OUR TEAM | Suwanee Academy of the Arts

Kate Pauda

Drama

Kate is an artist, designer, and educator born and raised in Gwinnett County. She discovered the performing arts at a young age, which led to her involvement in school and community theatre programs throughout her childhood. After highschool, she went on to pursue a BA in Theatre at the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, where she performed in mainstage productions, original works, showcases, and staged readings while staying involved behind the scenes. Her passion for education and improvisation blossomed during her time at GTA and has stayed with her ever since. She is committed to creating a welcoming and inspiring environment for young performers while helping them explore their creative potential.

Tim Wheeler

Piano

Tim’s love for teaching encourages and builds musicianship in his students- whether music theory, piano, composition, or audio production. Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and a Master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy, both from Georgia State University. A teacher for over 35 years, Tim’s musical background is diverse and includes classical, jazz, and rock. He is a published composer, arranger, and song-writer. He owns DoubleSharp Music Recording Studio where he can be found recording, mixing, or producing a variety of music. Tim is also an adjunct faculty professor at the Art Institute of Atlanta under the Audio Production program.

David Wilson

Piano/Voice

Dave Wilson was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. He began singing in church and at community events at the age of 4 and studied piano and organ with private instructors through high school. He continued his musical education at Cincinnati Christian University, majoring in voice and minoring in piano, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in 1987. He has been a private instructor in both piano and voice since that time. He has spent many years singing with and directing church and community choirs. He served as director of the Tara Choral Guild, a community Choir based in Clayton County, GA until 2013. He began serving as director of the Henry Community Chorus in Henry County, GA in January, 2020. He and his family currently reside in Grayson, Georgia.

Cost per lesson: Lessons are $126 per month for four thirty minute lessons, once a week.

InSook Kim

Piano/Voice

InSook has taught music for over 25 years as a full-time Music Professor at University. She graduated from the University of Missouri and the University of Connecticut as a Music major in the U.S.A., having a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music degree. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from South Korea. And she also graduated from a Graduate School as Theater and Musical Theater major, having a Master of Arts degree. She would like to help children’s musical expression in Voice and Piano.

Cost per lesson: Lessons are $126 per month for four thirty minute lessons, once a week.

Teri Khan

Musical Theater Voice, Piano, Guitar

Teri is a professional vocalist, music teacher, choir and theatre director with 40 years of experience in both the private and classroom setting. She teaches all levels of Voice, Folk and Rhythm Guitar, and teaches beginning to intermediate levels for Piano. She studied Voice and Classical Music at the Conservatory of Music of Brooklyn College, while working towards a BS in Vocal Performance. She is a graduate of Rollins College with a B.A. in Voice Performance and Pedagogy. Teri has been with SAA and SPA for 16 years.

Cost per lesson: Lessons are $140 per month for four thirty minute lessons, once a week.

Justin Levy

Advanced Voice

Justin started his career as a prodigy student and vocal arranger working alongside Robert (RAab) Stevenson, arranging vocals for artists like Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Pharrell Williams, Kelly Rowland, Austin Mahone, Rihanna, B5, and The Gardiner Sisters. Justin has worked as assistant vocal trainer on tour with Kelly Clarkson and has clients in three countries. Other artists blessed to have worked with RAab and Justin are jMarie, Roma Acorn, Zach Martari, Nate Larson, Diana Diez, Ashea, and he has also worked with Robert DeNiro, Zac Effron, Julianne Hough and Zoe Deutch on the set of Dirty Grampa. Justin has mastered the techniques necessary to safely develop the voice to its greatest potential. He treats each student – no matter their experience level – with the same focused commitment, and welcomes all genres of music.

Lessons are scheduled upon consultation directly with Justin

Christina Elia

Dance

Christina Elia began her training at a young age with Bernie Davis through Suwanee Youth Ballet and Suwanee Performing Arts where she trained in various styles including Cecchetti ballet. Christina began her professional career as an Atlanta Hawks Cheerleader from 2014-2016 performing with artists like Ludacris and Cee Lo Green, and she was chosen to represent the NBA in Taiwan in 2015. Christina spent three seasons training and performing as a company member for Atlanta Dance Collective from 2016-2019 and served as a dancer and then captain of the College Park Skyhawks from 2022-2024. Christina now spends her time teaching at studios around the Atlanta area.

Kaylee Boyd

Dance

Kaylee Boyd has loved creating since she was a small child. This need for creativity manifested in a love for dance at the age of 3. She trained in many forms of dance such as jazz, ballet, and contemporary at Lawrenceville School of Ballet, then later at Gwinnett Ballet Theater. She went on to SCAD to further explore different methods of creativity and enjoys drawing comics. She found a love for teaching young dancers how to express their creativity through dance and strives to inspire the same passion she has for dance in others. Her goal is to make her classes a safe, loving environment, where young artists can have fun and learn important dance fundamentals.

