Timothy Ayres-Kerr

Instructor of Voice and Songwriting

Timothy Ayres-Kerr holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy both from New England Conservatory. Tim has performed as a soloist in Opera, Oratorio, and Operetta, often portraying lead tenor roles in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan. Tim founded The Parlour Opera Players to present short operas in non-traditional venues throughout Boston. Tim is also a composer and his second completed work for the stage, A Game of Werewolf, earned him a place in One Ounce Opera’s Fresh Squeezed Ounce of Opera showcase. Tim was also awarded the grand prize in the Lester Levy “Save Our Songs,” competition. Tim joined the FSPA Music Faculty in 2019.

Dr. Marisa Babb-Wetherell, PT, DPT

Instructor of Progressing Ballet Technique - Guest Faculty

Marisa trained as a young dancer in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. She performed with the Movement Ensemble Dance Company under the direction of Liana Ciaglo, including appearances with the Commonwealth Opera. Marisa also appeared in The Nutcracker with both the Moscow Ballet and Academy of Ballet Arts. Through her college years, Marisa performed with Springfield College’s Singers, Dancers, and Best of Broadway groups on campus. She also completed a minor in dance at Springfield College while pursuing her degrees in Physical Therapy. She has continued to dance as an adult including appearances in FPAC’s The Nutcracker. Marisa holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and currently practices in outpatient physical therapy in North Attleboro, MA. She specializes in dance medicine and is passionate about educating young dancers to use their bodies as effectively, efficiently, and safely as possible.  Marisa achieved her initial certification in Progressing Ballet Technique in 2018 and has continued on to achieve her Level 3 PBT Certification. Marisa enjoys teaching the PBT curriculum and feels it holds great value in training safe and efficient use of the body to advance dance technique and performance while preventing injuries.  

Amy Maria Burns

Instructor of Contemporary

Amy Maria Burns is a magna cum laude graduate of Adelphi University, earning a BFA in Dance. She’s had the honor of working and studying with Robert Christopher, Carmen de Lavallade, Gail Gilbert, Edisa Weeks and Rebecca Wright. Ms. Burns has danced in works by Robert Battle, Maria Bauman, Laura Bennett, Colin Connor, Danny Grossman, Deb Meunier, David Parsons, Pascal Rioult and Anna Sokolow. Amy currently dances with Metamorphosis Dance Company and Elemdi Dance Collaborative. She has also performed with Fusionworks Dance Company, Dancing Legacy, Sokolow Now, Balliamo Dance Collective, Bill Evans Dance Company, Denizen Arts and Danza Organica. She has been on faculty at Brown University, Brookline High School, Dancing Arts Center, Dean College and is a Balanced Body certified Pilates instructor. She currently teaches Dance and Pilates at Metamorphosis Dance Company.  

Ben Cameron

Broadway Faculty - Voice and Acting

Ben Cameron is your Broadway Buddy! Ben is a Broadway veteran having appeared in Footloose (original cast), Aida, and a little show called Wicked (original cast, if you listen to track #2 of the Wicked cast album you can hear Ben drop the plot pivotal line, "Glinda, is it true you were her friend?" He has toured the US and Europe in productions of Footloose, Fame, The Who's Tommy, State Fair, and Sweet Charity (playing opposite Molly Ringwald). He has enjoyed 2 sold out runs of his 1 man show "Different is Good" in 2005 and 2010. He continues to write, direct, and choreograph intimate shows for Broadway and cabaret stars at some of NYC's most notable venues. Ben has served on the faculties of NYU's CAP21 studio and Wagner College and as creative consultant for Mapinspired:The Storytellers' Dance Company. Ben continues to teach dance and theatre workshops and choreograph around the world.   Ben is the creator of Broadway Sessions. Sessions has been running for over 8 years and brings Broadway's brightest together at The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Since creating Sessions, Ben has become one of the theatre community’s most beloved hosts and personalities. Ben has also produced web series My Broadway Bar, Dance Captain Dance Attack, and Broadway ObSessions.

Jeffrey DiIorio

Instructor of Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, and Songwriting

Jeffrey DiIorio holds Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Music Performance and Philosophy from Providence College and a Masters in Music Performance with a focus in jazz guitar from the University of Rhode Island. While at PC, Jeffrey performed with their Pep Band, Jazz Band, Funk Ensemble, and Jazz Combo. He has studied with Jay Azzolina, Lyle Brewer, David Riley, Phil Sargent, Julian Lage, Adam Smirnoff, and Bruce Bartlett. Professionally, he has performed with ensembles led by Alex Lee-Clark, John Allmark, and Mark Burney as well as with The Mac Odom Band, The Phunky Autokratz, and Nightshift Entertainment. Jeffrey was the recipient of the Reverend Leo S. Cannon, O.P. Award for Excellent Musicianship as well as Judges’ Choice at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival. Jeffrey joined FSPA's Music Faculty in 2019. 

