Chris Brunelle Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Ukulele Teacher
Chris Brunelle brings a passion for education and more than 20 years as a professional musician to School of Rock Attleboro. Starting as a jazz saxophonist in 1995, Chris studied with international recording artist Greg Abate and pursued a degree in Music education at the University of Rhode Island. In 2001, he joined Boston-based Ska/Reggae outfit Westbound Train on Sax and Vocals, touring with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Flogging Molly, Hepcat and many others. But Chris grew up worshipping Rock legends like The Police, The Doors, Aerosmith, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, R.E.M., The Beatles and The Beach Boys. He began writing songs and shifted focus from Jazz and Reggae to Rock and Pop music, forming his own group, The Sterns, in Boston in 2003. With The Sterns, Chris released three full-length albums of his own compositions, cracked the CMJ charts and toured with Meat Puppets, The English Beat, Shadows of Night, Hard-Fi and The Romantics. The Sterns were nominated for two Boston Music Awards, performed at Fenway Park and had a song featured on the best-selling 2008 video game, Rock Band II.
A Rhode Island native, Chris earned his B.A. in English from the University of Rhode Island in 2014 and plans to pursue a Masters in Education. Meanwhile, he has served as Music Director for School of Rock locations in Attleboro, MA and North Providence, RI since 2018. He remains active in the Providence and Boston music communities, freelancing as an arranger/ producer, vocalist, guitarist and saxophonist, while fronting a local cover band, and continuing to write, record and perform with The Sterns and his solo project, The Deadly Desert.
Steve Finn Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Steve grew up in a musical household, where both of his parents, stepfather, and twin sister were musicians. At age 7, Steve picked up the drum sticks himself, and began his own musical journey. Now a Berklee College of music graduate, Steve is a passionate Music educator, drummer, and leader in his own right.
Steve has over 20 years of playing experience, playing with artists Such as Guthrie Govan, Dave Larue (Dixie Dregs, John Petrucci) And Phil Collen (Def Leppard). Steve’s Band, “The Offering” boasts international success, and has opened abroad for acts such as Arch Enemy, Dream Theater, Parkway Drive, Bullet for My Valentine, and Many More. Steve spends his free time either working out, hanging with his closest friends, or staying quietly at home with a video game.
Ben Polito Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ben began studying drumming at the age of 8 with Tom Briggs of the US Coast Guard Band. Studying many varied styles of music, by the age of 12 Ben began performing with rock bands locally in his home state of Connecticut. At this time Ben found his love for classic rock through bands like Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and The Who. Ben also became interested in the guitar and studied at the Thames Valley Music School located on the campus of Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. By high school, Ben was performing his own original songs in front of his entire school as well as at local clubs in Connecticut. Ben then attended the Steinhardt School of New York University and Loyola University New Orleans where he attained a B.S. in Music Industry Studies with a concentration in jazz percussion and a minor in Music. Ben honed his performing and writing skills on the drum set, as well as the electric, acoustic, and bass guitar. While in college in New Orleans, a famous music city, Ben fronted his own rock band and also played drums in several others, playing gigs most weekends. He also booked several tours with his bands, in a DIY capacity, performing all over the US.
Ben continues to write and perform his original music locally in Providence. Currently some of Ben's favorite bands include Big Star, Fountains of Wayne, Teenage Fanclub, and The Replacements. Ben has now been teaching at School of Rock Attleboro loyally for over 4 years, and enjoys spreading his love for music to his students, and helping to foster their growth and progression as musicians.
Betsy Listenfelt Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Betsy is a professional vocalist and acoustic guitar player. She studied voice with Annamaria Saritelli-DiPanni, founder of the Bel Canto Opera Company of Rhode Island. She credits her great ear, and time spent on stages at venues all over New England for over 30 years as her real music education. She can usually be found playing solo with her acoustic guitar, or in her duo called The Instructors. Betsy is an accomplished songwriter and a member of the Rhode Island SongWriters Association (RISA). She is currently recording her fourth cd , which is due out sometime in late 2021.
Lauren King Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Originally from Smithfield, Rhode Island, Lauren graduated from Stonehill College with degrees in both philosophy and music. She spends most of her time managing, songwriting, and recording music under her business, Lauren King Music LLC, or playing with her two dogs: Thelma and Louise.
Pete St. Amant Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Drum Teacher
Peter is a School of Rock instructor, & life- long musician, starting at 4 years old, he learned keyboard, guitar, bass, drums, then studied music production & engineering at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he has performed and toured across the country, and worked with super groups like The Tubes and Blue Öyster Cult. He shares his passion for performance, production and songwriting with School of Rock students.