678-482-6333
Co-Owners
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.
Berneta Bock-Davis
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.
Patty Etherton
DANCE INSTRUCTORS
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!
Miranda Fox
Taylor began dancing at the young age of 3. She began training in just ballet and tap, but now has over 19 years of training in a variety of styles including ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and precision jazz. A recent graduate from Auburn University with a degree in Elementary Education, Taylor has a passion for working with young students. She loves to see students learn new things and grow as performers. Taylor had the honor of performing as a member of the Auburn University Danceline for 3 years where she performed jazz, hip hop, and precision jazz at SEC football games across the south for crowds of over 85,000 fans. Taylor also served as a choreographer for the Auburn Danceline, where she choreographed kicklines for their halftime shows. She has also studied ballet and jazz technique at Auburn University through their Dance program. Some of her other performance and training credentials include attending the Rockette Summer Intensive in New York City for 3 years, making it to the last day of auditions for the Radio City Rockettes in 2019, and making it to the final round of auditions for the Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders in 2020. She plans to continue her professional dance career in Atlanta for now, but one day, plans to move to New York City to become a Radio City Rockette.
Taylor Hoff
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.
Susan McGraw
Miss Terri has a tremendous ability to love her students through the tough parts of dance. She expects a lot but make is fun! Terri has been teaching in the North Atlanta area and Florida since 1994. She has performed with Atlanta Ballet, Carl Ratcliff Dance Theater, Harrison Jazz ensemble, The Kris Kangelosi Dance Project and aboard the M/S Westward cruise ship where she met her husband. Terri teaches Ballet, Jazz and Musical Theater. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, reading, cooking and sharing her love of dance with her students.
Terri Miller
Courtney Jacome began her dance journey right here at Suwanee Academy of the Arts! She continued her studies at Point Park University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance. Courtney is passionate about teaching and choreographing, and she is so excited to learn and grow with her students this year! Learn more about Courtney at courtneyjacome.org
Courtney Jacome
Shannon Conner grew up dancing in Bucks County Pennsylvania, located just outside of Philadelphia. She had a passion for dance from the young age of 6. At the age of 15 she began to take the bus into NYC to take dance classes, she also started performing in community theatres. She loved performing and eventually worked professionally, some of her favorite shows that she performed in were, Crazy for You, A Chorus Line, Once Upon a Mattress, Dream Girls, and Fame. She has been teaching dance for 32 years! She owned her own studio in Forsyth County, GA for almost 10 years. She has always loved teaching and is so glad to still be doing what she loves. Her favorite job has always been being a mom to her two sons, who are now grown. Sullivan,22 an English teacher in Maryland, and Sawyer,21 a student at Athens Tech. Shannon resides in Suwannee. So glad to be sharing my joy of teaching with the students at SAA.
Shannon Conner
Emily Hogan
Raleigh Phillips
DRAMA INSTRUCTORS
Patrick is thrilled to be a new member of the SAA team! Originally from Charlotte, Patrick attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he found his love for acting. Upon graduating with a BA in Drama, he began his professional acting career, performing with the Actors Theatre of Charlotte, Waterside Theatre, and the National Players, the oldest touring theatre company in the United States. He then began expanding his career to include film and television. He has appeared in TV shows such as AMC’s Turn, Fox’s Sleepy Hollow, and TNT’s Good Behavior, as well as over 40 national and regional commercials. As he continued his acting career he began directing and teaching acting classes, and soon discovered a new passion, sharing his love and knowledge of acting with students. He has taught acting classes for over 6 years and developed a film program that taught students the entire filmmaking process from pre-production to post. Patrick is looking forward to this new chapter of his life with SAA.
Patrick Hogan
Michael Slusher is an artist with a varied background, focusing on photography and the performing arts. He started in theatre at a young age, involving himself on and off stage in multiple productions each year since he began. Through years of experience, he has acquired a variety of skills as he took on teaching, directing, technical directing, production management, and more. He studied film and media at Georgia State University and Georgia Film Academy. Michael works as a theatre teacher and program director at Suwanee Academy of the Arts
Michael Slusher
Teri is a professional vocalist and music teacher with more than 35 years of experience in both the private and classroom settings. Teri is the music teacher, choir director and MS fine arts teacher at St. Catherine of Siena School in Kennesaw, where she also teaches private voice, piano and guitar. She enjoys her summers playing the role of Fairy Godmother during Enchanted Princess Adventure camps,directing the musical theater camps at Suwanee Academy of the Arts, and directing the junior show at Broadway in the Park.
Teri Khan
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.
Alicia Dixon
MUSIC INSTRUCTORS
John studied classical guitar at the Lovett School of the Performing Arts with teacher Jack Winchester and later with Mary Ackerman, chair of the guitar department at Kennesaw State University. John met his wife in 1982 and began a long career of writing and performing professionally. John offers instruction in percussion and guitar, teaching both popular and classical styles. Taking his lead from the student, John works diligently to find just the right approach to bring out the best in each musician.
John Hightower
Teri is a professional vocalist and music teacher with more than 35 years of experience in both the private and classroom settings. Teri is the music teacher, choir director and MS fine arts teacher at St. Catherine of Siena School in Kennesaw, where she also teaches private voice, piano and guitar. She enjoys her summers playing the role of Fairy Godmother during Enchanted Princess Adventure camps,directing the musical theater camps at Suwanee Academy of the Arts, and directing the junior show at Broadway in the Park.
Teri Khan
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.
Justin Levy
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.
Mary (Hyeon Joo) Sway
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.
Tim Wheeler
At a young age, Tori began her love for music with piano, which later brought her to voice and musical theatre. She graduated from Young Harris college with a bachelors in music education, vocal emphasis. Throughout her college career, Tori participated in musical theatre as well as performing a variety of classical repertoire. During the summers, she has enjoyed helping with music for the junior broadway in the park show.
Tori Payne
Heather McAllister earned a Bachelors in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance from Toccoa Falls College in 2009. She then worked at Perimeter Christian School for 6 years as their music director for the middle school musicals, directed 7th & 8th grade chorus and was the Administrative assistant for their school of the arts while teaching vocal and piano lessons. She then taught general music & chorus to K4-8th grade at Oak Hill Classical School for 5 years. She also loves serving on the worship team at Restoration Presbyterian by playing piano and singing and enjoys gardening and long distance running in her spare time. Heather is married to Cameron and they have two children, Dylan and Olivia.
Heather McCallister
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.
Lacey Glancy
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.
David Wilson
STAFF
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.
Monica Witchel
–bio coming soon —
Michele Hilton
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.
