Mark and Paul Carrera, chorus directors at Lane Tech
Lane Tech Co-Choir Director Paul Carrera
Mark Carrera has been the choir director at Lane Tech College Prep on Chicago's north side since 1998—his brother Paul joined him as co-director in 2004. Together, they have been two of the biggest supporters of our "Strong Voices" arts education program since they were first introduced to it in 2007. As Mark recalls,
"[MOB's former choral master and frequent 'Strong Voices' collaborator] Ed Zelnis walked into our classroom and described the program and all the ways our students could benefit from such a partnership. Thirteen years later, the program is still going strong, and we have benefitted musically in every way: from guest conductors, professional vocal performances, pre-contest adjudicators, and awesome accompanists. For the past two years, our MOB teaching artist has been soprano Katelyn Lee. Last year, Katelyn prepared approximately 30 soloists for the Illinois High School Association's State Solo Ensemble Contest. It was an impressive feat, and with Katelyn's help, Lane Tech ranked first in the entire state! Without a doubt, 'Strong Voices' has strengthened our program more than we could ever describe, and enriched our students' musical experiences. Thank you for all you have done."