In its second year the Fountain Inn Arts Academy has faculty from all over the country who are passionate in their field. Here is a sampling of who you will learn from at our academy:
Susan Wilson & Michelle Hyer: Susan and her daughter Michelle Hyer came to South Carolina in 1996 and opened The Art Haven, School of Art in Simpsonville in 1997. They are now Free-Lance Artists and Teachers still serving the greater Greenville community at the Fountain Inn Center for The Visual and Performing Arts. They both have a wealth of expertise spanning over a 25 year period and a true passion for teaching art. Experienced in all mediums: graphite, pastels, oils, acrylics, watercolors, ink, hand-built clay and the potter's wheel they provide a variety of instruction in an open classroom setting for children, teens and adults.
Gwen Starling: Gwen is currently in her fourth season as Resident Music Director for the Fountain Inn Center for Visual and Performing Arts. She serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Fountain Inn Orchestra and resident theater F.I.R.E. With a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Winthrop University, where she studied conducting with Dr. Robert Edgerton, Mrs. Starling continued her training at Converse College in Spartanburg S.C., receiving a Masters of Music Degree in 1991. In addition, Starling serves as Director of the Centers resident vocal performance ensemble IGNITE.
Brittany Hogan: Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Brittany recently finished her Masters degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. Prior to this, she earned a BM in Vocal Performance from Furman University. Her favorite opera and theatre credits include: Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus, The Fox in The Cunning Little Vixen, The Title Role in Evita, Nellie in South Pacific, Laurey in Oklahoma!, Anna in The King and I, and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. With a passion for both performing and teaching, Brittany currently teaches Performing Arts classes at the Fountain Inn Center and private voice lessons in her own vocal studio and at Shannon Forest Christian School. She is very excited to be working with The Fountain Inn Civic Center again this season and cannot wait to get started!
Zac Pelicano: Zac is a graduate of the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities and of the Stella Adler School of Acting. His acting credits at F.I.R.E include The Wedding Singer, Annie and the upcoming show A Wonderful Life. He also directed the spring production of Grey Gardens and will be directing Odd Couplein the fall.
Diana Jensen: Diana has a love for playing and teaching music. She recently moved from California where she taught piano and flute in her home. She also has used her flute talent and ability ministering in her local church. She was actively involved in her local college playing in an orchestra and a Wind Ensemble for several years. Diana desires to pass down to the next generation her knowledge and love of music .
Eryn Chickey-Tillery: A graduate of theatre from The College of Charleston in 2006. Eryn has been a part of USF in Greenville, The Spartanburg Little Theatre and enjoys working with F.I.R.E. and helping it get onto its feet! Eryn, although having to turn down The Actors Studio in NYC to pursue her M.F.A., is blessed to work with a wonderful group of individuals and is thankful to God for every opportunity that is granted to her!
Oliver Yu: Oliver has been creating stunning images for over 20 years. His unique photographic expression has been fanned by his passion to continuously learn and explore the art. He finished his BA in Commercial Photography from the world renowned “Brook’s Institute of Photographic Art Science in Santa Barbara, California. There he had the opportunity to meet and learn from such great photographers like Ansel Adams, Yousuf Karsh and Jerry Gay. He is comfortable in both digital & film photography, from a pin hole camera to a large format 8x10 camera. His fine art photography has won awards and has been exhibited in the United States, Europe and Asia. His passion is to create fine art portraiture that is passed on from generation to generation.
Evan Duke: B.A., M.A., and D.M.A. candidate (University of Kentucky, all but dissertation), has performed on trumpet, cornet, and French Horn. He has served as principal trumpet in the Bob Jones University Symphony orchestra, principal cornet in the university’s top wind ensemble, and principal horn in the University Concert Band. He has been a substitute performer for the Spartanburg Philharmonic and participated in the Collegium Musicum. He has earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance, and currently is working on a DMA in Trumpet Performance from the University of Kentucky. His past teachers include Jim Ruffaner, Bob Birch, and Dan Kirsop. He is currently a student of Mark Clodfelter.
Chris Earle: Chris Earle has been playing percussion for 23 years, as well as teaching for 18. Chris has spent time in many places around the Southeast as an instructor, performer and clinician working with Middle School, High School and College programs. Chris has served as Director of Percussion and founder of a number of different school and independent organizations. Currently, in addition to his work with TapTap Percussion studios housed at the Fountain Inn Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Chris is the house percussionist for the FIRE (Fountain Inn Repertory Experience) shows, and performs with rock bands, The Barley Boyz and The Hibrydz as well as the Jazz Fusion Project, InnFusion, also housed at the FICVPA. Chris' "day" job is Educational Sales and Percussion Specialist with Pecknel Music in Greenville, SC.