Jim
Owner, Music Director
With a music career spanning more than three decades, pianist Jim Sellers has performed with many of today’s jazz luminaries, including trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, saxophonists Frank Catalano and Richie Cole, and bassist Bill Yancey. Chicago Jazz Magazine says, "Sellers uses his virtuosity and eclectic knowledge to excellent effect…[with] novel approaches and notable musical surprises." The Jazz Institute of Chicago has praised Jim's "…unambiguous attack of the piano and witty arrangements."
Prior to School of Rock, Jim taught at the Bloom School of Jazz for 17 years, St. Barbara High School, and Oak Brook Academy of Music and Art. He is an accomplished guitarist, bassist, and composer, and earned a bachelor's degree in music from Northern Illinois University, and a master's degree in Jazz Studies and Composition from DePaul University.
Luke
Music Director, Show Director, Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Luke is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who mainly performs and creates in the genre of progressive rock and metal. He has been playing guitar for nearly two decades, and since his start, he has built and refined skills as both a technical lead and rhythm player. Luke fronts his own band, The Untold, on lead vocals and guitar. He also writes most of the music for the band which has been releasing songs and playing shows since 2017.
In 2018, Luke graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in contemporary, urban, and popular music, with a focus on guitar performance. Even though Luke is mostly a rock and metal player, he has experience studying and playing in various genres of music including jazz, fusion, r&b, funk, acoustic finger-style, blues, and more. Luke is always pushing himself and constantly honing his sound, technique, and songwriting. Becoming a better musician is a lifelong and joyous process, and there is nothing he would rather be dedicating his life to.
Manuel
Show Director, Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Manuel is a guitarist and vocalist born and raised in Chicago. He has performed in multiple original and cover bands over the course of the past decade, playing shows at places like Double Door, Lincoln Hall, Bottom Lounge, and House of Blues, and touring the Midwest.
Manuel started learning guitar at the age of 13 while also learning saxophone as part of his education, and dabbled in other instruments like keyboards, bass, and any other instrument lying around with strings on it. While mostly focused on performing rock and indie music, he has experience playing many genres of music, including soul, funk, and jazz, winning the Berklee College of Music's Judge's Choice Award in 2011.
Manuel has also recorded with Sean O'Keefe and has recorded and mixed original music. Currently, he leads a cover band and an original project called j a b o b o.
Felipe
Drum Teacher
Felipe is a Brazilian drummer from Rio de Janeiro, based in Chicago since 2017. With over two decades of experience playing drums and performing live, he started at age 11 in the Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble, Bloco d'O Passo. Later on, he moved to the drum kit and joined a few punk, metal, and rock groups, touring around as the headliner or the opening act for bands like Ignite, Truckfighters, La Dispute, Silverstein, No Fun At All, Jake Bugg, and many others.
Once in Chicago, Felipe studied music performance at Columbia College Chicago, where he dedicated his time to learning new genres and had the opportunity to study and perform with artists like Darryl Jones, Nick Tremullis, Woody Goss, Bernard Purdie, and Donny McCaslin. Now Felipe is a drum instructor for School of Rock Andersonville and performs around town.
Rachel
Drum Teacher
Rachel aka “Chop Suey” is a professional drummer and live performance teacher who believes that rhythm and music are an extension of who we all are in the world. She is a working musician who studied performing arts throughout high school and studied for her BA in Music Performance and Music Education at the Detroit Institute of Music Education, with a personal interest in music therapy and music psychology.
Rachel strives to make an impact by nurturing musical development in a supportive, inclusive, and positive way.
Izzie
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Isabella, who also goes by Izzie, is a pianist and songwriter native to the Chicago area. As a former School of Rock student, she is no stranger to the joy of performing with an ensemble and bringing the works of legendary bands to life. During her time there, she was a keyboardist in the House Band and performed at Summerfest and the Rave in Milwaukee. Her fondest memories include playing a Frank Zappa tribute show and music by the Big 4 of Thrash Metal.
Izzie is a recent graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Her specialty is contemporary classical music and works for piano and electronics. An active collaborative performer, she has a wide breadth of experience in solo, duo, and chamber music.
Izzie performed as a pit musician for musical theatre productions at Lawrence and in the greater Chicago area. Her studies have brought her to the InterHarmony International Music Festival in Italy and the Yarn/Wire Institute at Stony Brook University in New York. A performer with a passion for teaching, her pedagogy training has informed everything she does with her students.
