Kim Bemis is the director of Musical Beginnings and the owner of Bemis Piano Studio. She has lived in Hamilton County for 27 years, 19 of those years in Westfield. She is married to Dave and they have 3 children, Shaun (26), who is married to Tracy and is in the U.S. Navy stationed in Hawaii, Laura (24), who is married to Nathan and is teaching piano in our studio and is also a licensed Kindermusik educator and Ross (20), who is married to Bonnie and works at Starbucks and is studying to get his realtor license. Kim has taught piano from her home studio for the past 17 years, both group and private lessons. Musical Beginnings has been in operation since 1998 offering classes to children newborn through age 7.
Kim studied music education at Butler University where she also received her Kindermusik training in all levels of the Kindermusik curriculum. She is a member of the Kindermusik Educators Association, and in the past has served on the executive board, KEA of Central Indiana where she is the immediate past president, Indiana Piano Guild, Music Teachers National Association, Indiana Music Teachers Association and Indiana Group Piano Teachers.
Kim's favorite role in life right now is that of Grandma to 5 little ones. Abigail (3) & Peyton (1) belong to Shaun. Keaton (2) & Taylor (6 months) belong to Laura and Kody (1) belongs to Ross. Being a Kindermusik Grandma is so much fun!!!
Kim's love of children and music is seen in both her teaching and the running of this program. She is committed to bringing the advantage of music to the young lives and families in the greater Indianapolis Metropolitan area
TONY BURTON
Tony Burton has been teaching guitar since 1983 and has dedicated his life to sharing his love for the instrument with others. During his years of teaching, Tony has been blessed with many opportunities to encourage people of different backgrounds and interests in their pursuit of guitar mastery. His dedication has led to co-authoring guitar instruction books with Hal Leonard Publishing. A member of Bridgeway Church, Tony truly enjoys sharing the gifts God has bestowed on him for His glory.
ABIGAIL CROUCHAbigail Crouch Acosta has Diploma and Licentiate degrees in both Harp Teaching and Harp Performance from A.B.R.S.M. She has played the harp for over 20 years and has more than 10 years of experience introducing students to the harp and guiding them into accomplished intermediate and advanced harpists. Many of her students have studied harp in college with scholarships, and perform professionally. Abigail is an affiliate teacher of The Harp School, Inc. She uses Carol McClure’s highly effective Angel’s HarpTM Methodology for beginners, and continues to benchmark student’s progress with A.B.R.S.M. preparatory examinations. She loves working with new students, as well as seeing the long-term progress of all her students! For more information about The Harp School, Inc. and the Angel’s HarpTM Method, please see the website of our artistic director, Carol McClure. www.carolmcclure.com/harpschool.html. To contact Abigail directly, please call 317-750-4267 or email her at .
Deanna Caldwell has a Bachelor of Music in viola performance from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Master of Arts in counseling ministries from Trinity International University, and has done graduate work in viola performance at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. She is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, a national honor society for music. Her teachers include Kay Kempf; Robert Swan of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Michael Hining, formerly of the Lyric Opera of Chicago; and Yuval Gotlibovich, professor of viola, Indiana University. She has also spent several summers studying chamber music with Myron Kartman, Northwestern University professor of violin, ret.
Deanna has eight years of teaching experience, having taught both from her home and at the Jack Benny Center for the Fine Arts. Currently, Deanna plays with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, where she is also the music librarian.
Her teachers have included Albert J. Saurini, Principal Flutist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) for 35 years (retired), Francis Fitzgerald, Associate Principal Flutist with the ISO (deceased), Harry Houdeshel of the Indiana University School of Music, and A. Oren Gould of the Western Illinois University Laboratory School. She has attended master classes, flute pedagogy classes, and flute choir reading sessions at the NFA National Convention and at IndyFlute Club events.
Barbara has nine years’ experience teaching flute, having taught from her home, in several Indianapolis township schools, and at East 91st Street School of Fine Arts. Her students have played in state honors bands and have consistently received high ratings at ISHMA music contests. Currently Barbara Hagstrom plays with the Covenant Symphony at East 91st Street. She also has presented solo programs to small groups and has performed in SAI Scholarship Benefit Recitals.
Terry Hayes attended Bethel College working on a music education and trumpet degree while also continuing to study and perform on guitar. His passion for the guitar eventually led him to focus on that instrument resulting in many opportunities including touring and studio work throughout the United States and abroad. Most recently, Terry has been very involved in church music ministry, teaching private guitar, and performing professionally in the Indianapolis area.
DARLIES & SHANNON JONES
Darlies and Shannon Jones are alumni of the Butler University Jordan College of Fine Arts. They have over 20 years private teaching between them and are active members in the East 91st Street Christian Church brass choir, orchestra and youth handbells. Darlies works for Paige's Music store and Shannon is an assistant band director at Craig Middle School.
DOUG KING
Doug King is a musical theater actor, dancer, choreographer, and director who has worked with college and high school groups from Alabama to Fort Wayne, Ind. This experience has also taken him back to his alma mater, Ball State University, where he graduated with a theater major. Doug toured as an actor in the first national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donnie Osmond. He has also worked very extensively as an actor in Chicago, Indianapolis, and throughout Canada. Most of his current work can be seen at Beef and Boards Dinner Theater. He has played such roles as Will Parker in Oklahoma!, Cosmo Brown in Singin' in the Rain, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, Rueben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Frank Schultz in Show Boat, the Jester in Once Upon a Mattress, Rooster in Annie, and many more.
For over 15 years, she has fulfilled several church musician roles from organist to ministry coordinator. Currently, Mrs. Lorenzoni is the Administrator for the School of Fine Arts and has been an instructor in piano, voice, organ and theory since the school's inception. In addition to the SFA ministry, Carolyn works in the worship ministry department at East 91st.
Carolyn spends most of her leisure time with friends and family, often cooking and entertaining in her home. She has received many honors for her music and volunteerism including the Sagamore of the Wabash.
Mrs. Peters is also an active musician in the Indianapolis area. She is a clarinetist in the Indiana Wind Symphony, which performs concerts throughout the year. She occasionally plays clarinet for the Carmel Symphony Orchestra and flute, clarinet, saxophone, and piano in musical theatre pit orchestras around Indy. She loves collaborating with colleagues to perform chamber concerts, and especially enjoys playing and/or singing in worship bands. Visit Mrs. Peters on the web: www.katherinepeters.com
PEARL RIGGSPearl has a Bachelors degree in Physical Education with teaching minors in Dance & French. She is a former member of the Southern Illinois Dance Repertory Theatre. She also teaches fitness classes, having developed a program she teaches in schools. Pearl is an active member of East 91st St. Church in the dance ministry. She directs "Precious Hearts" dance ministry. Pearl has 3 children.
Cami graduated summa cum laude from Anderson University with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish. She is a kindergarten teacher at Eagle Elementary School in Brownsburg, IN. Cami resides in Speedway with her husband, Seth, who is also an elementary school teacher. Dance has been a huge part of Cami's life and something she is quite passionate about. She grew up studying tap, jazz, and ballet at The Dancers' Place Dance Studio in Avon, IN. In college, she was a member of the pom squad and performed in various productions including, Guys and Dolls, The Music Man, Candles and Carols, and various productions at Eastside Church of God. At Anderson University, she also took dance classes from Roberta Wong and fellow faculty member Doug King. Cami currently dances with Praise in Motion dance ministry at East 91st Street Christian Church.
