Jessica Soucy General Manager
Greeting all School of Rock visitors with her beautiful smile, Jess keeps the musicians in line and she keeps the office running smoothly. Though not a musician herself, she does have an inexplicably vast and almost encyclopedic knowledge of 80's alternative music.
Chris Soucy Music Director
Chris Soucy has been composing, performing, producing and recording professionally since 1982. He attended the Berklee College of music in 1988 and began a career as a band leader, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, educator. He has a BA from Rutgers University in NJ and a Masters in Education from Smith College in MA.
Chris has been a touring and recording member of The Sally Taylor Band (the daughter of James Taylor and Carly Simon), has toured with several Broadway shows as a member of the orchestra, including ABBA's "Mamma Mia!" and Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express," and most recently has toured and recorded with Universal Records/Everfine Records artists Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers.
In his 10+ years on the road Chris is proud to say he has played most of the best clubs, theaters and arenas in the US. He is equally proud to have played most of the worst dives, saloons and holes-in-the wall in North America as well!
An in-demand sideman, Chris gets called for projects of all types in Colorado. He has performed with the oldies group the Shangri-La's (best remembered for their 60s hit "Leader of the Pack"); accumulated countless TV and movie credits, including songs in movies such as the Jim Carrey film "Me, Myself and Irene" and performances on Oprah's "Oxygen Network."
Throughout his career, Chris has shared the stage with, opened for or toured with: James Brown, Carly Simon, Los Lobos, Jefferson Starship, Elvin Bishop, Art Garfunkel, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Kenny Rogers, Maria Muldaur, Junior Brown, The Flaming Lips, Marshall Crenshaw, The Continental Drifters, O.A.R., Carbon Leaf, Lifehouse, and many others.
http://www.myspace.com/csoucy
Greg Burgess Guitar Instructor/Master of the Heavy Arts
Yikes....what this fella does to a guitar is just plain unnatural and wrong.
Classically trained. Suzuki certified. Shred metal approved. And gentle as a lamb.
Go figure....
http://www.myspace.com/cerebralmusicgreg
Woody Potter Drum Instructor
Woody Potter has a passion for rhythm. "It is the heart beat of the world and all its people." It drives his creativity and fuels his love of music. He is intuitive, primal, thoughtful and understanding in his playing. He strives to build a sense of personality while playing, giving his beats an identity within the song, musicians and moment. "Music should be a reflection of the people playing it, as a drummer I am always trying to rehumanize the modern sound." Experience with styles ranging from classical, jazz, latin, world, country, fusion, rock, metal, punk, hardcore, ska, dance, and alternative have given him a love for finding and creating music that is just a little beyond main-stream. "..but I love Pop Music too!" He finds fullfillment in music that is rich in dynamic and subtlety. "Just really simple stuff most of the time." He has an emphasis on groove and feel, and is determined to help kids feel comfortable and confident.
Joe Cherry guitar instructor (bass and piano, too!)
Joe is a guitarist/songwriter who recently obtained his Bachelor's degree in jazz guitar performance at the University of Colorado - Denver. In addition to guitar, he also plays piano and percussion. He is adept in recording and production and has a strong background in jazz and classical theory. He has been teaching guitarist of all ages and skill levels off and on for the past 5 years.
From an early age, Joe has been involved in music at some level. Starting as a saxophone player in his youth, he picked up guitar in his teens and hasn't put it down since. While trained as a jazz guitarist, his first love is all things rock. "You can analyze and theorize 'til your head spins, but nothing in the world says music like a dirty, open E minor chord!"
He is currently involved in a local spin up project with his bass player. You can check out a very small sampling of his work here: http://www.myspace.com/thenewprojectco
http://www.myspace.com/thenewprojectco
Tyler guitar/bass/keys/vox (and drums!)
Tyler "Ty" Hughes has been steadily involved in the Colorado music scene since '98 - performing live gigs, recording as a hired studio musician, and working on original music productions. Ty attended (and even graduated from!) the prestigious The Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied countless styles and numerous instruments including guitar, bass, mandolin, world percussion, orchestral woodwinds and brass. He toured the east coast scene and Colorado with his original Progressive Rock/Jazz band , Kumataj. Since graduating in 2007, he has returned home to Colorado where he teaches at The School of Rock and writes and performs with popular rock band, The Best Response.
http://www.myspace.com/thebestresponse
Jewel Hill Vocal instructor
An accomplished singer/songwriter, Jewel has two solo album releases to date and experience in the arena of music for over 30 years. Her vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboard and arrangements have also adorned dozens of albums released by other artists, from Reggae to Pop/Rock, from Scottish Folk to Classical. She has an extensive background in musical and theatrical performance, including singing with her family's band as a child (Retrophit), appearing in musicals such as "Jesus Christ-Superstar," to Gilbert and Sullivan productions.
A voting member of N.A.R.A.S. for 5 years, (The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences - the Grammy Awards) Jewel has helped choose the artists who are honored to win a Grammy Award.
She arranged and produced an album for Reggae Mega Wave, which hit number one on the charts in the Caribbean for over 14 weeks.
Jewel was honored to receive a two album recording contract offer in 1998 from Sony Records International, Latin America.
Jewel is currently a student of Renee Grant Williams in Nashville, TN. Ms. Grant-Williams is voice coach to luminaries like Garth Brooks, Christina Aguillera, Hannah Montana, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Dixie Chicks, Linda Ronstadt, Huey Lewis, Hank Williams III, and many more. She's the pre-eminent recording industry coach, and teaches the most cutting edge, tried and true techniques in voice for all styles.
We're very excited to announce that what was once primarily reserved for the industry's wealthy or elite is now available to our students!
Jewel currently performs with several bands in Denver.
Gia Ashe guitar/vocals/keys/songwriting
Giannina Ashe graduated Berklee College of Music in 2007 with a Bachelor's in Music.
She has traveled and lived in several different countries, including India. Gia says, "traveling is the classroom and teaching is my journal."
Gia gives private instruction in guitar, voice and piano; she is committed to creating a learning environment where each student is taught traditional forms of guitar, piano and voice while developing an aptitude for reading music. Many students want to be able to play a song they love. Her goal is to provide the necessary tools for each player to develop an ear and eye to decipher harmonic music of any style and genre.
Gia is also a Singer/Songwriter and is always collaborating with other artists to create music. She has worked to promote bands and artists in the music industry as well as behind the scenes, publishing music for placement within TV and film. She has also produced an album titled 'Feeding Nemo' which was recorded in Boston, MA.
Grady Hines keyboard instructor
Grady Hines is a piano performance major at Colorado University at Denver. He has played various venues in the Colorado and south Florida areas including The Gothic, The Marquis Theater, The Imperial, The Fox, The Boulder Band Shell, and many other smaller venues. He has recorded with Grammy nominated Butch Haus of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and practiced under Chris Daniels of Chris Daniels and the Kings, and with Bill Wilkinson, a prestigious trumpet player throughout the U.S. In high school Grady played saxophone in the All Star Jazz Band, All City Jazz Band, All City Concert band, and lead alto in the Silver Creek Jazz band. Now focusing on piano at CU Denver, Grady has played in the prestigious CU rock ensemble for 2 years, and released a CD. Grady is working on his second CD now.