Mark Biondi Director of Operations, Northeast School of Rock
The award winning New Jersey born drummer/producer has toured extensively since 1994. Mark has shared the stage with such national acts as Third Eye Blind, Living Colour, Eve 6, Vertical Horizon, and Sugar Ray. He maintained an active musical career with the band Automatic Black (Arista Records)until 2006. Mark is a sought after session drummer recently recording and receiving a platinum record award for his work with Grammy Award Winner John Legend (Sony/BMG/Columbia) and a gold record for his work with Nas (Def Jam Records)
Mark has also had his music featured on MTVs Advanced Warning. Along with the drums, Mark is also an accomplished producer, guitar and bass player. "I am looking forward to translating my years of touring experience into a real rock and roll education for these kids". Mark is currently touring with indie phenom Eric Hutchinson.
Jamey Staub Music Director
Jamey got his start in the music business at Criteria studio in Miami after he finished the Music Engineering Technology program at the University of Miami's School of Music. He studied Drums and Percussion as his primary instrument and Piano as his secondary. He moved to New York in1987, and began playing drums in various rock groups in NYC. At the same time he began working at the famous Greene Street Recording in Soho with such Hip-Hop greats as Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Rock stars Paul Stanley, Mick Taylor, Sonic Youth, and Jazz greats Carlos Ward and Cassandra Wilson. Due to the variety of acts that came there, he learned many different techniques and soon became a popular free-lance engineer. His mixing credits include many gold and platinum artists. Best known for his mixing, Jamey is also an experienced producer, programmer, remixer and sound designer, and is very experienced with microphones and analog recording, as well as Logic Audio and Protools. He has written, recorded and mixed a number of movie soundtracks, done sound design for ABC sports and is actively writing songs with such artists as Sopie Ellis-Bextor , Jill Cunniff and Fred Schneider. Jamey has recently mixed several tracks for Willie Nile's critically acclaimed album "Streets of New York." He recorded and co-produced three tracks for Alice Smith, newly signed to Epic Records and just completed recording and mixing a show for BET by number one artist Jazmine Sullivan.
http://www.jameystaub.com
John Demczuk Guitar, Bass and Drums
John is your regular Renaissance Man.
An active musician and lifelong Westchester resident, John has played such venues as The Knitting Factory, Arlene's Grocery and CBGB in NYC, as well as venues like The Empress Ballroom in Danbury, CT, and several other venues in and around Westchester County. He currently plays drums for the 1950s-60s revival act Vinny & The Violets, as well as playing guitar and singing as a solo artist and for his folk/blues/punk band The Screaming Bastards.
With experience not only as a playing musician, but also a music educator, John teaches guitar, bass, drums here at the School, but has been known to dabble in vocals, mandolin and the accordion when the occasion arises.
On top of his musical endeavors, John is currently completing a bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies at Purchase College.
LOU CALDAROLA Drums
Lou Caldarola is a long time veteran of the local scene and is one of the areas most in demand drummers for both session and live work. Playing for over 30 years now Lou has had hundreds of gigs and recordings to his credit and still keeps rather active in the music scene. Currently Lou is involved with both local and national projects such as Your Name Hear, a hard rock experimental live and session project that has been working since 1993 based out of Starr Ridge Studios, Brewster NY. He also keeps busy playing live with Limelight, North America’s #1 Rush tribute band in 2004,2007 and 2009!! KICKSVILLE a national project that defies definition (you must see for yourself),and TOXIK credted as a founder in the progmetal scene.
Justin Pucila Guitar Bass
Justin Pucila got his introduction to the guitar at the age of thirteen by a family friend who was also a phenomenal blues guitarist. That meeting started Justin on what has become a "lifelong journey." He has studied with teachers such as Vince Fillogomo who taught not only technique but also the importance of having fun while playing music. He then became a student of Arlen Roth, a great blues guitarist who is a sought after session player and touring professional. Justin then attended SUNY Purchase to study Visual Arts and Music which led him to his teaching position here at the School of Rock where he "couldn't be happier sharing his knowledge with the next generation of musicians."
School of Rock Video See our staff in action
Watch how our program is designed and how we integrate private lessons with live performances.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1Yt4uUsgbE