Neftali Hernandez

Drama

Born in Puerto Rico, Neftali discovered a passion for the art of storytelling early in life. His multifaceted career, as both an actor and author, draws from an educational foundation that includes a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling and Student Personnel Services. Neftali’s deep understanding of human nature allows him to bring fresh and genuine perspectives to various roles, creating characters that are both captivating and authentic.

Neftali’s credits include popular shows such as Queen of the South, Florida Man, MTV’s Revenge Prank, Fatal Attraction, Murder Calls, Homicide Hunter, ATL Homicide, and many others.

He is the author of the Dragon’s Fire series which currently includes “Dragon’s Fire: Rise of the Elementals” and “Dragon’s Fire: The Usurper King”.

To learn more about his work, visit his website or follow him on social media:

Website: www.neftali-hernandez.com

IMDB: www.imdb.me/neftalihernandez

Instagram: @neftalihernandez

Emily Alonso

Contemporary instructor, Jazz Instructor

Emily started dancing at the age of 11 in Buford, Georgia as a competitive dancer under the construction of Nicole Thornton, Britni Meadows, and Dominique Fewell, winning numerous overalls and scholarships during her time as a competitive dancer. Emily is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance at Brenau University under the direction of Madia Cooper-Ashirifi. Emily has trained in various technical styles such as Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Horton Modern, Duncan Modern, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, and Hip Hop. During her time at Brenau, she has worked with guest artist Kaitlyn Arena, Payton Parker, and Julio Medina as well as faculty member Jessica lynch Oliver. During her summers, she trains with an Atlanta based contemporary company, Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre as well as training with Xcel Studios. Recently, Emily participated in developing imagery for a presentation “Dancers as Athletes” By Josh Wludyga for the National Strength and Conditioning Association National Conference. Outside of performing, she enjoys teaching students the artistic side of dance and encouraging them to express creativity within movement as well as exploring choreographic techniques on both intermediate and collegiate level dancers.

Carleigh Saas

Hip Hop Instructor, Specialty Dance Instructor

Carleigh grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, and has been dancing since the age of 3. She started doing competitive dance at the ages of 10 through 18. She trained in Tampa, Florida, for two years in hip hop learning fundamentals and house dancing with experience in the freestyle street dance scene as well. Carleigh performed in the Red Bull freestyle dance competition with the Jr VYB Dance Team under the direction of Demario Henry. She is now currently enrolled at Brenau University for a Bachelor of Arts for dance. Carleigh has experience in numerous styles such as Horton Modern, Duncan Modern, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz Tap, Acro, Hip Hop, Jazz, Street Jazz and Classical Ballet. She has worked with many guests artist Brenau has brought in such as Kaitlyn Arena, Jesse Zaritt, Patron Parker, Julio Medina, Larry Keigwin and Staycee Pearl and also had to the chance to work with Brenau faculty members Jessica Lynch and Madia Ashirifi Cooper department chair. Carleigh has done intensives such as Reveal Dance Chicago and Kaos and loves to travel to take classes, such as Chicago and Tampa. With a passion for teaching others the joy of dance, Carleigh hopes to inspire young dancers to learn the freedoms of freestyle dancing and more technique and foundation within Hip Hop.

Nadia Khan

Office Manager

Nadia Khan, the new Office Manager at Suwanee Academy of the Arts, is a hometown talent blending artistic roots with a decade of data analysis expertise. Having grown up here, Nadia’s journey from taking dance, drama and voice lessons, to Broadway in the Park participant, to Rainbow Fairy at Princess Camp reflects a deep connection to the academy. You might also recognize her mom as the one and only Fairy Godmother, Teri Khan! After a detour into data analysis and process improvement, Nadia returns to seamlessly merge technical business skills with a profound understanding of our students’ experiences. Her unique perspective promises to elevate Suwanee Academy of the Arts to new heights, where the data becomes a canvas for artistic growth.

Margaret Holtkamp

Musical Theater Voice

Margaret graduated from Brenau University with a BFA in Musical Theatre in 2020. She began dancing at the age of 8 and is so thankful for her training in ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theatre from Buford School of Ballet and Brenau University. She has spent the past three years performing professionally in Atlanta’s theatre industry, at theme parks (Cedar Point and Kings Dominion), and singing and dancing with Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her choreography experience includes Buford High School’s Variety Show (2022, 2023) and she looks forward to working with SAA, West Forsyth High School, and Buford High School for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.

Lacey Glancy

Kindermusik

Lacey Glancy began studying violin at age 5, piano at 7, and cello at 11. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music from Brigham Young University. Most recently she was Principal Second Violin with the Georgia Philharmonic, and prior to relocating to Georgia she was the Principal Second Violin for the Houston Civic Symphony. She teaches private music lessons, Kindermusik, sings in her church choir, and plays with Bella Nota String Quartet. She is the mother to twin boys and loves baking, reading, and fitness.

