Meet Our Co-Directors
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CO-DIRECTOR | PIANO
A native of Atlanta, pianist Caroline Owen is active as a soloist and collaborator, having performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe. She has appeared at venues such as the Wiener Saal and Solitär at the Salzburg Mozarteum, Kaiserstein Palace (Prague), DiMenna Center for Classical Music, and Asia Society Texas Center.
Owen was a past winner of the Florida MTNA Young Artist Competition, a semifinalist in the 14th International Mozart Competition, and a winner of the Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta Competition, from which she received a scholarship to study at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Her festival appearances include the Cremona Summer Festival, Prague Piano Festival, PianoFest in the Hamptons, PianoTexas, Atlantic Music Festival, the American Liszt Society Festival, and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States Festival.
An active chamber musician and advocate for contemporary music, Owen has toured with the Astralis Chamber Ensemble since 2022 and has premiered multiple piano concerti with the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. Drawing on her background in dance, she also collaborates with composer Badie Khaleghian on interdisciplinary projects; their multimedia work Electric Sky Blue has been presented internationally.
Owen earned her Doctor of Music in piano performance from Florida State University and also holds degrees from the University of Georgia and Furman University. Dr. Owen has been teaching piano for the last decade, working with students from age 4 to adults. In addition to her role as Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy, she serves as an Artist Affiliate in piano at Emory University. To learn more, visit carolineowenpiano.com.
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CO-DIRECTOR | PIANO & COMPOSITION
Robert Cushing is a composer, pianist, and Decatur native. He holds a Bachelors in Music Composition from Furman University and Master in Piano Performance from the University of Georgia. As a composer, Robert especially enjoys writing music for the voice. His original musical, In the Silence, was performed at Furman University in Fall 2019. He has also written several song cycles, chamber works, and solo piano compositions. The winner of the 2019 South Carolina MTNA Young Artist Competition, Robert is passionate about performing the music of unsung composers. In graduate school, Robert researched and performed the piano works of Mélanie “Mel” Bonis and Hélène de Montgeroult.
At the University of Georgia, Robert studied under Dr. David Fung, Dr. Alan Woo, Dr. Emily Koh, and Dr. Peter Lane. At Furman University, Robert studied under Dr. Amanda Montgomery, Dr. Mark Kilstofte, and Professor Jay Bocook. He credits his love of music with his original piano teacher, Mrs. Mary Brown Hinely.
Robert is a fifth-generation Decatur resident and is thrilled to be a Co-Director of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy.
Meet Our Instructors
Percussion
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PERCUSSION
Dr. Bryan Wysocki (b. 1995) is a boundary-exploring percussionist, composer, conductor, and educator based in metro Atlanta.
His original works are rooted in curiosity and contrast; where structure meets intuition, and traditions confront modernity. With a soundworld shaped by improvisation, extended techniques, and playfulness, Bryan’s work celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the joy of risk. His music has been performed by soloists and ensembles across the world, including the JACK Quartet, Flux Quartet, Spark Ensemble, Torch Ensemble, Mixed Media Saxophone Quartet, Clare Longendyke, and How Things Are Made.
As a percussionist, he moves seamlessly between realms; interpreting the nuance of orchestral repertoire, exploring the edges of new chamber music, and championing bold, genre-defying collaborations. He has given the world premiere of numerous works and thrives in environments where innovation is both the method and the message. He performs frequently with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Georgia Symphony, Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra, and many other Atlanta-based orchestras.
He is also the founder, Executive Director, and Music Director/Conductor of the Atlanta Contemporary Music Collective, a 501(c)3 constellation of composers and musicians elevating Atlanta as a home for innovation in contemporary classical music. The Collective fosters relationships between freelance composers, musicians, and audiences with adventurous programming and collaboration.
Bryan currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Jacksonville State University (Jacksonville, AL) and Adjunct Professor of Percussion and Composition at the University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA), where he nurtures the next generation of musical explorers. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Composition from Hofstra University, a Master of Music in Composition and a second Master of Music in Percussion from Georgia State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Georgia.
To learn more, please visit: www.bryanwysocki.com and/or www.tinyurl.com/WysockiVisualBio
Piano
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CO-DIRECTOR | PIANO & COMPOSITION
Robert Cushing is a composer, pianist, and Decatur native. He holds a Bachelors in Music Composition from Furman University and Master in Piano Performance from the University of Georgia. As a composer, Robert especially enjoys writing music for the voice. His original musical, In the Silence, was performed at Furman University in Fall 2019. He has also written several song cycles, chamber works, and solo piano compositions. The winner of the 2019 South Carolina MTNA Young Artist Competition, Robert is passionate about performing the music of unsung composers. In graduate school, Robert researched and performed the piano works of Mélanie “Mel” Bonis and Hélène de Montgeroult.