When she is not teaching, Izzie can be found writing and producing music under her stage name, Ar1adn3.
Quinn
Guitar Teacher
Quinn is a Chicago-based guitarist and educator specializing in jazz, funk, blues, R&B, and rock. Following resistance to piano lessons, Quinn’s parents bought him a guitar for his ninth birthday and he started guitar lessons. Early on, he studied privately with Larry Baker and Duke Tumatoe.
Quinn played in the jazz band throughout high school, getting to meet Emmet Cohen and Bob Mintzer as clinicians. Along with this, he gigged in a cover band with other students from his school.
Quinn recently completed his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music studying under Dave Stryker. In his time at the Jacobs School of Music, Quinn performed in ensembles led by Sean Dobbins, John Raymond, Brent Wallarab, Wayne Wallace, and Tom Walsh.
Jade
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher
Jade is a writer, actor, and voice teacher located in Chicago, IL. While her background is in musical theatre, Jade is excited to teach rock music. She hopes to encourage her students to become well-rounded musicians who understand the fundamentals of vocal technique and music theory.
Piwa
Singing Teacher
Piwa is a Columbia College arts graduate and has been a performing musician for over five years, playing live venues around the Chicago area.
Piwa specializes in singing, songwriting, production, and live recording. As she continues to center herself around the creation of music, Piwa plans to educate as well as learn from the students found at School of Rock Andersonville.
Quinn
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Quinn originally hails from Pasadena, California, where he recorded and performed with many bands as a songwriter, drummer, and guitarist. There he played various shows, ranging from backyard parties to some of Hollywood's most iconic venues, including the Viper Room and the Whisky a Go Go. He moved to Chicago in January 2022 and started playing around the city.
Quinn's teaching philosophy is based on identifying each student's individual style and passion for music and supporting that with practical techniques and theory fundamentals. Quinn firmly believes that every student has a unique, profound, artistic essence, and it is his mission to guide them in unveiling that.
Eric
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Eric is a highly skilled guitarist, audio engineer, and producer with over 15 years of experience in the music industry. Originally from Brazil, Eric has played in a variety of rock, blues, and hard rock cover bands. He also joined an original folk rock band in Brazil, where he played over 100 shows and recorded two albums.
Eric moved to Los Angeles in 2018 to further his music education and earned his degree in Guitar Performance and Audio Engineering from the prestigious Musicians Institute - Hollywood. Since then, he has worked with a wide range of artists as a session musician, recording engineer, bassist, arranger, and producer. Eric has played multiple shows in Los Angeles and is currently a member of Chicago's indie rock band G.M.G., performing regularly at notable venues such as Schuba's, The Hideout, and Sleeping Village.
Eric's mission as a music teacher is to inspire and empower his students to unlock their full potential as musicians, regardless of their skill level or experience. He believes that everyone can create and enjoy music, and he is dedicated to providing his students with the guidance and tools they need to achieve their goals.
Tom
Drum Teacher
Tom's journey as a drummer has been a lifelong passion fueled by the vibrant alternative rock scene of the early 2000s. Bands like Green Day and blink-182 became the soundtrack to his formative years, igniting a fire within him to pursue drumming as more than just a hobby.
Tom's musical voyage began in middle school when he formed a band with close friends in class. They played gigs at local venues and house parties, sharing their love for music with anyone who would listen. Those early experiences laid the foundation for Tom's musical path, teaching him the value of live performance and the connection it can forge with an audience.
Tom took a significant step in his drumming journey in 2012 when he became a student at School of Rock. The School of Rock environment offered Tom not only a comprehensive education in music theory and technique but also a platform to perform alongside talented musicians. It was at School of Rock that his progression as a performing drummer accelerated, and he discovered the true power of collaboration and the joy of sharing music with others.
Currently, Tom is a member of a punk rock band called Superkick, where he continues to channel his passion for drumming into dynamic live performances and recording sessions. Playing in a band has provided Tom with invaluable experiences, from writing and arranging music to working with other talented musicians, all of which he brings into his teaching.
Tom is thrilled to be a part of the School of Rock Andersonville community and to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for drumming with students of all ages. Teaching is not just a job for Tom; it's a true love. He looks forward to helping you discover the joy and creativity that drumming can bring to your life. Let's rock!