My name is Carolena Lara, and I'm passionate about music education because it has profoundly enriched my life and guided my journey. I am dedicated to sharing the transformative power of music with my students, driven by the immense joy it brings and its potential to positively impact lives.

I’m currently available for interviews, private lessons, or consultations.

Dr. Carolena Belle Lara is a mezzo-soprano from the Houston area. She completed her
Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Italian at the
University of Oklahoma. Afterward, she attended the Eastman School of Music in
Rochester, NY, for both her Master’s degree (2018) and her Doctorate (2022) in Vocal
Performance and Literature, where she studied under Kathryn Cowdrick.

During Dr. Lara’s time at Eastman, she was awarded Honorable Mention for her lecture recital Modernizing Spanish-Language Vocal Music, which highlights Latin American song and dialects and
analyzes Irma Urteaga’s Canticos para soñar (Canticles for Dreaming). Dr. Lara has a deep
passion for research, teaching, and performing. Her most recent performing engagements include
becoming a resident chorister with the Houston Grand Opera for their 2022-2023 season and being promoted to senior resident chorister for HGO in the 2024-2025 season.

My teaching strategy is the guided practice of the ‘I do, we do, you do’ method.

Teaching Philosophies

Healthy Vocal Development

I prioritize nurturing healthy and efficient vocal production, guiding students to discover and enhance their natural voice rather than imitating artificial sounds that lead to fatigue and poor vocal habits.

Active Learning

I foster critical thinking by engaging students in problem-solving activities, encouraging them to articulate and address challenges collaboratively, and empowering them to become independent learners.

Student-Centered Approach

I personalize learning experiences by understanding each student's unique needs, including their cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. By creating a supportive environment, I aim to cultivate technical proficiency, creativity, and a lifelong passion for learning.

I aim to leverage my education, accomplishments, research, and experience as a results-driven music professional and private voice teacher to guide students of diverse levels in their musical journey, with a particular focus on Spanish language vocal music, while adhering to a teaching philosophy centered on personalized instruction, pedagogically-informed technique, and fostering a passion for continual learning and growth.