Leadership & Staff

Leadership

Dr. Alyssa Avenatti

Executive Director | Director of Chorale

Dr. Alyssa Avenatti serves as Executive Director of CCSA and has the great honor of conducting the Chorale ensemble. She earned her PhD from Indiana University’s world-renowned Jacobs School of Music and holds a Master of Music Education degree with a specialization in Kodály pedagogy, along with certifications in Smithsonian Folkways World Music Pedagogy and the Orff Schulwerk approach. She is also a 2022-23 graduate of the Holt Values-Based Leadership Fellows Program. Alyssa is passionate about building stronger communities through meaningful music experiences and expanding access so that all young people can experience the transformative power of music. Her background as a performer, researcher, and educator informs her strategic thinking, versatility, and ability to align program goals with sustainable growth and long-term impact.

Before pursuing her doctorate, Alyssa was a founding member of the San Antonio Chamber Choir, performing with the ensemble for six seasons. She has presented academic research and practitioner workshops for music educators nationwide and has taught undergraduate and graduate students at Loyola University Maryland, Midwestern State University, Indiana University, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. She continues to support the music education community by mentoring young musicians and future educators at Trinity University and Texas State University.

Dr. Carolyn Cruse

Artistic Director | Director of Concert, Chamber, & Encore

Dr. Carolyn Cruse brings a deep passion for fostering vocal development and musical artistry in singers of all ages, along with extensive expertise in collaboration and artistic leadership across diverse settings. This is her third season with the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio, following a 14-year tenure at Texas Tech University, where she served as Associate Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music Education.

Dr. Cruse is an active clinician, conductor, performer, and festival adjudicator, with professional engagements throughout the United States and internationally in Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Italy, and Kenya. She is a Past President of the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA). As a performer, she is a founding member of mirabai, a nationally project-based professional women’s ensemble, and Alegría, a San Antonio–based professional level women’s chorus—both dedicated to advancing artistic excellence in women’s choral singing.

Before her appointment at Texas Tech, Dr. Cruse served as a choral conductor and music educator at both the middle and high school levels in Richardson and Plano ISDs. She holds 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 remains deeply committed to cultivating meaningful relationships with choral conductor-teachers and music educators locally and throughout Texas.

Dr. Cruse is delighted to be part of the Greater San Antonio community with her husband, Rob, and their rescue dogs, Nola and Whiskey.

Faculty and Staff

Christi Brogan

Communications Coordinator

Christi Brogan brings a creative eye and a passion for purposeful storytelling to her role as Communications Coordinator for CCSA. With a background in nonprofit leadership and a heart for the arts, she works to highlight the voices and journeys of CCSA’s young performers—connecting families and audiences through thoughtful, engaging communication. She holds an Associate of Arts in Creative and Communication Arts from Northwest Vista College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of General Studies at Texas Tech University. Before joining CCSA, she served as Assistant Executive Director at another nonprofit organization, where she developed a strong foundation in community outreach and organizational storytelling. Outside of her professional life, Christi is deeply involved in church youth ministry and is passionate about nurturing the next generation both in and out of the spotlight. She and her husband have been happily married for 30 years and are the proud parents of two teenage daughters. Through her work at CCSA, she strives to amplify the joy, harmony, and lifelong impact that music brings to young lives across the San Antonio metro area.

Dr. Lindsay Clavere

Program Development Coordinator & Collaborative Pianist

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.

Karen Feazel

Collaborative Pianist: Choristers & Chorale

Karen Feazel has served as an accompanist for CCSA since 2017 and has thoroughly enjoyed working with such amazing directors and students. Karen has a BS in Music Education and a Master of Music Education with a Kodaly emphasis. She has been a music educator for almost 30 years, previously teaching elementary music, middle school and high school choirs, and private piano in Ohio before moving to Texas in 2015. Karen worked with SAISD for three years and currently is an elementary music specialist for Somerset Academy Oaks where she has enjoyed teaching since 2019. Karen is very involved with her church music ministry team and enjoys filling in as an accompanist for various schools, churches, and community choirs in the San Antonio area.