At the University of Georgia, Robert studied under Dr. David Fung, Dr. Alan Woo, Dr. Emily Koh, and Dr. Peter Lane. At Furman University, Robert studied under Dr. Amanda Montgomery, Dr. Mark Kilstofte, and Professor Jay Bocook. He credits his love of music with his original piano teacher, Mrs. Mary Brown Hinely.
Robert is a fifth-generation Decatur resident and is thrilled to be a Co-Director of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy.
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PIANO
Farris Goodrum began playing the piano at age seven. He was born and raised in the Congo, Africa, where his parents were missionaries. Music was an important aspect in the life of the school where he began his piano studies, and where he became the chapel pianist at the age of twelve. He received a bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the University of West Georgia, and a master's degree in Piano Pedagogy from Georgia State University. He was granted an assistantship at both universities as an accompanist, and has taught piano at all levels, from beginning to advanced, for many years in both Brazil and the United States. Farris was sent to Brazil by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and spent 35 years in that country as a music teacher. His responsibilities included teaching private piano lessons, directing choirs and bell choirs, and teaching courses such as music theory, composition, form and analysis, pedagogy, and conducting. During his years in Brazil, he founded and directed a music department in a seminary to train music students for professional possibilities after graduation. Encouraging musical expression among students, and observing their progress as musicians, are among the great joys of his teaching experience.
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CO-DIRECTOR | PIANO
A native of Atlanta, pianist Caroline Owen is active as a soloist and collaborator, having performed across the United States, Canada, and Europe. She has appeared at venues such as the Wiener Saal and Solitär at the Salzburg Mozarteum, Kaiserstein Palace (Prague), DiMenna Center for Classical Music, and Asia Society Texas Center.
Owen was a past winner of the Florida MTNA Young Artist Competition, a semifinalist in the 14th International Mozart Competition, and a winner of the Pro-Mozart Society of Atlanta Competition, from which she received a scholarship to study at the Salzburg Mozarteum. Her festival appearances include the Cremona Summer Festival, Prague Piano Festival, PianoFest in the Hamptons, PianoTexas, Atlantic Music Festival, the American Liszt Society Festival, and the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States Festival.
An active chamber musician and advocate for contemporary music, Owen has toured with the Astralis Chamber Ensemble since 2022 and has premiered multiple piano concerti with the Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra. Drawing on her background in dance, she also collaborates with composer Badie Khaleghian on interdisciplinary projects; their multimedia work Electric Sky Blue has been presented internationally.
Owen earned her Doctor of Music in piano performance from Florida State University and also holds degrees from the University of Georgia and Furman University. Dr. Owen has been teaching piano for the last decade, working with students from age 4 to adults. In addition to her role as Co-Director and Co-Founder of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy, she serves as an Artist Affiliate in piano at Emory University. To learn more, visit carolineowenpiano.com.
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PIANO
Aly Soriano is an experienced soloist, collaborative pianist and teacher. Aly performs regularly with ensembles in Athens and Atlanta, including the Atlanta Opera, the Athens Master Chorale, and the Atlanta Contemporary Music Collective. She currently serves as organist for First Christian Church of Athens.
Aly received her Bachelors in Piano Performance at Florida State University with Dr. David Kalhous. At the University of Georgia, she received her Masters in Solo and Collaborative Piano, as well as her Doctorate in Piano Performance and Minor in Piano Pedagogy with Dr. Liza Stepanova and Dr. Grace Huang. Aly has experience teaching all ages and levels from younger beginners to undergraduate music majors, and she enjoys sharing her love for performance and collaboration with her students.
Strings
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Originally from Atlanta, GA, Julie Saxton recently finished her Artist Diploma in Violin Performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also completed her Master of Music in Violin Performance. She is an active and versatile freelancer, performing with regional orchestras in Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, and South Carolina. She has also recorded and performed with pop artists, such as Kishi Bashi, Faye Webster, and Baby Rose. She has been teaching private violin lessons for over eight years. Julie is thrilled to be part of the inaugural faculty of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy. She is also currently on faculty with the Atlanta Music Project as a Violin Teaching Artist.
Julie completed a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. Her primary teachers include Dr. Michael Heald and Nelson Lee and Meg Freivogel of the Jupiter String Quartet. She has also participated in chamber, orchestra, and opera studies and performances at the Montecito International Music Festival, the Hot Springs Music Festival, the Miami Classical Music Festival, and the Bay View Music Festival. When she’s not practicing or performing, she enjoys traveling, hiking, cooking, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog (Ginger) and cats (Aura and Angelkitty).
