Meet the Directors

We’re so glad you’re here!

Director
In her 10th year in education, Mrs. Blakey is excited to join the Clements Choir legacy. She graduated from Millkin University in 2014 with her degree in Music Education. Mrs. Blakey also completed her 3 levels of Kodaly instruction at the SMU-Plano program in 2021. Previous to her appointment at Clements, Mrs. Blakey taught at Clear Lake High School (Houston, TX) for 9 years. She is married to Adam, a junior high band director in the district, and they have a daughter named June, with a dog and cat!

Associate Director
Justin Shen is a native of Waco, Texas – a town famous for a cola – Dr. Pepper (which he hates) and more recently a certain Chip and Joanna (the verdict is still out on these two). In May 2017, he graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston with a degree in music education. Mr. Shen has five years of experience teaching students at the high school level and he is excited to begin his first year with the Clements Choir family. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Shen is a member of the GRAMMY award winning Houston Chamber Choir and a staff musician at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston. He loves his dogs, Johanna and Sophia, Coca Cola, and the walk from the fridge to the bed.

Meet our private lesson staff!

Cody Ryan Arthur

TENOR
Cody Ryan Arthur, tenor, maintains a diverse career singing opera, musical theater, gospel, and choral music across the US and abroad. Locally, Cody has collaborated with HGOco, Opera in the Heights, Houston Grand Opera Chorus, Ars Lyrica, Bach Society of Houston, Harmonia Stellarum, Greenbriar Consortium, Houston Masterworks Chorus, and Mercury Singers. Last season he joined TUTS for Sweeney Todd, and returned to HGO Chorus, Bach Society Houston, and TACTUS in Oklahoma City. Cody is a lover of books, coffee, traveling, and his cat, Wallace. Cody is excited to join the Clements voice staff in the fall of 2024!
codyathur.tenor@gmail.com
Nathan Holmes

BARITONE

Nathan Holmes, born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Decatur, Georgia, is a trained operatic baritone who has his Masters of Music in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Houston. As a performer, he maintains a strong performing schedule with a variety of opera companies, theatres, and choirs. His most recent performing credits include stage appearances with Central City Opera (Colorado), Houston Grand Opera Chorus, and Moores Opera Center at the University of Houston. As a voice instructor, he has had several students go on to major in music, theatre, and education at major universities across the US. When Nathan was in high school he made Georgia All-State Chorus in his junior and senior years, as well as All-State Sight Reading Chorus in his senior year. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and spending time in nature, watching basketball and volleyball, as well as spending quality time with his friends. He is delighted to be part of the voice faculty here at Clements!
Carolena Lara

MEZZO SOPRANO
Carolena Belle Lara is a mezzo-soprano from Houston, TX. She completed her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian at the University of Oklahoma (2016). Afterwards, she attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY for both her Master’s degree (2018) and her Doctorate degree (2022) in Vocal Performance and Literature. During Dr. Lara’s time at Eastman, she was awarded Honorable Mention for her lecture recital entitled Modernizing Spanish-Language Vocal Music. Her most recent performing engagements include participation in the Classical Music Festival with OPERA San Antonio as a Teaching-Artist Fellow and being an associate chorus member at Houston Grand Opera for their 2024-2025 season.

carolena.belle.lara@gmail.com
Rebecca Tann

SOPRANO
Rebecca Tann is an FBISD alumni and has taught in FBISD schools since 2013. She holds a Master’s in Vocal Performance from University of Houston and a Bachelor’s in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Texas Tech University through which she received her teacher certification in Music education for grades K-12. Ms. Tann believes a full understanding of vocal technique is the foundation of a strong and smart singer. As a former three-year all-stater herself, Ms. Tann enjoys helping students apply technical skills to their all-state music and offering audition tips and tricks to make the all-state audition process fun and fulfilling! Outside of teaching, Ms. Tann has spent many hours on the opera stage. She has performed throughout the United States with companies such as the Houston Grand Opera, the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston, Angels Vocal Art, and Opera in the Ozarks. Ms. Tann also serves as a cantor in the Schola Cantorum at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Downtown Houston. For more information on Ms. Tann’s teaching and performing background, please visit rebeccatann.com or visit Rebecca Tann, Soprano on Facebook.
beccatann@yahoo.com