Established in 2007, Bay Area Youth Singers is an independent, non-profit organization in Houston’s Clear Lake area that fosters a love of music. Members develop their singing voices, poise, self-discipline, and a love and appreciation of great music through weekly rehearsals and performances throughout the year.
BAYS alumni have performed in regional, State and National competitions and State (TMEA) and National (ACDA) honor choirs.
BAYS alumni have gone on to obtain performance and academic B.Mus. degrees from the most prestigious schools of music in the world. M.Mus and Ph.D. studies are additionally under way.
Kellie Cooper
Kellie Cooper is the BAYS Artistic Director and teaches the Concert Choir and Bel Canto. Kellie always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but it wasn’t until her second semester in college that her voice teacher, Janice Robbins, convinced her that she should be doing something in music. She had the BEST choir teachers in both junior high and high school, thanks to Margaret Jordan, Norris Blevins and Denise Eaton. Kellie graduated from UTSA in 1995 and went “home” to Pasadena to begin her teaching career at Bondy Intermediate as the assistant to Brenda Varvoutis. Most of what she does in her classroom today is modeled after those years at Bondy with Brenda. Kellie has been teaching at Fairmont Junior High since 2001. Over the last two decades FJH has been consistently successful at UIL and Region auditions, resulting in students being well-prepared and excited to continue their choral experience into high school. Kellie is most proud of the legacy of family and fun that surrounded her choir program. She retired from the classroom in May 2025 and is excited to begin this new chapter with BAYS.
Kellie is a member of TMEA and TMAA, and enjoys being a judge and clinician to encourage students and their teachers. She is married to Randy, and has three children, Rylie, Reese, and Kennedy — all of whom have survived having her as their choir director.
Christina Bartimmo
Christina Bartimmo graduated from the University of North Texas in 1997 with a bachelor’s of music with an emphasis in education. She sang professionally with the Amarillo Opera’s Apprenticeship Program and the Fort Worth Opera before settling down to start a family. Christina homeschooled 5 of her 8 children for 12 years before going back into education.
Over the past 15 years she has taught choir at Santa Fe Junior High, Santa Fe High School, and Pasadena Memorial High School. During her 10 years at PMHS she had the privilege of taking her Women’s Non Varsity and Varsity choirs to UIL making sweepstakes every year. She is most proud of her students’ dedication, work ethic, musicality, and love of music which they displayed year after year, consistently showing that the passion and drive to create beautiful music is within reach for anyone willing to follow their dreams.
At this time in her career she has decided to once again embark upon another chapter of homeschooling, but not without keeping her musical goals still firmly in sight. Building on her passion for opera, musical theatre, and choral directing, Christina is now teaching private voice lessons to students and adults of all ages. She is thrilled to join BAYS as the new Choral Director for both the Prelude and Children’s Choirs. Her love of children and love for creating beautiful music will foster a fun, exciting, and joyful choral experience!
Lara Fulcher
Lara Fulcher grew up in a small town in central Russia, about 1000 miles east of Moscow. At the age of 14 she enrolled in Asbest Music College, where she majored in piano and music theory. Later she enrolled in The Chelyabinsk Academy of Culture and Art, where she continued her music education for another five years. She studied piano, music theory, and music pedagogy with an emphasis on choir direction. She completed her graduate program at the Chelyabinsk Academy with honors. Lara has more than 20 years of experience teaching music, collaborating as a pianist, directing choirs, and organizing musical events. Lara moved to League City, Texas, in 2006, and since that time has continued to be active in music. She is a highly sought-after accompanist and works with a number of high school and middle school music programs in multiple school districts. She also owns a private piano studio, where she is sharing her love of music with her students.
Carol Barwick
A founder and board member of the Bay Area Youth Singers organization, Ms. Carol Barwick also serves as Executive Director Emerita – Artistic Advisor. Her music background includes 30 years teaching choral and general music in public elementary, junior high, and high schools. She has served as a church pianist and music director, accompanist for instrumentalists, singers and choral groups. She has recently retired from 30 years teaching piano in her home studio. Her professional affiliations include the American and Texas Choral Directors Associations, Texas Music Educators Association, and Music Teachers National and Texas Music Teachers Associations.
BAYS Board of Directors, 2025-2026 Season
- Margaret C. Jordan, President
- Warren Renander, Treasurer
- Amanda Mark
- Sandra Strickhouser
- Gloria Summey
- Randall Xu, Ph.D.
- Carol Barwick, Executive Director Emerita – Artistic Advisor
- Daniel H. Raab, Ph.D., Executive Director – Operations Manager