Kevin
Music Director
Kevin grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia playing guitar in his school’s jazz band and playing guitar and screaming in South Jersey’s hardcore band, Davy Crockett. When he’s not rigging amps and speakers together like Dr. Frankenstein, he can be found trapped in a never-ending game of fetch with his dog. Kevin’s favorite artists include Alkaline Trio, Dillinger Escape Plan, Queen, Black Sabbath, Sleep, and SUNN O.
Kevin currently plays bass in the local cover band Earls of Kent. He provides material support for Philadelphia-based artists Holy Mountain and Hafsol, and publishes music under the moniker Church of Pain. He is a guitar and bass guitar teacher in addition to Music Director at School of Rock Ashburn.
Karl
Drum Teacher
Karl is a music industry veteran with 40 years of experience playing and recording. He started taking drum and piano lessons at the age of 7 and was playing drums professionally by age 15 with a Maryland-based Top-40 dance, soul, and funk band. He then ventured into the world of alternative rock bands and electronic dance music and has recorded and performed at many legendary venues including CBGB, 930 Club, DC Space, and Fever.
Karl has played drums in many bands and recording projects over the years as well as being a resident DJ at 930 Club and keyboardist. He has experience with drums, percussion, analog and digital synthesizers, MIDI, drum machines, electronic drums, sampling, and DAWs. Drumming remains his primary focus. He became interested in teaching through a rock & roll summer camp. Karl looks to ignite creativity and forge the paths to performance excellence in his students.
Ian
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ian is a multi-instrumentalist originally from New Orleans. He studied Writing and Acting at Marymount Manhattan College and has since worked as a performer in New York City and Nashville. He teaches all five disciplines at School of Rock, with a specialty in guitar and bass guitar. He is also a luthier and loves working on guitar and amp repairs, guitar set-ups, and new builds.
Caroline
Vocal Teacher
Caroline is a singer/ songwriter and performer originally from Great Falls. After majoring in musical theatre at Marymount Manhattan College, she started a concert series called Siren Songs and dove head first into making music. With a focus on vocal health and effective performance, lessons with Caroline are tailored to the up-and-coming band front (wo)man.
Kevin
Guitar Teacher
Kevin Caldwell was born in Alaska and grew up the son of a U.S Army service member. He began his musical journey playing snare drum in grade school. Kevin moved to Italy in his 20s and created the #1 cover band “Sara’s Band” in Tuscany. After joining the U.S. Army in 2001, his cover band CX11230 won the U.S. Army’s MWR Battle of the Bands in Europe. Kevin became the lead sound engineer and a performer in the U.S. Army Europe Band & Chorus, performing all over Europe and other places from Moscow to Morocco. He has played in local cover bands in Maryland for the last 4 years. His favorite guitarist is Prince and he plays everything from ACDC to Elvis, and more.
Eric
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Eric has been playing in rock bands and teaching for over 35 years. Originally from outside of Philadelphia, Eric has resided in the Washington, D.C. area for the past 25 years and has played at many of the local establishments in the area. Eric primarily plays classic rock but has played many different genres that have rounded out his experiences.
In addition to sharing his love of the guitar with students, Eric emphasizes the guitar player's role in a rock band to create the best group experience.
Adam
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Adam, a lifelong musician, began with the violin at age 6 but switched to the electric guitar at 10 after discovering Queen. High school band experiences solidified his passion for performance. Currently, Adam channels his deep-rooted musical desire into writing, recording, and performing original music.
As a self-taught, disciplined instructor, Adam imparts valuable insights on mastering the fretboard. His code of honor, emphasizing discipline, aims to shape aspiring rockers into tomorrow's heroes. Influenced by Mastodon, Megadeth, The Reverend Horton Heat, Dethklok, Nujabes, and Primus, Adam is driven to share his musical mastery and guide students toward becoming well-rounded rock warriors.
Phoenix
Vocal Teacher
Phoenix is a rebellious multi-instrumentalist who seamlessly blends her classical training with experimental creativity. With over 16 years of experience, she excels in violin, upright bass, ukulele, and guitar, and is a passionate vocal instructor. Her extensive repertoire grows with each new instrument she picks up.
As a teacher, Phoenix displays a diverse skill set and interest in conducting, transposing, and arranging while also drawing inspiration from artists like Amy Lee, Lindsey Stirling, and Adam Lambert, who she uses to influence her teaching approach when it comes to vocal performance and the stage.
Chris
Drum Teacher
At a young age, Chris's fascination with music eclipsed traditional toys and video games. He began his musical journey as a guitarist, drawing inspiration from iconic rock bands like AC/DC, Aerosmith, and Metallica. Transitioning to drums, he found his groove with tracks like "Beast & The Harlot" by Avenged Sevenfold and "Like Eating Glass" by Bloc Party, sparking his passion for performing and songwriting. Chris's love for music transcends instruments; it's about the essence of each song.
Chris brings a well-rounded musical palette to his teaching at the School of Rock in Ashburn, Virginia, with a diverse set of influences encompassing rock legends from Alice In Chains to solo artists like Jeff Buckley, as well as influences from hip-hop, jazz, Latin rhythms, and lesser-known gems. For Chris, the joy comes from witnessing students conquer challenges, elevate their playing, and express themselves on stage—a sentiment that embodies the School of Rock experience.
Scarlet
Studio Coordinator
Scarlet holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Business Management from VCU and has over a decade of customer-facing experience, ranging from salon management to behavioral therapy for individuals on the spectrum. Her dedication to customer satisfaction is reflected in her commitment to quality and consistency in all roles, whether managing teams, schedules, or events. Additionally, her musical background, which includes playing multiple instruments and singing in a regionally ranked choir, provides her with unique insights that enhance her support for School of Rock Ashburn students in their musical journeys.
Dante Dalton
General Manager
Dante Dalton is a seasoned musician, composer, and educator with a deep-rooted passion for music performance and instruction. A graduate of The GIT program at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, Dante honed his technical skills and musical versatility in one of the world’s most competitive music programs.
He has toured nationally as a guitarist with two signed metal acts, gaining a reputation for his dynamic stage presence and precision playing. Beyond the stage, Dante has composed for both film and video games, blending his love for fingerstyle guitar with cinematic soundscapes and immersive audio design.
For over a decade, Dante served as a guitar and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock, where his passion for mentorship has helped shape the next generation of musicians. In his seven years as a Music Director at School of Rock Ashburn, he has produced numerous High-Level House Bands and All-Stars, guiding students to perform at top-tier events and festivals across the country.
Hurl
Drum Teacher
Hurl began playing drums at the age of five and was performing publicly by twelve. With a career spanning over fifty years, Hurl has become a seasoned performer with extensive live and studio experience. Starting out in a popular weekend band, he soon found himself playing six nights a week, gaining valuable exposure that led to a wide range of studio work.
Throughout the years, Hurl has explored and mastered many musical styles, including rock, blues, funk, country, jazz, and improvisation. He has performed along the East Coast from Philadelphia to Austin, Texas, appearing at major shows and festivals before audiences of 10,000 to 25,000. Hurl has recorded on seven studio albums and has performed live on both radio and television. Hurl now brings his decades of experience to School of Rock Ashburn.