Julissa Figueroa

Associate Director of Choristers

Julissa Figueroa is the Choir Director at Wood Middle School in North East ISD, San Antonio, TX, where she has taught since August 2020 and was nominated as the campus Teacher of the Year in 2024. As a Dallas native, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Julissa has worked with the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio for many years in various positions, including collegiate intern, concert production manager, and outreach Summer camp director, and therefore is most thrilled to make her return to the organization as the Associate Choral Director of Choristers. She is an active member of the choral community, serving as the Region 12 Middle School Coordinator-Elect and member of the Texas Choral Directors Association (TCDA) New Professionals Team, having formerly served a two-year term as Co-Chair of the social committee for the organization. Julissa is excited for her new role with CCSA and looks forward to cultivating a supportive and dynamic space where young musicians are met at their musical level and empowered to grow in skill, confidence, and vocal artistry.

Leah Gransbery

Development Director

Leah Gransbery brings a passion for people, purpose, and community connection to her role as Development Director for CCSA. She leads fundraising and outreach efforts with a focus on building meaningful relationships that strengthen the organization’s mission and expand its impact throughout the San Antonio community. With extensive experience in nonprofit development and leadership, Leah has worked alongside donors, corporate partners, volunteers, and community leaders to grow programs and create sustainable sources of support. Throughout her career, she has launched successful fundraising initiatives, cultivated major gifts, expanded donor engagement, and increased program funding through strategic outreach and thoughtful stewardship. Her work is grounded in a belief that strong relationships are the foundation of lasting impact.

Leah holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Maryland. Known for her collaborative spirit and results-driven approach, she is deeply committed to connecting people with causes that matter. At CCSA, Leah is honored to support the transformative power of music by engaging the community in ways that create opportunity, joy, and lasting change for young performers and their families.

Rebecca Lakes

Director of Prelude & Preparatory Choirs

Rebecca Lakes is the Lead Choral Director at Eisenhower Middle School in North East ISD in San Antonio, TX. She previously taught elementary music for 23 years and served as the Lead Elementary Coordinator for NEISD for 8 years. Rebecca is the Past-President of the Kodály Educators of Texas and also serves on the board for the Organization of American Kodály Educators. She has presented workshops for school districts across the country and at state and national music education conferences. Rebecca earned her B.A. and B.M.E. from Cedarville University, an M.M. from Belmont University, and her Principal certification from Schreiner University. She is fully certified in both the Kodály and Orff approaches to music education, and serves on the national board of the Organization of American Kodály Educators. In the summers, she instructs music teachers in Kodàly certification programs at Midwestern State University and the Rio Grande Valley.

Liz Logsdon

Business Manager

Elizabeth Logsdon serves as the Business and Finance Coordinator for the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio, where she has been a valued member of the team for more than six years. A San Antonio native and graduate of Clark High School, Elizabeth also attended Baylor University. Outside of her work with CCSA, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children. Elizabeth has long been active in the community through organizations such as the Junior League, the Girl Scouts and PTA.

Katie Meadow

Collaborative Pianist: Preparatory & Prelude

Katie Meadow recently completed her 7th season working with CCSA’s Preparatory and Prelude Choirs under the direction of Rebecca Lakes. Katie first discovered a love for collaborative piano as a music performance student at the University of Puget Sound, where she served as an accompanist for the student choir, wind ensemble, and several vocal studios. Katie brings a background in composition to her work, and enjoys creating collaborative arrangements with Rebecca Lakes that showcase and support the development of the voices of CCSA’s youngest singers. Outside of her time with the Children’s Chorus, Katie also teaches private piano lessons at Jensen’s Yamaha Music School, serves as an accompanist and church musician at various local schools and congregations, and operates a small mental health therapy practice.

Gabriel Trevino

Associate Director of Chamber Tenor/Bass

Gabriel Trevino is the Assistant Choir Director at Johnson High School in Northeast ISD in San Antonio, Texas. Previously he taught 5 years of High School Choir in McAllen, Texas. He just completed his first year with CCSA and he could not be happier to be part of the CCSA team! He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Texas Tech University, where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Carolyn Cruse. As a performer, he is a proud member of Pasíon, The Rio Grande Valley’s Professional Chorus, whose goal is to give back to the RGV community and spread the joy of choral music.

Kelley Tucker

Music Together Program Coordinator

Kelley Tucker studied elementary and choral music education at Trinity University (BM ’12, MAT ’13) and has completed further training in Orff Schulwerk and the Kodaly Method. She taught in Northside ISD for nine years, earning her campus’s New Teacher of the Year and Teacher of the Year awards before leaving public education in 2022. Kelley is currently a full time homemaker and mama to two Music Together babies, Amelia and Charlotte. She sings soprano in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Choir, and plays piano, recorder, and ukulele for fun. Kelley believes that making music is a transformative process that builds our human community and helps children and families become their best selves. She is honored to be making a difference as part of the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio.