Denise Burcham, Director
Denise has performed and taught professionally for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from Baylor University and graduate studies in Music Education and Gifted Education from the University of South Carolina and Converse College. Mrs. Burcham has maintained private violin studios and performed with symphony orchestras in GA, AL, TX, MS, and SC. She taught strings for grades 6-12 in SC for 10 years. Mrs. Burcham has taught at Smoke Rise since 2009 and has been Academy Director since 2011.
Greyson Chadwick, Director and Choreographer
Critically-acclaimed actress Greyson Chadwick is a native of Atlanta who attended SRAA as a young stage student. Her film career began with her role as the infamous “Amanda” in Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, which was followed shortly after by a role in Why Did I Get Married? When she was cast in the leading role in Dance of the Dead, she moved to Los Angeles, where she studied and worked for several years. Chadwick’s recent credits include roles in The Resident, Doom Patrol, Nashville, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Christmas Everlasting. She co-starred in the Los Angeles Intimate Theatre Premiere of 33 Variations for which the cast was nominated for an Ovation Awardfor Best Acting Ensemble and won several awards including Best Play.
Victoria Crosby, Piano and Creative Writing
Born and raised in Cheshire, England, Victoria R. Crosby lived for many years on the North Shore of Long Island, New York before moving to the Atlanta area of Georgia in 2021. While living in NY she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in childhood education. Victoria was poet laureate of the city of Glen Cove, a parishioner of St John’s of Lattingtown Episcopal Church, and over many years she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was a member of the Vestry, a lay minister, and Chairman of the Annual Fall Fair for six years. She was also a member of the board of the Mercer School of Theology, and of the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation.
For over twenty-five years in NY Ms. Crosby hosted a radio show “Oasis” on WHPC 90.3, which featured music for relaxation and her inspirational poetry.
She refers to her work as her “Ministry through Poetry.”
Ivy Kilpatrick, Dance Instructor
Ivy Kilpatrick is a dedicated dance instructor and choreographer with extensive experience in teaching various dance styles including ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, tap, jazz, hip hop, and yoga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Movement Studies from Emory University. Since 2018, Ivy has been an integral part of Peachtree Dance, where she teaches a wide range of classes and serves as the company choreographer for all levels. She also has experience teaching at Studio Go and Dance 411, and she is currently teaching at Expression in Motion. Ivy is passionate about fostering creativity and growth in her students, emphasizing positive reinforcement and building genuine connections to help them achieve their goals.
Jennifer Langley, Voice Instructor
Jennifer Langley has worked in the field of choral and vocal music for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from Agnes Scott College and a Master of Music degree from Georgia State University. Highlights of her teaching career on the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels include positions at Woodward Academy, The Wesleyan School, Brenau University, Agnes Scott College and, most recently, Providence Christian Academy. She served as Artistic Director of the Atlanta Youth Choir from 2000-2005 during which time the choir gained national recognition through an acclaimed performance on Public Radio International’s From The Top. She has served as a contracted Music Director for the Red Phoenix Theater Company, Alpharetta, GA since 2022.
After performing as a lyric mezzo in regional opera and with the Atlanta Opera for seven years, Jennifer worked as the Children’s Chorus Master for the Atlanta Opera from 2001 to 2010 and again in 2013. Her choruses consistently received outstanding reviews by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She was the Director of Music Ministries at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church from 2010 to May of 2017 and served for five years on the Executive Board of the Atlanta Chapter of the Choristers Guild. Jennifer lives in Lilburn with her husband, Nathan, and children John – 19, and Catherine – 16.
Julie Smith, Piano Instructor
Julie Smith holds a Master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Georgia College and State University. She has been teaching full-time for 16 years. She is a frequent adjudicator at piano festivals and competitions throughout the Southeast and serves as guest musician at metro-Atlanta churches. Mrs. Smith teaches both children and adults at all skill levels, and her students perform in recitals and enter local festivals and competitions. Her students study all genres of music and learn to compose their own music. She customizes her curriculum for each student individually based on their goals and favorite types of music. Mrs. Smith’s lessons are fun and engaging for all levels of ability!
Mrs. Smith will be available for early lessons for our very young (ages 4+), homeschooled, and adult students.
Rachel Tiemann, Voice Instructor
Rachel is a dedicated voice instructor with over 15 years of private vocal training and a lifelong passion for music education. She teaches musical theater, classical, and contemporary styles, working with students from early teens to adults. Rachel brings a trauma-informed, adaptive approach to each lesson, helping students build confidence and discover expressive freedom in their voices.
She began her studies in Vocal Performance at the University of Texas at San Antonio before completing a degree in Business Administration. Throughout and after college, Rachel remained deeply engaged in the arts—continuing private voice lessons and performing locally with the opera chorus, the San Antonio Mastersingers, a cover band, and even as a Disney princess! She currently studies under mezzo-soprano Maria McDaniel Willathgamuwa, an Affiliate Artist at Georgia State University.
Since moving to Georgia in 2022, Rachel has taught voice privately and served as a guest instructor at the Atlanta Academy of Vocal Arts’ All-State Voice Camp. In addition to teaching, she sings with the Atlanta Women’s Chorus, volunteers in the local arts community (including the Harrower Summer Opera Program at Georgia State), and has performed jazz in Stone Mountain. She also serves as a sacred vocalist for churches across the Atlanta area. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating a safe, supportive environment—rooted in empathy, curiosity, and a deep commitment to personal and artistic growth.