Our Experienced Music Teachers
All of School of Rock Bella Vista’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.
Liza-Marie Cacnio
Singing Teacher
Liza-Marie is a singing teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista with a background as a singer-songwriter, arranger, and performer based in Sydney, Australia.
Taking inspiration from artists Tori Kelly, H.E.R, Pink Sweat$, Lianne La Havas, and alike, Liza-Marie writes and performs songs influenced by mixed genres of R&B, Soul, Pop, Christian, and many more.
Not only does she compose songs for herself, but also for church (Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ)) in the Music Department of Oceania. As she continues to find her voice through her songs and develop her skills as an individual artist, she hopes to make herself known in the community and inspire others.
Liza-Marie's go-to song to jam out to is Bittersweet by Lianne La Havas.
Ryley Simmonds
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Ryley is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher and keyboard teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista in Sydney’s Hills District.
Ryley graduated from School of Rock as a student and was accepted to continue his music education through Western Sydney University’s Music Program.
Growing up in a family passionate about music, Ryley was exposed to a variety of musical styles and cut his teeth learning the songs of Queen and The Beatles. Throughout his School of Rock journey, Ryley had the opportunity to perform at the Whiskey a Go-Go in Los Angeles as well as showcasing his talents at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood where he impressed the faculty. He has toured the United States playing shows in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Ryley’s passion for music has passed onto his students with his ability to engage them and make music fun.
Simone White
Drum Teacher
Simone White is a versatile, eclectic drummer with his eye on the bigger picture. Not content to just lay down a beat, Simone contemplates the significance of everything around him and the role every part plays in creating and expressing music. With a versatile background ranging from Hip-Hop, Funk, Latin, Reggae, Jazz, and Drum and Bass, to Rock, Punk, Metal, and Progressive, Simone has played with George Clinton and recorded and toured with Mark Eitze of the American Music Club. He is an accomplished live and session musician.
Simone was the drummer for The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and has toured with Nirvana, L7, and The Breeders. Simone is a Drum Teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista in Sydney. Originally from San Francisco in the United States, Simone called Australia home after falling in love with Sydney after playing The Big Day Out Tour. Simone has been teaching drums for 30 plus years and is available for Drum Lessons at School of Rock Bella Vista
Sarah Hewitt-Horne
Keyboard Teacher
Originally from London, UK but now based in Australia, Sarah is a musician who has been playing the piano for over 20 years. An illness at 14 caused her to be bed bound and miss the last 18 months of high school, but she had an old Roland keyboard in the house, and the radio and MTV were always playing and as she got better, the piano was the place to develop her own style and give her a hobby to work towards as she built up her strength. One of her favourite things to do is put heavy metal songs to the piano to change them up a bit.
“What I love about teaching piano at School of Rock is seeing the joy on students' faces, and the sense of accomplishment when they understand new musical knowledge or nail a song they've been working really hard on and get to show this to their family and friends on show days. And also all the support people give each other at the school is extremely heart-warming.”
Sarah has a very eclectic mix of music tastes but cites Chris Cornell, The Cure, Hans Zimmer and Ludovico Einaudi as her top artists. Sarah’s guilty pleasure track would have to be "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon with its sharp lyrical wit and instantly catchy piano riff. “A timeless classic that always makes me smile”.
Cameron Towell
Keyboard Teacher
Cameron Towell is a piano teacher and keyboard teacher at School of Rock Bella Vista, with a focus on contemporary and jazz piano. He studied classical piano as a young child and still loves beaking down the master composers of that era.
Taking inspiration from artists Billy Joel, Bill Evans, and Stevie Wonder, Cameron plays in a funk band called Soul Craft. His band is often seen around the wedding circuit in Sydney.
Cameron is passionate about teaching his students and can break down difficult concepts into easily digestible pieces. He has enormous patience with younger students and easily turns musical ideas into games.
His favourite song is Elton John’s “Benny and The Jets” and his guilty pleasure song is the Campfire song from Spongebob Squarepants.
Cameron is available to take on new piano and keyboard students at School of Rock Bella Vista.
School of Rock is where music and learning come together
For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.