Cary-Apex Youth Choir
Cary-Apex Youth Choir was founded in 2018 as a non-profit arts organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the experience of choral singing. The choir program delivers music and vocal education through a rich variety of repertoire while maintaining a focus on developing the whole child through a community-centered approach.
Director
Founding Director, Laura Delauney, is a resident of west Cary and thrilled to be bringing this choir to the Cary-Apex community. A lifelong musician, Mrs. Delauney has played piano since and sung in choirs since childhood. Her most influential choral experience was singing in the Charlotte Children's Choir in the early 1990s, under the direction of Sandy Holland, to whom she credits the inspiration to begin the Cary-Apex Youth Choir.
Mrs. Delauney holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Richmond and a M.A. in Teaching with a Choral Music emphasis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. Since moving to the Triangle in 2003, Mrs. Delauney has directed multiple school, church, and community choirs and sang for many years with Women's Voices Chorus in Chapel Hill. In addition to leading CAYC, Mrs. Delauney also teaches musical theater classes in Cary.
Mrs. Delauney holds a B.A. in Music from the University of Richmond and a M.A. in Teaching with a Choral Music emphasis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. Since moving to the Triangle in 2003, Mrs. Delauney has directed multiple school, church, and community choirs and sang for many years with Women's Voices Chorus in Chapel Hill. In addition to leading CAYC, Mrs. Delauney also teaches musical theater classes in Cary.
Associate Conductor
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Jessy Williams, a resident of Holly Springs, has loved music from as far back as she can remember. During grade school, she was always involved in the public school band program, as well as her church’s choir and orchestra. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Seattle Pacific University, in June of 2015. During her time at SPU, before even graduating, Mrs. Williams was hired by the Norwegian Ladies Chorus of Seattle to be their choir director, and she credits that job with fostering her love of choral conducting. From 2017 to 2022, Mrs. Williams was the Director of Choral Music at Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Washington. During her time at the academy, she directed three different choirs and was also the Music Director for their spring musical productions. Mrs. Williams relocated to the Triangle in October of 2022 and is thrilled to be joining the Cary-Apex Youth Choir as Associate Conductor in the spring of 2023.
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Accompanist
Jessica Stephens joined Cary-Apex Youth Choir as Accompanist in Fall 2019. She holds a B.A. in Music from Thomas Edison State University. Mrs. Stephens has 15 years of experience teaching private lessons in both violin and piano, including 6 years at Duke University String School where she worked as a violin instructor, orchestra assistant, and chamber music coach. In addition, she has served as piano accompanist for many solo recitals and both led and accompanied a variety of church vocal and instrumental ensembles. Mrs. Stephens resides in Roxboro, NC where she teaches private violin and piano lessons from her home studio and serves as a pianist on the worship team at First Baptist Church Durham.
Administrative Assistant
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Heather Marino joined Cary-Apex Youth Choir in March of 2022 as their Administrative Assistant. Heather has a B.A. in Art with a concentration in graphic design. She is passionate about all types of arts education and is happy to be part of an organization that brings music opportunities to youth in our area. She resides in West Cary with her husband and two boys. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, reading, listening to podcasts, and exploring new places with her family.
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Intern
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Lily Houck is one of our Intern Assistants. She is a senior at Panther Creek High School and sings in their Chamber Choir. Lily is a graduate of Cary-Apex Youth Choir and is now in her 3rd year of serving as an intern with the group!
In addition to volunteering, Lily takes vocal lessons and participated in the theater program at PCHS. Her role with Cary-Apex Youth Choir includes helping out at rehearsals and performing administrative work. |
Intern
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Amen Noza is one of our Intern Assistants. She is a senior at Apex High School and currently takes private voice lessons and participates in her school's theatre program.
Her role with Cary-Apex Youth Choir includes helping out at rehearsals and performing administrative work. |
Board of Directors
Laura Delauney, President
Susan Heiserman, Secretary
Amber Nicole Dilger
Anna Exley
Susan Heiserman, Secretary
Amber Nicole Dilger
Anna Exley