Lauren Southard
MANAGER OF OUTREACH AND CHOIR PROGRAMS

DIRECTING EARLY CHILDHOOD, JUBILATE, CARMEL & FISHERS PREP, CARMEL & FISHERS BEGINNING LEVEL, AND MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY LYRIC CHOIRS

Lauren Southard is the Manager of Outreach and Choir Programs for the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. Now in her 19th year with the organization in an artistic capacity, her directing responsibilities include Music At Play, Foundations, Preparatory, Beginning Level Choirs, and Lyric Choir. Mrs. Southard also spent several years directing the Anderson Area Children’s Choir Concert and Preparatory Choirs, as well as founding and directing Jubilate, ICC’s choir for children with special needs. She developed the Foundations Choir curriculum, ICC’s choral program for Kindergarteners, and designed and published ICC’s new early childhood curriculum at use in its preschool and toddler age programs, Music At Play.

Mrs. Southard received her Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis degree from Ball State University in 2016 with a Certificate in Autism, and Master of Arts in Education in Educational Administration from Ball State University in 2017. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Butler University in 2006, where she was named Outstanding Student Teacher in Elementary Music and received an Outstanding Future Educator award.

In 2024, Mrs. Southard was honored to receive the Elementary Educator of Excellence award at the Indiana Music Education Association state conference and in 2026 she conducted in Carnegie Hall with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir for their 40th Anniversary performance. Mrs. Southard is certified in First Steps in Music, has completed the Orff-Schulwerk Certification Program at Anderson University, and has received Kodály training from Indiana University. She has been guest conductor for children’s honors choirs in Georgia and Illinois, and has been asked to conduct Circle the State with Song festivals throughout Indiana. She has conducted the Montgomery County Elementary Choral Festival and has presented on the young child’s voice to the Heart of Illinois Orff Chapter. Mrs. Southard has presented at the Chorus America Annual Conference, the Indiana Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference (IMEA), the Indiana Choral Directors Association (ICDA) annual conference, and the Indiana Association for the Education of Young Children annual conference. She has also presented at the IMEA Council for General Music Fall Workshop and the Chorister and the Church of the Future Conference at the University of Notre Dame on the topic of special needs in the choral classroom and has participated in Picture Exchange Communication System training conferences. Mrs. Southard also presents musical education workshops to public and private schools throughout central Indiana through The ICC Institute. She was honored to receive recognition from Wayne Township as recipient of the Dare to Dream award, given to a community member who recognizes inclusive practices in the school and community.

Mrs. Southard also serves as choir director of the Cornerstone Lutheran Church Children’s music program in Carmel, IN. She and her husband Josh live in Whitestown with their sons Finn and Sullivan and daughter Rory.