Natalie Sparkmann

Customer Relations Manager

–bio coming soon —

Kristi Schneider

Finance Manager

Kristi graduated from Florida State University with her degree in Accounting. She has many years of accounting, bookkeeping and payroll experience. Kristi enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids, enjoying the outdoors and volunteering at her church.

Monica Witchel

Office Manager

With a strong background in corporate finance, human resources, and real estate, Monica brings her technical skill set and experience to the Office Manager position at SAA. Monica, a born and bred New Yorker, moved with her husband and 2 children in 2019 to Suwanee. Her talented daughter, Thayer, inspires her to be involved with the arts and she loves working with children.

Mary (Hyeon Joo) Sway

Piano, Violin, Viola

Mary graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory with a B.A. in Music Education, Major in Piano and Minor in Violin. She has performed in several operas and plays with her college orchestra including a performance at the Kennedy Center. Mary has worked with children for over fifteen years and has many years experience in private music lessons. She strongly believes Music is an important form of expression for children, and that music helps develop self-esteem, focus and artistic values that last a lifetime.

Alicia Dixon

performing artist and instructor.

She toured the United States, Japan, and South Korea with a theatrical production while obtaining her degree in theatre from the University of Georgia. She acquired additional professional credits working for Walt Disney World’s popular show Fantasmic! as well as through separate projects in theatre, televsion and film as a dancer before falling in love with aerial arts in 2013. Alicia now performs and teaches aerial arts in and around Atlanta with a specialty in aerial silks/fabrics and sling/hammock.

Susan McGraw

Ballet, Contemporary

Susan received a scholarship to the Dance Pedagogy and Performance program at Brenau University where she was a featured principal dancer for the Gainesville Ballet Company. After graduating with honors, she became a founding member and Principal dancer with the newly formed Gainesville Ballet Professional Ensemble. Susan’s strong background includes extensive training in Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, and Classical Ballet. Susan has trained dancers in both Local and Regional Companies, Universities and private studios for more than 30 years. She continues to serve as a guest teacher for numerous Summer Intensives. She has helped her students find placement in many prestigious Companies and Summer Programs and she has coached students through the Youth American Grand Prix and Boston Ballet competitions.

Miranda Fox

Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Progressing Ballet Technique

A graduate from Brenau University with a BFA in Dance Pedagogy, Miranda received her earlier training from Atlanta Ballet, Dan and Company, Dancers Studio/Backstage and Gainesville School of Ballet, with additional training through notable summer programs with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Orlando Ballet and South Carolina Dance Conservatory. Miranda’s eye for detail and her natural abilities to relate to “little ones” makes her a wonderful teacher, mom to her son Chase, choreographer and part-time administrator for SAA. If that weren’t enough, Miranda is a certified Cecchetti instructor, and also teaches jazz, tap and ballet. Can we say more about this multi talented multi-tasker!

Patty Etherton

Co-owner, Music, Theater

Patty Weyen Etherton spent her youth singing in around central Illinois. The local celebrity she received helped her overcome her shyness and cement her passion for the performing arts in the lives of children. Never far from the stage, Patty toured professionally with Lake City Band and while living in Nashville she was often found on stage in a Circle Players production. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Music Education from Millikin University, Patty brings with her knowledge enthusiasm and a vast background in musical theater. She is passionate about inspiring young singers/actors to fulfill their potential.

BERNETA BOCK-DAVIS

Co-owner, Ballet, Cecchetti

A child prodigy at the age of four, Berneta was sent to study under the direction of Tensia Fonseca with the Maryland Youth Ballet. She performed with the Atlanta and Bristol Ballets throughout her youth and graduated with a double major in Performance and Education of Ballet from Virginia Intermont College. Known simply as “Miss Bernie” during her 21 years of excellence in teaching, Berneta is committed to sharing the art of dance and proudly brings the Cecchetti Method of Ballet instruction to Suwanee. SAA is the first Cecchetti school certified in Georgia.

Co-Owners

Berneta Bock-Davis

Patty Etherton

DANCE INSTRUCTORS

Miranda Fox

Kaylee Boyd

Susan McGraw

Carleigh Saas

Alicia Dixon

Emily Alonso

Christina Elia

DRAMA INSTRUCTORS

Teri Khan

Kate Pauda

Neftali Hernandez

MUSIC INSTRUCTORS

Teri Khan

Justin Levy

Mary (Hyeon Joo) Sway

Tim Wheeler

InSook Kim

Lacey Glancy

David Wilson

STAFF

Kristi Schneider

Nadia Khan