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Violist Dr. Kathryn Steely is an enthusiastic mentor for students and is excited to be joining the Atlanta area arts community. Now Professor of Viola Emeritus, Baylor University School of Music, she received the Outstanding Professor Award for Teaching in 2007. Her students have been regularly accepted into the country’s leading conservatories and summer music festivals and are active in a variety of music professions. She has been a featured presenter at national conventions for the American String Teachers Association, the American Viola Society, and the College Music Society and she has presented master classes across the country. She has been honored to serve on several occasions as a jury member for the Primrose International Viola Competition and regularly served as an adjudicator for competitions across Texas.
Dr. Steely is an avid chamber musician and enjoys collaborating with colleagues in performances exploring new repertoire. A founding faculty member of the Credo Chamber Music summer festival in Oberlin, Ohio, Dr. Steely is also an experienced orchestral violist and has performed with the Fort Worth Symphony, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, Fort Worth-Dallas Ballet, and as a former core member of Florida’s Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. She is committed to ongoing exploration of early music, and performs regularly with Philharmonie Austin, a period instrument ensemble.
Dr. Steely has served as president of the American Viola Society and as editor of the Journal of the American Viola Society. She holds performance degrees from Bethel College, Bachelor of Arts – Music Performance; the Cleveland Institute of Music, Master of Music – Viola Performance; and Northwestern University, Doctor of Music – Viola Performance; having studied with primary mentors Peter Slowik, Heidi Castleman, Don McInnes and Lynne Ramsey.
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Barbara was born in Concepción, Chile and has been playing the violin since the age of 9. As a child, Barbara won the Jóvenes Talentos competition multiple times, allowing her to perform as a soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Concepción. In high school, she worked as a musical mentor with the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de Curanilahue, a youth orchestra program focused on empowering empower children from a marginalized region of Chile.
Barbara received her Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Schwob School of Music. She began her graduate at Butler University in Indianapolis and received her Master of Music in Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music.
Ms. Careaga’s private violin students have performed in the All-State Orchestra and All-State Honors Orchestra in Georgia and have won local competitions in Macon, GA. She has also worked as a teaching artist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (GA) in the Orchestra Up Close School and Making Music Matters programs during several years.
As a performer, she has played with ensembles including the Georgia Symphony, Columbus Symphony, The Atlanta Opera, The Atlanta Ballet, Alabama Symphony, Greenville Symphony (SC), Charleston Symphony, and Shanghai Baroque Chamber Orchestra. In addition, she has performed with the Atlanta Boy Choir in local concerts and international tours in Alaska, St. Petersburg (Russia), Poland, Czech Republic, Los Angeles, Hawaii, British Columbia and Nova Scotia.
Outside of music, Barbara is an independent writer, self-taught artist, and artistic iPhone photographer! She recently finished a compilation of poems, riddles, and narratives called “Side Effects of a Pandemic,” a reflection of her personal journey of self-discovery, social analysis, and contemplation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Native Philadelphian, cellist Sarah Kapps has an active and diverse musical background that has taken her across the globe as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral member, and rock star.
She has enjoyed sharing the stage with such legends as The Eagles, Smokey Robinson, ELO, Andrea Bocelli, Rick Ross, CeeLo Green, YoYo Ma, Nathalie Stutzmann, Donald Runnicles, Robert Spano, Kurt Masur, and countless others.
As an independent performer based in Atlanta, Sarah is a sought after and respected chamber musician, speaker, and leader, and substitute with major performing organizations, including Atlanta Symphony, Opera, and Ballet orchestras. As soloist, she has performed Eric Whitacre’s sacred veil with the composer, delivered a self-conducted concerto performance from the solo seat, and annually premieres new compositions through the LEAD program at Wintergreen Music.
In the summers, she has been a long-time member of the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra, Chamber Players, Academy faculty, and LEAD cooperative. She was a founding member of the Red River and Denali String Quartets, and later came to serve on the faculty at The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley and Georgia State University.
Aside from various positions as cello instructor, Professor Kapps has taught string methods, music appreciation, and applied strings; as well as broader arts classes, composition consulting, eurythmics, improvisation, lectures, interactive projects, and school visits. Arts advocacy and outreach being a lifelong mission, she developed an interactive education course that calls on participants to produce their own opera scenes. With this educational model, she directly impacted literally thousands of young people who gained a new appreciation for orchestral and vocal music.
Sarah Kapps holds degrees from The Manhattan School of Music and The Mannes College of Music, and has studied with Paul Tobias and Peter Wiley of the Guarneri Quartet. When not at the cello, she is an avid taichi practitioner and cat enthusiast.
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Christopher Jeffer arrived in Atlanta, Georgia upon finishing his Bachelor of Music – Double Bass Performance from Bowling Green State University, hailing originally from Pécs, Hungary.
As an accomplished symphonic musician, he has performed with regional orchestras in Michigan, Ohio, Alabama, and Georgia. Additionally, Christopher is no stranger to pushing the bounds of his instrument - serving as the resident double bassist for the Atlanta Contemporary Music Collective, championing new solo repertoire (as can be seen in his 2021 album release, Cat’s Cradle, For Solo Double Bass), and even lending his unique voice to several modern rock records.
