Our Academy of Fine Arts Faculty

Our Music Academy is fortunate to have such outstanding instructors as these:

Stephanie Benson
Stephanie teaches voice in the Music Academy. She received her Bachelor of Music degree and teacher certification from Midwestern State University.  While attending MSU she received the Outstanding Chorus Award and was selected to perform in the Didzen Honors Recital.  She graduated Cum Laude and was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society.  She has performed in numerous productions, including Hansel and Gretel and Side by Side.  Stephanie has helped direct several children's plays and taught private voice as well.  She is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Association of Texas Professional Educators and Texas Classroom Teachers Association.  Recently, she has been the junior high choral director for Bowie ISD.  Stephanie is married to Paul Benson and they are expecting their first child in May 2011.


Jahn Crews
Jahn Crews received her Bachelor degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas with a concentration in piano. She had a private piano studio of 45 students in Lawton, Oklahoma for ten years. Jahn started Crews Yamaha Music Academy in Wichita Falls in 1971 where she was director and a teacher for 25 years. She is active in the Worship Choir at First Baptist Church and is a member of Encore!, a ladies chorus with about 45 members. She accompanies her husband, Norval Crews, for many different programs and events where they specialize in playing Christian music and music from the 30’s – 50’s. Norval is a faculty member of the music department at Midwestern State University, coming here as the director of bands and currently is teaching woodwinds, music appreciation, and a variety of other classes.


Marlene Murphy
Ms. Murphy is teaching Piano and Voice in the academy.  Marlene received her Associate of Arts degree at Kilgore Junior College, her Bachelor of Music Education with piano concentration from the University of North Texas, and her Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Southern Methodist University.  Having served as Music Specialist in various elementary, Jr. High and Sr. High schools around the state, she has served most recently as Choral Director for Wichita Falls High School.  In addition to private teaching, she has been involved extensively as a Kodaly specialist, and served as the Third Vice President for the Texas Choral Directors Association.  Ms. Murphy is a member of the Wichita Falls Music Teachers Association, the Texas Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association.  Ms. Murphy will also be tutoring those Sr. High Students wishing to prepare for U.I.L. events.


Amberly Pettey
Amberly Pettey is teaching Guitar and Piano in the Music Academy. Amberly received her Bachelor degree in Music Education from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK. She taught elementary music in Tulsa Public Schools and at Madison Academy in Burton, Michigan. She also interned for two years under signed artists Michael Gungor & Ken Reynolds at Resurrection Life Church in Grandville, Michigan. She has performed in various functions as a worship leader, piano player for a 7,000 member church, jazz combo, weddings, funerals, accompanist, etc. Amberly is currently working as the Music Assistant at First Baptist Church. She and her husband reside in Iowa Park.


Deborah Renton
Mrs. Renton is teaching Piano in the academy.  Debbie received her Bachelor of Music in piano performance and piano pedagogy from Southern Methodist University and her Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Texas in Austin.  She has taught preschool music and choir at local schools, taught piano in a private studio and has been the accompanist for a local church.  She and her husband Paul reside in Wichita Falls.



Keven Robertson
Keven Robertson received her Bachelor Degree in Education from Cameron University and her Masters in Education in Curriculum and Supervision from Texas Women's University. She has twenty-nine years of continuous educational experience in both the private and public school realms. She has had ballet training with Lawton Civic Ballet Company and Wichita Falls Ballet Theater. Keven has been a member of First Baptist Church for twenty-five years, and has choreographed many of the Music Ministry productions including Salute to America and the North Texas Christmas Spectacular.


Louise Schuppener
Mrs. Schuppener is teaching Piano and Violin in the Music Academy.  Having received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Northern Illinois University, and her Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from Northwestern University, she has continued her education towards her doctorate degree at Northwestern University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Mrs. Schuppener is also the orchestra director at Wichita Falls High School, Zundy Junior High, Ben Franklin, and Crockett Elementary.  Her husband, Dr. James Schuppener, is Director of Choral Activities at Midwestern State University.  They have lived in Wichita Falls for one year after teaching in Kansas for twenty years.  They have two children, Mark and Laura, who live in Ann Arbor, MI.