The music academy teachers are Juniors and Seniors in the music program at Faith. Our teachers strive to be creative, kind, caring, and competent. Every student will be carefully matched with a compatible teacher.
Sherri Nicholson
Director
Sherri Nicholson completed her Bachelor’s degree in Music with an emphasis in piano performance from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College. She earned a Masters of Arts from Bob Jones University in Piano Pedagogy. Her experience includes teaching at Musical Impressions, Northwestern Music Academy, and operating her own studio Discovery Piano Studio as a Nationally Certified Teacher.
Throughout her career, she has actively served as a musician in churches, conferences, and presented in her local Des Moines Piano Teacher chapter. She is an active adjudicator for Des Moines, The National Federation of Music Teachers, MAACS Fine Arts, St. Paul Piano Teachers, and MTNA. Her volunteer roles include Vice President of the St. Paul Piano Teachers and the editor for the Iowa Music Teachers Magazine.
She has studied piano with many distinguished pianists Dr. Kenon Renfrow, Dr. Paul Wirth, Dr. Alan Huckleberry, and Dr. Rene Lecuona.
Her hobbies include hiking, jogging, traveling, and spending time with her husband and four daughters.
Logan Scheps
Piano
Artisan Teacher
Logan Scheps was raised in a home where music was everywhere. They all sang together at church and even just around the house. Everyone in his family has played a huge part in Logan’s journey to be the pianist he is today. Logan was self-taught for most of his earlier age but eventually began to take lessons from a piano teacher.
Since then he has taken lessons from a few teachers, most recently, Mrs. Sherri Nicholson. Logan recently graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College with a degree in Sacred Music with an emphasis in piano pedagogy. His goal is to make a difference in his life for God in as many ways as he can; through teaching and performing music, ministering, and counseling. Logan enjoys hanging out with friends, playing sports, singing, and, of course, playing the piano.
Sara Penrod
Piano
Artisan Teacher
Since she was young, Sara Penrod has loved music. She fell in love with piano listening to her older sister practice for her lessons. Through self-teaching and the investment of school music teachers, she learned to play piano.
Since then, Sara has studied with a variety of teachers, most recently, Mrs. Sherri Nicholson. She graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College in Sacred Music with an emphasis in Piano Pedagogy. She loves teaching piano, both at Faith and in her home studio. She hopes to help other musicians grow their passion for music and the Lord. Sara enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing instruments and singing, reading, exploring coffee shops, and spending time outside.
Rebecca Franklin
Piano
Apprentice Teacher
Rebecca studies music, Bible, and counseling at Faith Baptist Bible College – and loves it! She grew up as a missionary kid in northeast Brazil where her parents serve at a Bible college and church plant. Her parents invested in piano lessons for their four daughters, through which Rebecca developed a love for classical music. She is always eager to exchange music recommendations with friends. One quickly discovers that Rachmaninoff is her favorite flavor, for that composer’s vibe encapsulates Rebecca’s motto of “sobered dazzlement.”
She believes that a facet of love for others and for the Ultimate Creator of Beauty is enjoying God’s good gifts throughout the enigmas of life by developing her passion for understanding aesthetics, appreciating good music, and sharing it with others.
Lexi LaFleur
Piano
Apprentice Teacher
Lexi LaFleur grew up at the piano. She took lessons from her dad for thirteen years, spent hours sight-reading and practicing, and played for her church often. She is now a junior in the music program at Faith and enjoys being a collaborative pianist, accompanying for the school chorale, and traveling with the Uplift Music Team.
Lexi takes every chance she can to travel the world and expand her view of God and His creation. She loves spending time with her family and spoiling her many nieces and nephews. Lexi also enjoys playing for Faith’s women’s soccer team.
Brianna Carroll
Voice
Apprentice Teacher
Brianna Carroll received a degree from Faith Baptist Bible College in the World Missions program with a minor in music and an emphasis in biblical counseling. From an early age, she developed her love for music as she grew up singing in church. During her time at FBBC, she has enjoyed participating in private voice lessons, chorale, chamber choir, and the Uplift traveling ministry team.
Brianna enjoys singing, playing piano and guitar, spending time with family and friends, visiting historical sites, listening to podcasts, and learning Greek. Brianna hopes to go to seminary and continue teaching private music lessons, while remaining active in her local church.
Dori Linscott
Violin
Apprentice Teacher
Dori Linscott began studying music when she was in the first grade. She originally wanted to play an instrument in order to imitate her older sisters, but eventually she learned to love music for the pure enjoyment of it. Her parents faithfully took her to private piano lessons for 12 years, trumpet lessons for 5 years, and violin lessons for 14 years. Growing up in a pastor’s home, she had a number of opportunities to use her musical skills in offertories, special music, accompanying, in worship team settings, nursing homes, and camp ministry. She was homeschooled, but took the opportunity to play in the band and orchestra at the public school as well as participate in various local, state, and Christian competitions from 3rd – 12th grade. Currently, she is working on her bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Faith and envisions using her degree in a school or ministry setting.
Dori enjoys hiking, listening to podcasts, crafting, photography, and spending time with family and friends. Her passion for her Savior and her love of music will be evident in her teaching. She will enthusiastically teach her students to further their musical skills through practice and performance while keeping Christ at the center.
Jenni Farrell
Flute
Apprentice Teacher
Jenni Farrell has played flute for over 18 years! She played in the top honor bands all throughout her middle and high school years. She even played in the Iowa All-State Band. She then went to Faith Baptist Bible College and studied Music Education. She participated in handbells, chorale, and orchestra. She has been teaching lessons for over 8 years now and loves teaching even more than playing. She enjoys getting to pass on her love for flute and for music.