Lisa Clayton

Director of Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir

M.M., University of Connecticut
magna cum laude, Paine College

Lisa Clayton was selected in August of 2022 as one of 60 Outstanding Alumni of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut.  In September of 2022,  she was nominated as the Outstanding African American Faculty member for the school of Fine Arts as well.  Lisa served as the first Connectional Coordinator of Music (Minister of Music) for the  one million membered Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church from 2014-2018.  She is also a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Paine College in Augusta, Georgia where she received a Bachelor of Music degree.     In 2000, Lisa Clayton received the Master of Music Degree from the University of Connecticut with a concentration in vocal performance.  As a graduate teaching assistant, Ms. Clayton received the Freshman Honor’s Society Teacher of the Year award, marking the first time this award had been given to a graduate student rather than a full time professor.  Lisa Clayton has also finished all course work for a Doctorate in Music Education at Boston University and is currently undertaking course work at Hartford Seminary where she is also an adjunct Professor since 2000. 

Recognized in the United States Congress for teaching ability, Lisa Clayton is a music teacher at Bloomfield  (Connecticut) Public High School and was named the 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year for Martin Luther King School in Hartford, Connecticut.  In addition, August of 2022 kicks off her 28th year celebration as director of the University of Connecticut’s Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir. Lisa Clayton and the award winning Voices of Freedom Gospel Choir have shared the stage with some of gospel’s great artists including Quincy Jones, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Mary Mary, Tye Tribbette, Dorinda Clark Cole, Kurt Carr, Vicki Winans and a list of others. Lisa Clayton also serves as the Musical Consultant for Miles Memorial CME Church, Washington, DC where Rev. Juliano Andujo serves as Pastor and is currently the Conference Musician for the Seventh Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church comprising of all of the Eastern States from Massachusetts to South Carolina.   She is a sought after Clinician in gospel music and conducts workshops throughout the country.  

 Currently, a song she has written, Destiny, featuring the University of Connecticut’s Voices of Freedom is the number one gospel song in the country on the Billboard internet gospel station chart.