Originally established in 1984, the Ave Vocal Group later became the Ave Chamber Choir, and under its conductor Andraž Hauptman it quickly gained recognition in the world of Slovene and European vocal music. In 1995 the Ave Chamber Choir was selected as a demonstration choir for the European Symposium of Choral Music, for which the singers worked with Swedish conductor Eric Ericsson and Gary Graden. The Choir has presented its complex repertory programme at concerts in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Macedonia, Egypt, Greece, South Africa, the USA, the Vatican, Canada, Denmark, Argentina, Chile and Estonia. The Choir received the Župančič Award of the City of Ljubljana and the Prešeren Award in 1994, and has since received the highest prizes in the following competitions and festivals: C A Seghizzi, Gorizia (1992, 1996), Florilege Vocal de Tours, France (1993), Cantate, Maasmechelen, Belgium (1993), Tolosa, Spain (1994), Athens, Greece (1996), Montreux, Switzerland (1998), Rodes, Greece (1999), Felipe Vallesi, Mendoza, Argentina (2000), Tallin, Estonia (2001), Franz Schubert Competition in Vienna, Austria (2004) and Niš, Serbia and Helsinki, Finland Competitions (2006). At the Naša pesem Choir Competition in Maribor in 2007 the Choir received several prizes and special mentions.