Faculty and Administration

EMMA BLEDSOE (piano and voice) a native of Georgia, received a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from Wesleyan College. She has toured in Europe performing with small groups including the Choir Vieness. She began her career in voice and piano teaching in churches and schools.

MARIE BUTCHER (violin) earned BM fromImmaculata College, music teacher in Penssylvania, Ohio and New York. Member of Phi Kappa Lambda, national music honor society and Landsdowne Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Heights Symphony, Niagara Falls Philharmonic, Lakeland Civic Orchestra and the Cleveland Women's Orchestra.

PETER DEANE (piano/organ) moved to Jacksonville from Michigan in August 2000 where he taught Piano and Organ and held Organist positions in several congregations for many years. He held two organist positions in Jacksonville before becoming Organist at Amelia Plantation Chapel in August 2005. Peter is originally from the Caribbean island of Barbados where he was born, of Irish and Welsh ancestry and lived for twenty-one years. He began his musical training in Barbados under the auspices of The Royal Schools of Music, London, England. He continued his training at the Tanya Polunin School of Music in London. Peter also studied Organ at The William Tyndale College in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He has been a Church Organist in various congregations for forty-three years in Barbados, Michigan and Florida. Travel and aviation hold special interest for Peter. He has his Pilots license with an Instrument rating. The furtherest he has traveled is Australia where he was thrilled to attend an Organ concert in the Concert Hall at the famous Sydney Opera House.

LES DeMERLE (drums) world-reknowned drummer, bandleader, clinician and author has toured and recorded with many musical greats including Harry James, Wayne Newton and the Manhattan Transfer. He has been a resident of Amelia Island since 1991 and continues to perform and record with his various-sized bands ranging from his trio to his full, 17-piece Big Band Orchestra. Also Les is teaching drum clinics/seminars at schools, colleges and music stores worldwide and is currently accepting drum students of all levels and Amelia Arts Academy. In addition, Les is the Artistic Director of the Amelia Island Jazz Festival.

ERIN DUFAULT (french horn, trumpet) graduated from Jacksonville University in music education and teaches at FBMS.

DAVID GALL (guitar) holds a Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, from Jacksonville University in classical guitar andcomposition. He was a performance award winner in the 1975 Delius Composition Contest.Mr. Gall studied the lute and Renaissance music with Donna Curry; and, more recently, attended workshops at Stetson University with master classes given by some of the greatest guitarists in the world today.Mr. Gall has taught music for thirty-three years: guitar at Jacksonville University, in both non-credit and credit departments, music theory at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and presently teaches guitar at the First Coast Community Music School on the FCCJ South Campus.His guitar music has been recorded by international concert artist Stephen Robinson and performed at Stetson University. Mr. Gall performs regularly as a soloist and with the Riverside Guitar Quartet.

DEANNA HAMM (flute) has degrees from Marshall University (WV) and a Master's degree from FSU where she continues to work toward her doctorate in flute performance. She is a teacher and performer and plans to teach at the college level and/or perform professionally in the future.

RANDY HAMM (saxophone) has degrees from SUNY (Fredonia) and FSU in music education. He is the Assistant New Horizons Director and the Fernandina Beach Middle School Band Director.

KATHLEE HARDIN (acrylics) is a local Fernandina Beach artist since 1979. She has a license in nursing but pursue's her life's interest in painting. Hardin attended Ringling School of Art in Sarasota, Florida and is a member of the Minature Art Society of Florida and the Island Art Association. She is an active member as Gallery Director and through the committee action, was instrumental in allowing associate members to show their art. Hardin resides each summer in France where she is involved with the Association des Beaux-Arts de Cannes. She has been a member of Glynn Art Association/St. Simon's Island and PASTA in St. Augustine. She has won numerous awards at the Eight Flags Shrip Fetsival and the Elderhostel Exibit and her works are sold to private collectors throughout the US and Europe.

JIMMY LAY (trumpet) studied music at JU prior to joining the Air Force Band in 1961. He has spent the last 20 years of his Air Force career as a member of the nationally acclaimed and reknowned USAF Official Jazz Ensemble.

BILL MAURER (watercolor) is a professional artist with many shows to his credit, member of Island Art Association and lives/teaches in France as well as the Academy.

PAUL MULLEN (low brass, music theory) is a native of Fernandina Beach. He earned his bachelor's degree in music theory and composition from Stetson University, and is currently working on his master's in music composition from the University of Missouri - Kansas City. He has studied tuba with John Mitchum, Willie Clark, David Schmidt, and Tom Stein. He has studied composition from Kari Juusela, Sidney Hodkinson, Michael Demurga, Paul Rudy, Jim Mobberley, and Chen Yi. He is an active performer and has written a variety of music, from orchestral works to rock.

EMILY RADCLIFFE (art) is originally from New Jersey, and has lived in Fernandina Beach for the past 9 years. She is a graduate of Fernandina Beach High School and currently attends the University of North Florida and will graduate with honors Summer 2009.

ROBIN RAFLOSKI (photography) is a free-lance photographer with contributions in notable publications and has a degree in photography (cum laude) from Virginia Commonwealth University.

