CONCORA Youth Choir’s mission is to foster a love and appreciation of choral music which has the power to cross cultural boundaries and to move hearts.  CYC will do this by bringing together a broad and diverse group of young people to learn and perform high quality choral music with professional musicians in the Greater Hartford Region and beyond.

Guided by dedicated, accomplished directors, choir members will have the opportunity to:
  • Develop comprehensive musicianship skills including reading music notation, healthy vocal production, ear training, movement, and musical interpretation.
  • Engage in music-making through a rich repertoire of choral music from different time periods, cultures, and genres.
  • Perform and collaborate with CONCORA's professional members and their Artistic Director, Chris Shepard.
  • Connect with other passionate singers and peers from different towns in Eastern Connecticut.

​Auditions will take place on November 25th and December 2nd at Illing Middle School in Manchester, CT.  Singers will need to prepare a song of choice to be sung acapella.  The directors will also vocalize with singers to check vocal range, and a short sightreading example will be given.

Tuition for the semester is $300 to be paid upon acceptance and placement into a choir.
​Financial aid available upon request.

Meet the Directors

Lauren Torres Lambert (she/her) is the choir director at Swift Middle School in Watertown, Connecticut.  Before that, she spent 14 years as an early childhood music teacher in Avon, CT and at the CREC University of Hartford Magnet School in West Hartford, CT.  She directed the Youth Choir of Connecticut Children’s Chorus through The Hartt Community Division for students in grades 1-5 for 8 years. 
Mrs. Lambert’s musical training and teaching includes general music, First Steps in Music, choral methods, ukulele, piano, vocal pedagogy, and musical theater. Lambert received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Hartt School in West Hartford Connecticut where she has guest lectured and acted as an adjunct professor for the Music Education department.

Mrs. Lambert recently served on the CT-ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) Repertoire and Resources Committee as the Children's Choir Chairperson and is a member at large for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Choral Council.  Mrs Lambert is a former soprano and board member of The Hartford Chorale which is the primary symphonic chorus for the greater Hartford area and The Hartford Symphony Orchestra where she has been a featured soloist for their Discovery Concert Series.
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As an active clinician, Mrs. Lambert has been invited by choral organizations and state music education associations across the North East to give workshops, speak on panels, and lead festival performances. She has conducted, performed, and prepared choruses in Connecticut and New York.  Most recently, she was honored to be asked to conduct the 2025 Rhode Island Elementary All-State chorus. Originally from New Jersey, she now lives in Newington, CT with her husband and their two kids.
Karla McClain (she/her) is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescent/Young Adulthood Music in her 27th year of teaching. Currently, she is the Choral Director at Illing Middle School in Manchester, CT. Prior to teaching in Manchester, Karla taught at Irving A. Robbins Middle School and East Farms Elementary in Farmington, CT, in West Hartford, CT and Hilliard, OH. Karla previously served as the Assistant Director of Laurel Music Camp. 

Karla is an active presenter and clinician and has presented for state, regional, and national conferences. She served as conductor for the RI All-State Jr. High Mixed Choir in 2023, and the CMEA Southern Region Treble Choir in 2020. Her choirs have been Featured Showcase Ensembles for the CMEA State Conference, most recently in 2024. In 2023, her choir students collaborated with CONCORA to perform “A Passion for the Planet” by Geoffrey Hudson, and with Manchester Chorale to perform Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols.” Karla has served on the Diversity Initiatives Committee of CT-ACDA and is currently the Middle School Repertoire and Resources Chair for ACDA Eastern Division. She is a past member of the Professional Development Committee for CMEA, and co-chaired the vocal committee for aligning audition repertoire for the middle school regional festivals. She is also a frequent adjudicator for Regionals and All-State. As a performer, she has remained active by singing as a soloist and section leader, currently with the South Church Chancel Choir in New Britain. She is also a  member of the professional choir, CONCORA. 
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Karla received her Bachelor of Music in education from Ohio Wesleyan University, and her Master of Science in Music Education from Central Connecticut State University. In 2021, she was selected as the CT- ACDA Choral Director of the Year. She has a passion for using music technology and global music to engage students. She lives in Cromwell, CT with her husband and 2 children.

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