Dr. Carolyn Cruse brings a passion for fostering vocal development and musical artistry in singers-musicians of all ages and expertise in collaboration and artistic vision in multiple settings. This is her third season with the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio after a 14-year tenure at Texas Tech University as Associate Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music Education. Dr. Cruse has served as a clinician/conductor and festival adjudicator throughout the United States and in Canada, Finland, Italy, and Kenya. She is the Past President of the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA) following a two-and-a-half-year term as President. As a performer, she is a founding member of both mirabai (nationally project-based) and Alegría (San Antonio), professional-level women’s choral ensembles dedicated to enhancing artistic expectations of women’s choral singing.

Before her appointment at Texas Tech, Dr. Cruse served as a choral conductor-teacher in both middle and high schools in Richardson and Plano ISDs. Her education includes a Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University, a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas. She enthusiastically continues to cultivate and nurture relationships with choral conductor-teachers and music educators locally and throughout the state. She is excited to be part of the Greater San Antonio community along with her husband, Rob, and their rescue puppy, “Nola.”

Dr. Lindsay Clavere, an award-winning music professional, has built a remarkable career in both academia and performance. Lindsay holds a PhD in Music Theory from the University of Kentucky, where her dissertation explored the intricate interplay of textual, visual, and aural modalities in Fanny Hensel’s Das Jahr. Her academic journey also includes a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University. Lindsay served as an Associate Professor at Berea College in Kentucky for over a decade, where she supervised and mentored the collaborative piano team, coordinated the music theory curriculum, and led as the Assistant Director of the Concert Choir and Chamber Choir. Her performance experience is equally impressive, with notable engagements at venues like Centro Fox in Mexico, Mozarthaus Boesendorfer Hall in Vienna, and the Tenri Cultural Center in New York City. Lindsay’s dedication to music education, community engagement, and performance has made her a respected and influential figure in her field. Her passion for fostering connections through music continues to inspire those around her. She has most recently joined CCSA full time as Program Development Coordinator.