Betsy Fisher : Piano and Voice

Betsy is the Salem Arts Academy Director where she teaches piano and voice.

She began playing violin and piano at a very young age and continued them through high school and college. In college, Betsy found her love for singing and theatre, which lead her to get her Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre.

After graduating, she had a theatre internship at Stageworks Theatre where she got first hand experience running tech for shows, stage managing, music directing, and as the production manager for the Kids Academy. Since her internship, Betsy built her own music studio for voice and piano while still continuing to music direct with Stageworks Academy along with many other theatres in the area, such as HITS Theatre, Main Street, Cy-Creek High School, Obsidian and Theatre Under the Stars.

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At TUTS, Betsy still teaches music in Humphrey’s School of Musical Theatre and works with their Community Engagement going into schools throughout Houston to help combine arts with core curriculum. While not teaching, Betsy loves to be on the stage. Some of her favorite roles have been Lily in Secret Garden, Grace in The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever, and Miss Casewell in Mousetrap.

Ian Barry: Guitar

 Ian Studied Classical and Jazz Guitar at Lee College and began teaching guitar professionally in 1994. He began performing professionally in and around the Houston area at the same time, honing his skills as both as a band leader and sideman. Ian has been on stage countless times for many styles of music including rock, jazz, solo classical guitar, worship, blues, country, and ensembles for musicals and jazz big band. "I truly enjoy sharing the love of music and performance with others as a way to give back some of the joy that music has brought to my life."

Amy Kraeger: Violin/Viola

Amy Kraeger uses her extensive teaching and tutoring experience to tailor violin and viola instruction to each student's individual learning style. Amy's philosophy of teaching incorporates fun into the foundations of music theory and instrument technique in a relaxed atmosphere.

Beginning-, intermediate-, and advanced-level students will learn from familiar and well-proven approaches such as Suzuki Method combined with customized exercises to enjoy the mastery of their instruments.

Amy has over 20 years' performing experience, and has taught privately for 13 years. She played with the Houston Civic Symphony for 4 seasons and served on its Board of Directors in the Office of Secretary. Amy is also familiar with the UIL Solo and Ensemble competition and Regional Orchestra requirements, and can prepare students for these important stages of their academic repertoire.

Ronald "Junior" Dorsey: Drums

Ronald Dorsey Jr, affectionately known as “Jr.”, was born in Napoleonville, La on Feb 16, 1984.  At the very young age of 2 he began to show his interest in being a drummer. Over the years he has mastered his craft and been blessed with the opportunity to travel all over the world and play for several artists.  However, his roots began in the church and he has played for a number of churches throughout his life.

His unique style has been displayed on recording projects such as Nancy Armstrong, St. Thomas Missionary Baptist Church, Lady E., Farrah Burns, Kim Che’re, Johnny B. Williams, Wilma Bivens, Shawn McLemore, Keith Wonderboy Johnson, Rizen, and James Fortune & FIYA to name a few.

He has also been on tours with Regina Belle and J. Moss, and James Fortune & Fiya and Rizen as well as several concerts and benefits where he was a part of the opening act for a few well known gospel artists such as; Dorothy Norwood, Fred Hammond, Smokie Norful, The Williams Brothers, Richard Smallwood and Israel & New Breed.

He has done live recordings with Lisa McClendon “Live at the House of Blues, Kim Che’re “Free To Be Me”, Wilma Bivens “God Will Do It” and James Fortune & Fiya “Encore”.  He currently plays for these gospel recording artists: Trin-i-tee 5:7, Brian Courtney Wilson, Regina Belle, and James Fortune & Fiya. Ronald Dorsey is known for his ability to play different genres of music. He is also very personable and a good representation of a grounded and respectable musician.

Haley Brant: Piano & Harp

Graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University's
Music Performance program, Haley Brant is an accomplished
harpist and pianist. She has a diversified career as an orchestral
harpist and solo and chamber music performer as well as a music
teacher. She was the principle harpist for the Orchestra of the Pines from 2014-2017. Miss Brant has performed with the Houston Civic Symphony and as part of the Stephen F. Austin Harp Duo.

Apart from the stage, Miss Brant freelances in the Houston area for any occasion including weddings, parties, charity functions, galas, and Christmas and Easter services. Miss Brant has taught piano and harp to school-aged students since 2017. Haley has a passion for sharing her love of music with others. Her goal as a music teacher is to instill both an appreciation for music of all genres, and the ability to play technically and musically well.

Miss Brant finds joy in creating good music and strives to pass that on to all her students!
Haley began piano at 6 years old and was under the instruction of
Karen Ellis and Angie Schweer through high school. At 11 years old, Haley began playing the harp. She was a student of Susanna
Campbell and studied under Emily Mitchell at Stephen F. Austin
State University where Miss Brant graduated Summa Cum Laude
with a Bachelors degree in Harp Performance.

Amy Schleicher: Piano

Amy has always been a music-lover. She started taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and took lessons all the way through the collegiate-level. Amy has enjoyed using her musical gifts to serve the Lord in the church setting—accompanying vocal choirs, playing with musicians, and leading services on the organ or piano. One of her biggest passions is passing along her love for the piano to children.

Amy has 20 years of piano-teaching experience. She started teaching piano lessons to young students while she was still in high school and has taught anywhere from one to more than a dozen students at a time ever since. Amy graduated from Concordia University Nebraska in 2003 with a B.S. in education and her Lutheran Teaching Degree. Amy also earned a Reading Specialist Master’s Degree in 2006. She served as an elementary school classroom teacher for 8 years and always did something music-related at the school—directing handbell choirs (her favorite!), leading kids’ choirs, or teaching music and recorder classes. Amy currently is a stay-at-home mother where she tries to keep the household in line for Jason, her husband of 16 years, and their three children—Jaden, Cody, and Adley. She loves her part-time work as a piano instructor and has been teaching with the Arts Academy at Salem for the past 3 years.