John DiSanto

Instructor of Percussion

John DiSanto holds a Bachelor of Music from Boston’s Berklee College of Music and is a FSPA percussion faculty member. John has over 45 years of drum performance and teaching experience in the greater New England area and touring abroad. John’s early career included owning a music academy and instrument center in Easton, Massachusetts for 25 years, where he provided music education to thousands of students and a creative teaching environment for dozens of instructors. Now, the school has evolved into a piano and antiques center; where John, also a piano technician, restores vintage pianos and offers tuning and repairs together with his wife, Anne, an established singer/songwriter. John's extensive and diverse experience includes performances with Dick Johnson, Mokoto Ozone, Moksha, The Drifters, Coasters, Tom LaMark cabarets and he currently is the drummer for "The Rat Pack is Back", a Las Vegas national touring group and percussionist for the Cape Cod Art Ensemble. As a drummer and recording engineer, he also has multiple recording credits and discography as both a player and producer for projects serving Boston area musicians.

Irina Fainkichen

Instructor of Violin

Irina Fainkichen studied at Rachmaninoff Music College and St. Petersburg State Conservatory in Russia. She also got her degree from Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, Israel. She is a busy freelance violinist in the Greater Boston area. Irina performed with Broadway on Tour’s “Phantom of the Opera”, and “Hello Dolly” at Boston Opera House, “An American in Paris” at Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine. She performed many shows with an amazing legends such as Marni Nixon, Sarah Brightman, Johnny Mathis and “The Who”. Irina is a former longstanding member of Cape Symphony and has an extensive experience playing with many symphony orchestras including New Hampshire, Plymouth, Lexington Symphonies and also Pro-Arte Chamber Orchestra. Irina has been on FSPA Music Faculty since 2009 and has played in the orchestra of many Franklin Performing Arts Company productions including Annie, Sound of Music, Charlie Brown, Peter Pan, Music Man, Spamalot, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, and most recently Legally Blonde, Humbug!, and Sweeney Todd. Irina is a concertmaster for the annual FPAC holiday production of the Nutcracker and a coordinator of THE BLACK BOX Classical Series,    

Sara Jean Ford

Broadway Faculty - Voice and Acting

Sara Jean Ford is best known for starring as Christine Daaé on Broadway and in the National Tour of the worldwide sensation The Phantom of the Opera. Also on Broadway: CATS (Jellylorum), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Smitty), A Little Night Music (Mrs Anderssen, Anne/Petra cover), and Finian's Rainbow (Arlene, Sharon cover). Off-Broadway: The Fantasticks (Luisa, Revival Cast Recording). Broadway in Chicago: WICKED (Glinda/Nessa Rose cover). Regional: The Music Man (Marian), Into the Woods (Cinderella), Sunday in the Park With George (Dot), Candide (Cunegonde), Carousel (Carrie), and originated the role of Nellie Oleson in Little House on the Prairie. Concerts: Dream of Now Dream of Then, Anyone Can Whistle at City Center Encores!, Defying Gravity: The Music of Stephen Schwartz and Eric Whittacre at Lincoln Center, Paradise Lost at Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Sara is the proud mama of Annie.

Kim Frigon

Instructor of Musical Theater, Acting, and Improvisation

Kimberly Palson Frigon has been working as a theater educator and actor for over 20 years. She earned an MA in Theater Education from Emerson College and a dual BA in Elementary Education/Theater from St. Michael's College. Kimberly has previously held positions at Holliston High School (Fine and Performing Arts) and Dean College (School of the Arts) and has taught at several area theater companies (Mass Music and Arts Society; Orpheum Theater, Medfield High School, JCC, Newton; The Footlight Club, and PALS Children's Chorus). An EMACT award winner, past favorite roles include: Adelaide, Guys and Dolls; Anytime Annie, 42nd Street; Diana, Lend Me A Tenor; and Marta, Company. Kimberly joined the FSPA Drama Faculty in 2021. kfrigon@fspaonline.com

Ali Funkhouser

Instructor of Piano, Voice, and Repertoire Consultation

Ali Funkhouser has a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theatre from Oklahoma City University. Before attending OCU, Ali was a lifelong FSPA student. Her performing credits include the national tours of Joseph...Dreamcoat and Evita, Legally Blonde (The LEX), Puccini's Suor Angelica (Chelsea Opera NYC), Young Frankenstein, Hairspray, Company, How to Succeed..., and more. She has performed her solo cabaret show "I Only Wanna Laugh" at NYC's Don't Tell Mama. Ali studied improv comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade. In addition to her musical theatre and vocal training at OCU, Ali continued her piano studies in the studio of Professor Claudia Carroll-Phelps. Her performing credits with the Franklin Performing Arts Company include The Drowsy Chaperone, Legally Blonde, Newsies, Joseph…Dreamcoat, Little Shop of Horrors, and many many more. Learn more at www.alifunkhouser.com. Ali joined the FSPA Music, Drama, and Voice faculty in 2020.