Faculty

CONNIE BURLESON, piano and organ instructor, is a graduate of Meredith College. She has a Bachelor of Music degree in Music

Education and a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a former Music Specialist for the Rowan-Salisbury schools. Mrs. Burleson currently serves as organist and choir accompanist at First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, NC. She has served as an accompanist for both the Choral Society of Lexington and Rowan-Salisbury Choral Society. She is very excited about the organization of The Arts Academy at Grace Episcopal Church.

PAM HARVEY, theatre arts teacher, believes that “all the world’s a stage” like Shakespeare. Teaching in the Arts Discovery Programs since their establishment in 2006, Pam

brings a fun approach to discovering and experiencing theatre arts that includes learning basic concepts of story-telling, stagecraft and performance. Her students enhance their creativity and cognitive skills toward a better understanding and appreciation of theatre.

Pam has extensive experience in adult and youth community theatre productions including: directing; stage, production and props management; acting; set construction and decoration; hair and makeup design. She holds degrees in Drama and Psychology from UNC-Asheville and is a member of the North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators.

Vanessa Hollifield, art instructor, creates contemporary and spiritual art. Her work spans from commissions for churches and

homes, to repairs and restoration, to fine art gallery exhibition. You can find Hollifield's work in various galleries and churches in North Carolina, Virginia, Philadelphia, and recently at the National Museum of Catholic Art & History in New York, NY. Vanessa teaches stained glass mosaics, painting and drawing at the Arts Academy at Grace. She is a graduate of Salem College.

Becky lippard, voice instructor, graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. While at UNC-CH, she was a member of the Carolina Choir and the Women’s Glee Club. She taught private voice and piano lessons and was a music assistant at Knollwood Elementary and Mt. Ulla Elementary schools. She was the youth choir director for Salem Lutheran Church. She has served as organist and accompanist for several area churches. Becky has been a member and soloist with the Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society and Concert Choir of Salisbury. She has been a music director for several Piedmont Players community theater productions, as well as performing onstage for them, along with Raleigh Little Theater, Winston-Salem Little Theater and the Uwharrie Players.

LUKE PAYNE, guitar instructor, began formal study of the guitar while a student at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. He went

on to earn a Master’s degree in classical guitar performance at The North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied under Joseph Pecoraro and was employed as the graduate assistant to the guitar program. Luke has also studied and been certified in the Suzuki teaching method. Luke is a passionate and talented teacher who’s resume includes teaching positions at The North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston Salem State University, The Salem College Academy of Music, The Suzuki School of the Arts in Hickory, The Community School of Music in Winston Salem, Forsyth Country Day School Music School and maintaining a private studio in Winston Salem. He is also active as a performer in various ensembles and as a soloist. His playing and teaching encompasses a wide range of styles, including classical, jazz, rock and bluegrass.

Helen Rifas, harp instructor, earned degrees in music from Reed College and the University of Oregon, where she was a

recipient of the Ruth Lorraine Close Fellowship in harp. She is currently principal harpist with the Greensboro and Winston-Salem Symphonies, as well as symphonies in Salisbury, Hickory and Greenville, and South Carolina. Ms. Rifas is a member of the Wake Forest Consort, an early music ensemble which performs on period instruments, and frequently performs with flute and cello in church and concert settings. She has performed as soloist with the Greenville Symphony’s Chamber Orchestra and on their Spotlight Series for chamber music. Ms. Rifas is adjunct harp instructor at Wake Forest University and teaches Suzuki harp at Kids in Koncert at Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory.

Lisa Timberlake, art instructor, is a graduate of UNC-CH. She has worked as a teacher in a variety of capacities. In addition to

teaching visual arts she has worked as a language therapist with children that have reading disabilities. Prior to joining the Arts Academy at Grace, Lisa taught at Davidson Academy where she developed and implemented the art curriculum for students from K-8th grade. Lisa currently serves as the volunteer program coordinator for G.R.A.C.E. girls, an after school enrichment program for at risk 6^th grade girls. She is also a visual arts teaching volunteer for the Arts for Life program at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. She enjoys being a part of the Arts Academy and providing opportunities for students to explore their creativity.

Luci White, violin and viola teacher, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where she began studying Suzuki violin at age 8. She

received her Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University, where she studied with Almita and Roland Vamos. Luci has completed Suzuki teacher training through Book 5 at the Chicago Suzuki Institute and the American Suzuki Institute. She performs with the Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, and Salisbury Symphony. Luci teaches at the Music Center of Greensboro and the Arts Academy at Grace.