Christopher is also a prolific audio engineer with half a decade of experience in live music production. He’s experienced in venue and touring work, with over 1,000 shows across the US and internationally.
He has studied with Robert Rohwer and Linda McKnight and has also participated various clinics and masterclasses with those such as Tim Cobb, Micah Howard, Max Dimoff, and Joel Braun.
When he is not performing or mixing concerts… you might find Chris rock climbing or hanging out with his two cats, June Bug and Cricket.
Voice
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VOICE
With over 20 years of vocal instruction experience, Justin Dilley brings a rich and varied background to the Decatur Fine Arts Academy. His teaching spans private voice lessons, choral direction, summer camps, workshops, and music programs in both school and church settings.
Justin holds an M.A. in Theatre from Emerson College, where he focused on musical theatre. A seasoned performer, choreographer, director, and music director, he has worked on over 50 productions across Ohio, Boston, New York, and Atlanta.
In addition to his theatrical work, Justin has served as a pianist, organist, and music director for multiple churches, and spent more than five years teaching music and performing arts in the Boston and New York City public school systems.
At DFAA, Justin combines his professional performance experience and educational background to help students discover, strengthen, and celebrate their unique and authentic voices.
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VOICE & PIANO
Lucia Flowers is an acclaimed soprano known for her vibrant stage presence and vocal versatility. She recently relocated to Atlanta following eight years based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
On the operatic stage, Flowers recently performed as the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. A frequent guest at Detroit Opera, her recent highlights include performing The Grasshopper in a new production of The Cunning Little Vixen and the Voice of the Fountain in Golijov’s Ainadamar. Her tenure with Detroit Opera spans featured roles and productions such as Aida (starring Angel Blue and Christine Goerke), Lileana Blain-Cruz’s Faust, and Ragnar Kjartansson’s BLISS, re-staged by Artistic Director Yuval Sharon. Deeply committed to community engagement, she also spent several seasons with Detroit Opera’s Outreach and Education Department, delivering interactive operatic experiences to students across Greater Detroit.
Additional career highlights include Rapunzel (Into the Woods) at The Encore Musical Theatre Company, Soprano Soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Frasquita (Carmen) with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Cunegonde (Candide) with Syracuse Opera, Marian Paroo (The Music Man) with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and Musetta (La Bohème) at the University of Michigan. During her time as a Resident Artist with the Brevard Music Center’s Janiec Opera Company, she performed as Clorinda (La Cenerentola), the Baroness (Candide), and a featured soloist in Sondheim on Sondheim.
Flowers holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan, where she studied under Dr. Louise Toppin, and a Bachelor of Music from SUNY Fredonia under the tutelage of Julie Newell. With over a decade of private studio teaching experience, she is thrilled to establish her studio in Atlanta and collaborate with passionate, curious singers eager to discover and grow their artistic craft.
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VOICE
AnnaLauren Kelly, soprano, is an emerging young artist in the Atlanta area. Originally from East Tennessee, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Carson-Newman University and her Master of Music degree from Georgia State University. She is currently furthering her education to earn an Artist Diploma from GSU and was featured as the titular character in the Fall 2023 production of Suor Angelica.
AnnaLauren has recently been seen as Countess Almaviva in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in Urbania, Italy with FIO Italia, an international opera festival, as well as Catherine in Offenbach’s Le mariage aux lanternes, The Visitor in Milton Granger’s Benedicta, and Célie in Pasatieri’s Signor Deluso. In her free time, she enjoys crafting of almost any kind and spending time with her loved ones.
Winds
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Julien Berger is a saxophonist, teacher, and composer based in the metro Atlanta area. His music on both the saxophone and on paper is emotional and programmatic, providing the audience a unique glimpse into his artistic vision. Julien plays and writes regularly for many different groups in Athens and metro Atlanta, ranging from classical contemporary music to hip hop, jazz fusion, and R&B music. He also regularly plays in pit orchestras on saxophone and clarinet and maintains an active session musician career. He is the alto chair of touring saxophone quartet Mixed Media, first prize winners at The Fischoff and Coltman national chamber music competitions in 2022. Julien’s written music covers similar stylistic boundaries in different ensemble types, focusing on trios and quartets and expanding to choir and full orchestra. Julien has also maintained a private studio of saxophone and composition students since his high school career in the DC area, with the goal of promoting personal artistry with his students. During his studies at the University of Georgia, Julien earned two Bachelor’s of Music in both Saxophone Performance and Music Composition and put on numerous recitals, concerts, and premieres of his works. Previous teachers include Dr. Connie Frigo, Dr. Brandon Quarles, Edward Fraedrich (saxophone), Dr. Adrian Childs, Dr. Peter van Zandt Lane, and Dr. Emily Koh (composition).