Carol Barwick — A founder and board member of the Bay Area Youth Singers organization, Ms. Barwick also serves as executive director. She coordinates the business of BAYS, serves as a pianist and vocal coach, and is the number one cheerleader for the group. 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.
Nicole Daniel is the BAYS Artistic Director. She relocated from Dallas in 2016. Most recently, she was the Head Choir Director at Renner Middle School in Plano ISD where she was named Teacher of the Year for 2015-2016 and under her leadership the choirs earned Sweepstakes ratings. Prior to that, Mrs. Daniel was the Associate Choir Director at Forest Meadow Junior High in Richardson ISD and ran a successful private voice studio. She was a member of the Dallas Symphony Chorus and performed with Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. She holds affiliations with the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Choral Directors Association.
Mrs. Daniel received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Texas Tech University in May 2009, studying under Dr. John Dickson and Kathy McNeil. Currently, Mrs. Daniel is a full-time mom to her four children and is a member of Clear Creek Community Church in Friendswood.
Kristen Dickson is the director of the BAYS Children’s Choir. She comes to this position with 14 years experience teaching elementary music and choir at P.H. Greene Elementary School in CCISD, a position she resigned in May so she could pursue the role of full-time mom to her two boys.
She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Tech University in 2009, studying under Dr. John Dickson and Kathy McNeil. She and her husband, Adam, helped lead praise and worship for over 10 years at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church.
Welcome, Ms. Kristen.
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.
Lonnie W. Tanner, collaborative pianist, is a 1991 graduate of the Baylor University School of Music.
He has served as a choral director in both Pasadena ISD and Clear Creek ISD. He has accompanied the 2005 and 2010 TMEA All-State Men’s Chorus and was honored to conduct the 2000 New Mexico All-State Children’s Choir.
Recently retired from twenty-eight years in the classroom, he currently is on staff at Friendswood Methodist Church and continues to collaborate with public school and community choral programs as an accompanist, clinician and consultant. An avid traveler, Lonnie enjoys leading tour groups to increase cultural appreciation around the globe in people of all ages.
Crista Sereni is BAYS’ newest Children’s Choir pianist. She is from Texas City, Texas, and is a graduate of LaMarque High School. During her senior year, she and her choir’s jazz ensemble won Tri-State at the Enid, Okla., Jazz festival. She went on to major in music at Sam Houston State University, and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education. She has been an elementary school music teacher in CCISD since. 2000. Crista sings and plays the piano professionally and has three children — Daniel, Gina, and Sophia — who are very active in the music department at their church. Ms. Sereni is currently the music teacher at Greene Elementary School in CCISD.
BAYS Board of Directors, 2023-2024 Season
- President: Margaret C. Jordan
- Secretary: Paula Zikogiannis
- Treasurer: Dan Raab, Ph.D.
- Past President: Julie Jackson, Ph.D.
- Members: Amanda Mark (parent)
- Sandra Strickhouser
- Aaron Daniel
- Randall Xu, Ph.D.
- Gloria Summey (parent)
- Carol Barwick (founder, executive director)
- Nicole Daniel (artistic director)
- Warren Renander