Dane Farley
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Music Director
Dane is a guitar teacher, touring performer, and music producer with over a decade of experience. He has played many styles of rock, metal, progressive, and indie music, experimenting with a wide variety of instruments including 7 and 8 string guitars. Beginning his musical journey at only nine years old, Dane began learning about songwriting alongside performance, touring with original music by the time he was sixteen.
Dane has played in a number of bands, both original and cover, and played over two hundred shows. Dane has also written and produced hundreds of songs and soundtracks, a number of which have had international listeners. As a teacher, Dane has worked extensively with instructing both technical skill on the guitar and understanding the concepts of music past simple song memorization. Dane has experience with students as young as five years old, and has worked with students on the spectrum. Dane is very excited to be working with students at School of Rock Beacon, NY, where he hopes to see the community of performance grow.
Ryan Perrone
Keyboard Teacher
Ryan Perrone is a multi-instrumentalist with an extensive background of jazz theory and improvisation training. He has been playing the piano since he was 5 years old and has picked up trombone, trumpet, and sousaphone along the way. He received his degree in Jazz Performance at SUNY New Paltz. Ryan is in multiple performing groups with stylistic genres such as funk, R&B, jazz, rock, reggae, and countless others. Thanks to Ryan’s experience with many instruments, he brings a unique perspective to School of Rock Beacon NY students.
Greg Enkler
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Greg spent the majority of the last 20 years playing bass in various Hard Rock and Metal bands in Austin TX. Having had the opportunity to open for bands like Anthrax, The Misfits, Type O Negative, Slayer, Staind, Machine Head and many others over almost two decades, he has ample experience performing live in front of crowds small and large.
Along with playing bass, his first instrument was drums, and he’s stayed with both instruments over the years. Learning in his basement and keeping up with drummers in bands kept him on his toes over the years.
Devin Devine
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Devin is a guitarist, bassist, and vocalist, with over 10 years of performance experience. With a bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance from SUNY New Paltz, he is extensively trained in music theory, and loves improvisation. He is fluent in many genres, with blues, jazz, rock, funk, and R&B as some of his favorites.
Devin writes original music for bands, solo projects, and for other singer-songwriters. He has played in different groups and musical projects throughout the years, and more recently opened and played the post-show for Phil Lesh’s band at Garcia’s in The Capitol Theatre. He also works in audio engineering, with experience in film post-production, foley editing, and live sound/studio recording.
Rick Vega
Drums Teacher
Ricky Vega is a passionate drummer and multi-instrumentalist whose musical journey began at the age of five. Although his first encounter with the drums felt overwhelming, Ricky’s determination led him to explore other instruments before ultimately returning to percussion. Despite early doubts from instructors, his persistence and the encouragement of a supportive middle school band director helped him discover that the drums were where he truly belonged. From there, he immersed himself in jazz band, private lessons, and countless hours of practice, steadily building his skills and confidence.
In high school, Ricky’s growth accelerated under the mentorship of his band director, Mr. Williams, who pushed him to expand his abilities. A turning point came when he earned a spot in “Illusion,” the school’s highly competitive annual rock show, performing to sold-out crowds and mastering a large set list in a short time. That experience led to joining his current band, with whom he has performed regularly for the past three years.
Ricky also draws deep inspiration from his late cousin, Matthew Grinvalsky—a gifted musician whose passion for performing left a lasting impression. Matthew’s influence, along with Ricky’s own experiences on stage, has fueled his commitment to a life in music. For Ricky, playing isn’t just about notes and rhythms—it’s about connection, perseverance, and the joy of sharing music with others, including at School of Rock Beacon.
Kiah Saxe
Vocals Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Kiah is a vocals teacher and touring performer. Born and raised in New Paltz, NY, she discovered her love for music through Broadway at a very young age. Although most proficient in music theatre, she has experience singing various musical genres with multiple performing groups including opera, pop, rock, country, and jazz. Kiah has picked up piano and ukulele along the way as well.
Kiah has been teaching music for over six years, ranging from three years old to seventy years young. She loves to perform and is beyond excited to share that passion with School of Rock Beacon!
Conor Krueger
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Conor Krueger has been playing guitar for the last 16+ years. After falling in love with the band AC/DC as a child, he decided to start taking lessons at the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts (NJWA) in his hometown of Westfield, NJ. As a teenager, Conor joined the NJWA’s “Rock Workshop” program, where he performed in an epic ensemble that played classic songs like “One” by Metallica, “YYZ” by Rush, and “Teen Town” by Weather Report.
After moving to the Hudson Valley, Conor began performing regularly in various venues across the local region. His live experiences include performing as a solo songwriter, shredding on the electric guitar in a rock band, and even playing banjo at the weekend honky-tonk. Conor enjoys a diverse array of music and draws inspiration from all types of instrumentalists. His current favorite artists are Rush, Tom Waits, They Might Be Giants, Radiohead, Jeff Rosenstock, System of a Down, Louis Cole, black midi, and Queens of the Stone Age.
When not teaching at School of Rock Beacon or playing music, Conor enjoys most types of outdoor recreation, especially long-distance running. In 2024, Conor ran his first ever ultramarathon - the Rock the Ridge 50 Miler in New Paltz. He is currently preparing for round 2 of that same race this May.
Charles Apollo
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Charles Apollo’s primary instrument is the guitar, and he also has skills in bass, mandolin, and ukulele. He began playing guitar in middle school, and it quickly became his greatest passion. His musical background is diverse, encompassing punk, grunge, and metal in his earlier years, and more recently, indie, hip-hop, jazz, and funk. This journey has led to a unique playing style that blends all his musical interests.
Beyond playing, Charles is a dedicated performer who constantly seeks to improve his stage presence. He has studied music in college for the past three years and possesses a strong understanding of music theory and production. Charles is eager to continue his musical journey at School of Rock Beacon and looks forward to inspiring new musicians.
Lea Diaz
Vocals Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Lea Diaz is a musician with a passion for singing and composition. She has a wide range of experience in multiple genres and performing ensembles. From singing in collegiate choirs at the American Choral Directors Association Eastern Region Conference to performing in musicals to playing in big bands, Lea wants to make music wherever she can. She loves to explore new genres of music, and her favorites are jazz, musical theatre, opera, and pop.
Lea is studying at SUNY New Paltz to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and offer vocal rehabilitation services to singers, and she is so excited to be a part of the School of Rock Beacon team!
Zachary Kay
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Zach is a multi-instrumentalist and music technologist graduate studying Electronic Production and Design at Berklee College of Music. With a background in both traditional instruments and modern production tools, he teaches from a well-rounded perspective—combining theory, performance, sequencing, and sound design.
Before attending Berklee, Zach taught drums and piano to young students at The Music Cellar in Millerton, NY. His early experiences in jazz band, marching band, and Berklee’s Five Week Program helped shape his belief that communication and expression are at the heart of great music education.
Zach has performed in a wide range of genres including jazz, rock, funk/fusion, R&B, reggae, and world music. Whether working with beginners or advancing players, he brings patience, enthusiasm, and a deep understanding of how to help students at School of Rock Beacon connect with music in a way that feels personal and exciting.