocal groups, theatres, and churches in her native Syracuse NY, and in Asheville, where she has lived for almost two decades. Most recently, she has been a featured soloist and section leader for Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Asheville, was the Soprano soloist for Bach’s Kaffee Kantata with Asheville Baroque and Panharmonia, was the Alto soloist in The Modern American Music Project's production of The Little Match Girl Passion, has been a member of The Asheville Choral Society and their select group, Tempus, and has been a featured player in several productions at Asheville Community Theatre, most recently in Sweeney Todd, and the 35 Below production of Songs for a New World. She lives in Asheville with her husband, Tom, their daughters Eloise and Beatrix, and their adorable pets. In any spare time not singing, she enjoys knitting and crochet, cross stitch and embroidery, and watching historical documentaries.
Caitlin O. Nelson
Soprano/Alto
Caitlin came home from preschool singing The Ballad of Davy Crockett and the rest is history. A native of Tallahassee, FL, she spent her childhood on stage at Young Actors Theatre and performing in school-based choral groups. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music (Voice) from Florida State University, where she sang with All-Night Yahtzee (co-ed contemporary a cappella).
Caitlin has spent time living (and singing) across the US, including directing and singing with numerous choirs, contemporary a cappella groups, and professional Christmas Caroling groups in Boston, Seattle, and New York City, and has had the privilege of performing at Lincoln Center, on tour with Sarah Brightman, and as National Anthem support for Stephen Colbert.
Outside of music, Caitlin works as a marketing consultant for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startups.
Anna Koogler
Alto
A newcomer to Asheville, Anna is excited to be joining Asheville Vocal Ensemble! Anna holds a Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and music education from the University of Hartford and a Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Iowa. She previously sang with the Schola Cantorum at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph as well as Voce, Inc. in Hartford, Connecticut.
In addition to singing with AVE, Anna also currently sings with the Asheville Choral Society and the Asheville Symphony Chorus. When she isn’t singing, Anna can be found reading books, drinking coffee, and spending time with her two cats, Sophia and Frankie, and her dog, Sadie.
Casey Edwards
Tenor
Casey Edwards’ began singing as a student at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, MS at the age of 19 while studying trumpet performance. As he progressed collegiately, he decided to switch focus to voice and eventually obtained a bachelor’s degree of arts in vocal music from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s degree of music in vocal performance from Texas Tech University.
Today, Casey is an active performer in the WNC area and serves as the tenor section leader at First Presbyterian Church of Asheville. He works full-time as an inventory specialist for a local jewelry store, and he is currently working toward becoming a graduate gemologist. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and reading.
Jeff Konz
Tenor/Baritone
Jeff is Director of Institutional Research at UNC Asheville after serving as Professor of Economics, Dean of Social Sciences, and Interim Vice Provost. He also sings in the choir at the Cathedral of All Souls. An avid bicyclist who spends many hours riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway and elsewhere around Asheville, Jeff spends any other spare time reading, working outside, and spending time with his amazing wife Kate, and fabulous children, Nicholas and Flora.
Will Rhodarmer
Baritone/Bass
Will holds a recent degree in Vocal Performance from UNC Asheville and has sung with various groups, both in a collegiate setting and in the broader world. In addition to singing, he plays trumpet and bass in assorted settings. For most of his time at UNCA, Will served as both director and president of the campus a cappella group, The Keytones. He is currently pursuing a career in music education and hopes to work as a music teacher. Outside of music, Will enjoys playing basketball and video games.
Daniel Pearsall
Bass
Daniel Pearsall is a bass singer and music educator from Asheville, NC. He is a Dec. ’25 graduate of Mars Hill University, holding a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance and Music Education. He has performed on-stage in roles such as The Sorcerer from ‘Dido and Aeneas,’ and The Pirate King from ‘The Pirates of Penzance.’ Some of his other musical affiliations include Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers and Asheville Central United Methodist Church Choir. With groups in the past, he has performed at the Biltmore House, Brevard Music Center, and more locations across western North Carolina.
Daniel’s current plan for the future is to develop an education and performance career with substitute teaching and musical theater auditions. In his free time, Daniel looks forward to video games and finding new musical instruments for his collection.