Faculty

Disciplines Offered

The Indianapolis Academy of Fine Arts offers instruction in the following disciplines:

Piano
Woodwinds
Strings
Brass
Voice

Faculty

Jim Bishop
Trumpet, Euphonium, French Horn, Trombone

Jim Bishop is currently serving as Music and Singles Pastor at Burge Terrace Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN. Jim has over 20 years of experience as a band and brass instructor and has specialized in the trumpet. Jim graduated from Bob Jones University in with a degree in Music Education, trumpet proficiency.

Cheryl Bishop
Flute and Voice

Cheryl has taught private flute and voice for over 20 years. Cheryl has a wealth of expertise and provides her students with a superior lesson experience. Cheryl graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in Music Education, flute proficiency and has studied at the Interlochen Music Conservatory with Timothy Lane.

Becky Fant
Piano and Hymn Playing

Becky received a B.A. in Church Music with a piano proficiency from Bob Jones University. After graduating, she traveled with an evangelistic team as their accompanist.

Becky has become a devoted hymn arranger, recording artist, and piano teacher.

She recently received her certification in Kindermusik. Becky currently serves as the Indianapolis Academy of Fine Arts Coordinator as well as on the Advisory Board. She and her husband, Joe, live in Fishers and are actively involved in the music ministry at their church.

Loy Hetrick
Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba

Loy Hetrick started playing trombone at age 10 in Fremont, Nebraska where he was a student of Robert Olsen. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Nebraska where he studied with Vernon Forbes. During his time in college he was blessed to travel with a professional orchestra to Scotland and England. He also was a charter member of the Plymouth Brass, a resident church ensemble, playing with them from 1977 to 1979. After college he taught junior high band and orchestra. He continued to play professionally by winning the Second Trombone position in the Omaha Symphony.

In 1983 Loy and his wife, Cynthia, moved to Indiana so he could pursue a graduate degree at Indiana University. There he studied trombone with Dee Stewart, Lewis VanHaney, Keith Brown and Ed Anderson. He also studied improvisation under David Baker and played lead trombone in the top jazz ensemble. While at I.U. he was an Assistant Instructor and later taught low brass at both Purdue and Butler Universities. After finishing a Master of Music degree in trombone performance they moved to Indianapolis that he might work as a free-lance musician. Since then, he has toured the U.S. and Canada with many performers including Andy Williams, Mel Torme, Johnny Mathis, Barry Manilow and Natalie Cole. He was also a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra for nine seasons.

Currently, Loy performs regularly with the Indianapolis Symphony and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. Much of his playing involves commercial studio work, including recording for various music publishers. Other jobs include pit orchestra work for the local ballet and opera companies and the Broadway musicals that come to the Indianapolis area. He has taught private lessons for over thirty-three years. These days, he is pleased to teach applied low brass at I.U.P.U.I. in addition to the Indianapolis Academy of Fine Arts.

Dawn Lewis
Flute

Dawn received a B.S. in Music Education with a proficiency in flute from Bob Jones University. While still in high school, she had a few beginner piano students and then went on to teach some private flute lessons while in college. She received her music certification after student teaching in a junior high band for one year and then teaching high school band for another year in a public school in Traveler's Rest, South Carolina. In addition to teaching high school band, Dawn has worked with small brass ensembles, large and small woodwind ensembles, percussion ensembles, and individual solos at the school. The summer of 2010, she traveled with a small college music team singing and playing penny whistle and flute.

William Ronning’s first solo debut at age twelve with the Anderson Symphony Orchestra inspired him to pursue a career in violin performance. He has since performed as a soloist with orchestras throughout Indiana, Colorado, and South Carolina including the New World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Hilbert Circle Theatre, Kokomo Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony in the Valley.

During his three summers with the Aspen Music Festival Mr. Ronning played in the prestigious Chamber Symphony, Concert Orchestra, and Aspen Opera Theater Orchestra. Mr. Ronning received his undergraduate degree in violin performance from Bob Jones University in 2011, where he performed as concertmaster and soloist with the University Orchestra and Collegium Musicum.

Mr. Ronning has studied under Byron Plexico, Larry Shapiro, Paul Primus, Achim Gerber, Carol Cowan, Connie Heard, Paul Kantor, and Mark Kaplan. He has also worked under the direction of Robert Spano, Nicolas McGegan, Christopher Seaman, Hugh Wolff, Matthias Pintscher, Gil Shaham, Adele Anthony, Joyce Yang, Robert McDuffie, Alisa Weilerstein, Larry Rachleff and Leonard Slatkin. Mr. Ronning began his violin studies under Ginny Womack at age four. When not practicing, he enjoys biking, camping, and skiing.

William Ronning
Strings

Grace Suiter
Piano

Grace Suiter began studying piano at age five and playing for church and elementary school programs by fourth grade. She is grateful for a rich musical heritage and recalls many family gatherings where she enjoyed playing the piano while her extended family joined in singing favorite hymns and carols.

Grace holds a Th.B. in Theology and Sacred Music from Appalachian Bible College, Bradley, West Virginia, and a M.A. in Piano Accompaniment from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. With over thirty years of teaching experience -- fifteen of those at the college level -- she enjoys working with musicians of all ages. Her mission is to help students enjoy making music and reach their full potential for the glory of God. Grace resides with her husband Kevin in Carmel, where in her spare time she enjoys gardening, biking, and hosting friends at her home.

Dr. Kevin Suiter
Voice

Dr. Suiter had 23 years of college-level voice teaching experience prior to joining IAFA in 2011. He has an earned doctorate in conducting from University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2001) with minors in music history, music literature and vocal pedagogy. He maintains an active membership in NATS (National Association of teachers of Singing) after receiving a recommendation from Dr. William McIver, former National President of NATS with whom he studied. His vocal training was with David Holly (UNCG), Nancy Walker (UNCC), and Ray Gibbs (PCC). Dr. Suiter is an experienced church musician who has maintained an active role in music ministry over the years. He understands the importance of developing the natural singing voice for the purpose of enhancing a student’s communication skills for the glory of God.