WILLIAM SAUNDERS (piano) completed 30 years as Adjunct Associate Professor of Music at Jacksonville University teaching organ, piano and music theory. He recently retired a lifelong career as a church musician serving in Jacksonville as Organist-Director of Music at Riverside Avenue Christian Church, Organist at Southside United Methodist Church, Organist and Music Assistant to the Rabbi at Congregation Ahavath Chesed (the Temple). Bill is former member/Dean of the American Guild of Organists and member of the Jacksonville-Florida State-National Music Teachers Associations, having been awarded lifetime certification.

KAMILA SHAHTAHKTINSKAYA (piano) was born in Moscow (Russia) to prominent scientists-physicists from Baku (Azerbaijan). She graduated from Azerbaijan State Conservatory with bachelor and masters degrees in teaching and performance, served as Associate Professor of Piano department for 10 years and toured as soloist, member of chamber group and accompanist to major cities of former Soviet Union, as well as Italy and US. She also performed concerti with Azerbaijan State Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and recorded for Azerbaijan State Radio and Twenty-First Century Studios /Jacksonville, FL/ Kamila moved to US in 1997. She is a faculty member at the Amelia Arts Academy since 1998. Kamila also teaches privately in Jacksonville (FL) and continues to perform in the United States as a soloist and accompanist; she also serves as a Music Director at St.George Episcopal Church (Jacksonville, FL).

DIANNE SMITH (voice) lyric soprano, has performed in oratorio, opera, chamber music and recitals in New England and holds a degree from Clark University. She has taught voice, choral and voice methods in Amherst, Mount Holyoke and Holyoke CC.

JAN SMITH (piano and special arts) has been a teacher of piano, pipe organ, voice, guitar and recorder for over thirty years. Initially trained in music therapy/music education I have used both in public and private settings. I have also been the Director of music/organist often specializing in children’s ministry for various churches in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Virginia. Currently I am the interim director of music/organist at the Episcopal Church of our Savior in Mandarin Florida with singing and handbell choirs. In addition to the above I have been trained in Musikgarten, and Orff-Schulwerk and have completed graduate work in Special Ed and Organizational management.

PATRICK SMITH (cello) is conductor, string pedagogue and cellist with degrees from Hartt School of Music (CT) and Columbia University (NYC). He has directed and/or performed with orchestras and string programs in Massachusetts and throughout New England and the South.

FELIX SOLIS (ballroom dance) started dancing in San Antonio (his birthplace) 25 years ago. Felix served in the US Navy and has competed in professional dance contests winning many titles and competitions on a national level. He dances professionally with his wife Chandra and daughter Jenee, also a winner of preteen titles.

TERRY THRIFT (guitar) an accomplished classical, acoustic and bluegrass guitarist, has recently joined the faculty of the Amelia Arts Academy. He has a B.A. in Business Management from UNF and enjoys recording and playing with his band. He has also worked with a trio (violin,flute) for weddings from Jekyll Island to Jacksonville and currently resides in Nassau County.

JACKIE WILKING (sculptor) recently moved to this area from Chester County, PA where she was active in art associations and galleries. She is an artist in several media including clay, stone and stained glass.

RICHARD WOLF is a playwright, novelist and composer. His musical Durante was performed in Los Angeles and subsequently directed by Ginger Rogers in New York. Circle Repertory Theater produced his play Peace At Hand in NYC. His musical The Ebony Game, about a Negro League baseball team in 1946, was done at the Waverly Place Theatre off-Broadway in New York. Charlie, a musical about Chaplin, was done at Theatreworks in Palo Alto, Calif. Mr. Wolf wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Here We Go Again, which was given a staged reading the Caldwell Theater in Boca Raton, FL. Hot Properties, a romantic comedy set during the Cannes Film Festival, was first produced at The Lambs, directed by Marc Baron, and is now a feature film in development. Another romantic comedy, Love Of A Lifetime, co-written with Mr. Baron and Joseph Cirillo, is being produced as a film by Blue Shirt Productions. After The Murders is a play about Lizzie Borden during her 34 years of life after her acquittal. Among his other plays are The Gershwin Factor (workshop production The Lambs, NYC co-directed by Mr. Wolf); The President’s Mother and Stop the Music ‘Cause It’s the Same Old Song. Bookstore, a musical for which he wrote the book and music, was produced by the Amelia Community Theatre in January of 2006. Mr. Wolf is an accomplished pianist who has played in numerous restaurants and hotels around NYC and Florida. His published novels include Host To Homicide, about a serial killer who is murdering talk show hosts; One Wild Ride, a comedy-mystery set in L.A.’s motion picture community; and Tears Enough For All, a WWII novel set in Nazi-occupied France.

RICHARD A. DICKSON (Executive Director) has music education/curriculum and instruction degrees from Stetson University and University of Florida; Music Director for Gainesville Civic Chorus and Orchestra, Gainesville Community Band, Amelia Island Chorale, and at present Music Director for Amelia Plantation Chapel. Richard is a former French horn player with Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Daytona Municipal Band; high school band director and owner of national music personnel service and owner/artist director of Richard Dickson Dinner Theatre.

ROBERT ROGERS (Assistant Director) recently appointed to assist with Academy's educational programs, outreach and special events. Robert has lived all over the world and has extensive background in the arts with a degree in Art History from Charleston College. Robert has worked with museums, galleries, individual artists and cultural organizations and speaks three languages.

VALERIE BYRD (Office Manager/Registrar) has been with the Academy since 1999 filling these positions as well as acting as general receptionist and overall hospitality coordinator. The goodwill and smooth operation of the Academy are due in large part to Valerie's efficiency and her loyal support of the Academy.