Cary-Apex Youth Choir Staff

​​Artistic and Executive Director
Prelude Choir and Lyric Choir

Founding Director, Laura Delauney is a lifelong musician and current resident of west Cary, NC. From a young age, she studied piano, later adding violin, and sang in the renowned Charlotte Children’s Choir under the direction of Sandy Holland, where her passion for choral music was ignited. Mrs. Delauney went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Richmond and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 
Since moving to the Triangle in 2003, Mrs. Delauney has directed numerous school, church, and community choirs. She also sang with Women's Voices Chorus in Chapel Hill, where she served on the Board of Directors for several years. 
​In 2018, Mrs. Delauney founded the Cary-Apex Youth Choir to enhance access to choral singing for young singers in the area and contribute to the musical fabric of the community. It is her greatest joy to teach the singers of CAYC and collaborate with members of the community. In addition to leading CAYC, she also teaches musical theater classes in Cary. Mrs. Delauney is a member of the American Choral Directors Association and Chorus America.

​​Associate Conductor
​Discovery Choir West Cary

Elizabeth Daly is a conductor, soprano, and music educator with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Syracuse University, and a recent graduate of Georgia State University’s MM in choral conducting where she studied with Dr. Deanna Joseph. As a conductor, Elizabeth co-founded the Atlanta Festival Consort, a collaboration of early musicians, where she co-artistic directed their inaugural concert with the Amethyst Baroque Ensemble. She has also served as co-conductor of Voces Amicis, a semi-professional choir in the Atlanta area, and has substitute taught the choirs at Agnes Scott College. Elizabeth also recently appeared in the opera chorus of the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra’s production of Dido and Aeneas, taught aural skills at GSU, attended Yale School of Music’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival as conducting fellow, and presented her research on Nun-composers of the Italian renaissance at multiple conferences. She is so excited to be an associate conductor at CAYC this year! In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys making ravioli by hand, caring for her plants, and hiking with her husband.

​​Associate Conductor, Social Media
Discovery Choir Apex

Tristan Ream is a choral music educator, musician, and baritone from Holly Springs, NC. Mr. Ream is a graduate from Appalachian State University having earned his degree in Choral Music Education (K-12) having worked with several choral ensembles including the University Singers, Chamber Singers, the Appalachian Treble Choir, the Appalachian Glee Club, the Appalachian Chorale and the Appalachian Youth Chorale. Mr. Ream completed his student teaching at Enloe Magnet High School with Lauren Hallihan and will be entering their first-year teaching at Overhills High School in Spring Lake, NC. Mr. Ream is very excited to be joining the Cary-Apex Youth Choir as Co-Conductor for the Discovery Choir and as the Social Media manager for the group.

​​Associate Conductor
ENCORE!

Allison Wrenn Thomas, mezzo-soprano, is originally from NC. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she received B.M. degrees in Vocal Performance and Music Education, as well as a B.A. degree in Italian Language. While at UNC, Ms. Thomas performed as a vocalist with UNC Opera Theater, Carolina Choir and the UNC Chamber Singers. 
Ms. Thomas currently serves as the Choral Director at Martin Gifted and Talented Magnet Middle School, where her students consistently receive Superior ratings at State Adjudications and Festivals. She is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher, and an active member of NCMEA, NAfME and ACDA. Ms. Thomas's professional activities include conducting the NC Honors Chorus walk-through in 2018, 2022 and 2023, serving as a Wake County Choral Adjudicator for NC Governor's School in 2023, and serving as the guest conductor for the WCPSS All County Choir at Pieces of Gold in 2024. Her pedagogy focuses on age-appropriate vocal technique to ensure her students have strong fundamentals throughout their development and exploration of various styles. Ms. Thomas is excited to join the CAYC team as the Associate Conductor of ENORE!

​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 over 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

​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.

Rehearsal Assistant

​Keshav Raman joined Cary-Apex Youth Choir as a singer in the Lyric Choir in Fall 2021. He is a sophomore at Apex Friendship High School and a chorus member. Keshav has two younger siblings who are also in Cary-Apex Youth Choir. He is excited to volunteer with CAYC to support the younger singers.

Rehearsal Assistant

Mason Rouse is one of the CAYC rehearsal assistants. Mason is a senior at Enloe High School, where he is the Men's Student Conductor. He has been in choir for 5.5 years and has sung every voice part (But bass!). Outside of choir, Mason is very passionate about sociology and psychology and is dedicating his free time to volunteering with the elderly, hopefully caroling in the wintertime. 

Rehearsal Assistant

Isha Raman is an active member of Cary-Apex Youth Choir, where she volunteers with the Discovery group, helping younger children develop their love for singing. With four years of vocal experience, she’s excited to continue in their new ENCORE! program. A freshman at Apex Friendship High School, Isha is not only dedicated to music but also enjoys playing tennis, drawing, and baking in her free time.

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery."
~Mark Van Doren