Hello Laurel Mountain Lions!  My name is Misti Vara and I am in my 6th year of teaching in Round Rock ISD with 20 years of private vocal teaching before entering the classroom.  My husband Raul (Mr. Vara, Choir Director at CVMS) and I have been married for 24 years, and have 2 children, Violet (10th grade) and Van (8th grade).  Both of our children were Laurel Mountain Lions too! 

     I grew up in Garland, TX, a suburb of Dallas, and graduated from Lakeview Centennial High School where I was a 3 year All State Choir member. I then went attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock where I majored in Vocal Performance. Soon after graduating, my performing career started in Dallas where I began recording commercial jingles and performing with a local band.  My husband and I then moved to New York City where he taught middle school choir in Brooklyn, NY and I was a working musician performing in Off Broadway productions and various commercial jobs. After leaving NYC, we landed in Austin and have called this place home ever since! 

     I love good music; The Beatles, Claude Debussy, Eva Cassidy, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Wilco, and Brandi Carlile...just to name a few. In my free time I enjoy gardening, cooking, refinishing furniture, and playing family football.  Some of my favorite things are trying new foods, ripe avocados, bitter dark chocolate, and COFFEE.  I am looking forward to a great year of making music with you! 

 MY TRUTH:

                           I love music.  

I love listening to it, practicing it, performing it, and creating it.  

Music speaks to me in a way that words alone cannot and I am eager to share my love for music with you!