Bob Jones
Owner, Director of Operations
Bob Jones is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator based in New York. He received a bachelor’s degree in double bass performance from Michigan State University and has built a career spanning rock, classical, folk, electronic, and jazz. With performances on dozens of albums and extensive touring across the United States and Europe, Bob’s musical footprint is broad and diverse.
His School of Rock journey began as a guitar sub in 2010, today he is owner and director of two franchises in Brooklyn and Manhattan, where he applies his two decades of teaching experience to mentor students and staff. His students have gone on to performing arts high schools, colleges, and careers in music. He loves The Kinks, Aphex Twin, Arco Part, Napalm Death, cycling, and food-based adventures.
Charlotte Blancq
Studio Coordinator
Charlotte is a native New Yorker and lifelong musician of many genres. She has learned various instruments and studied music theory since the age of 4. Being the daughter of a music teacher and professional jazz musician, Charlotte's interest in and exposure to music began very early on, and she grew up studying and practicing with her dad, listening to his collections and regularly attending his jazz gigs.
Charlotte's mother is a CBGB-era punk, so Charlotte also grew up surrounded by much of her favorite rock music. As a child, Charlotte took an extreme interest in all kinds of rock n' roll, writing original rock songs from the age of 6. Over the years, she grew particularly fond of heavy metal, nu-metal, grunge, and classic rock. Some of Charlotte's favorite bands are Tool, Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains, Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Gojira, System of a Down, and Soundgarden.
At age 14, Charlotte began teaching herself to play electric bass and was playing in a punk band by the age of 16. Along with performing original songs with her band, Charlotte has also performed with the LaGuardia New Music Ensemble and at venues like Rockwood Music Hall, the Bitter End, and Webster Hall.
Charlotte graduated with honors from LaGuardia High School, having majored in both Vocal and Instrumental Music. There she advanced her knowledge of music theory, writing and sight-reading sheet music, and training in Opera, Band, Theatre, Orchestra, and Songwriting. From there, expanding her musical literacy, songwriting, and performance skills across various genres, Charlotte continued to sing and play bass with other NYHC rock and metal bands. She went on to work in music, television, and film production for many years at venues like the Apollo, Carnegie Hall, and Crown Hill Theatre, and on major MTV and A24 Studios projects.
Nowadays, outside of her administrative work at School of Rock Brooklyn, Charlotte is an active member of the NYHC and Brooklyn metal scene. As a dedicated and lifelong songwriter and performer, Charlotte strives to inspire growing musicians and continue playing and being surrounded by music.
Cody Rahn
Drum Teacher
Cody Rahn is a New York-based drummer/producer/coffee enthusiast. He holds a B.M. in Jazz from Cornish College of the Arts and performs with artists and groups bridging myriad stylistic boundaries. You can see him regularly in the US and beyond with ensembles ranging from the introspective folk songwriting of Anya Marina and Mackenzie Shivers to the Spaghetti Western-influenced Justin Garcia Band and the psychedelic roots Americana of Echo Bloom.
In addition, Cody hosts the internationally renowned percussion education "Sounds Like A Drum" YouTube channel.
Cory Sterling
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Originally from Portland, Oregon, guitarist Cory Sterling moved to New York City in 2010 to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. Cory has performed with Dave Weckl, Melvin Davis, John Stowell, and Scott Whitfield, and has appeared at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival, Port Townsend Jazz Festival, and Mount Hood Jazz Festival.
In 2011, Cory won first place in the jazz category at the Yamaha Six String Theory International Guitar Competition, an all-ages/genres event whose judges included Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, Gary Tallent, and Scott Goldman of the Grammy Foundation.
Danielle Johnson
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Danielle Johnson is a bassist, composer, and educator. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, she is now based in New York City. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Performance from The City College of New York, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Danielle plays upright and electric bass as well as guitar and has experience in a wide variety of genres such as jazz, rock, hip-hop, salsa, folk, and experimental music. She has performed at venues such as The Bitter End, Nublu, and The Sultan Room, as well as the Toonerville and Big Lawn music festivals. Her influences include Ron Carter, Jimmy Garrison, Scott Lafaro, Esperanza Spalding, Jaco Pastorius, and Thundercat.
As a teacher, Danielle has a strong passion for nurturing musical development and sharing the joy of music. Over five years of professional experience have taught her the importance of making lessons fun and engaging while tailoring to each student’s individual needs and goals. She employs a patient and encouraging teaching style and believes in fostering a supportive learning environment where students feel empowered to explore their creativity and develop their unique voices.
Jada Preston
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Jada is a Houston native who began her journey into the arts at a very young age. She grew up listening to her grandmother sing and record herself every night, and this eventually led Jada to do the same. After enjoying and thriving in dance and art throughout her youth, she soon began her musical theatre journey in high school, advancing to Nationals with perfect scores.
Jada also had the opportunity to perform at the Tommy Tune Awards. After much hard work and experience, she decided to perfect her craft at Howard University. There, she began her love for music theory and expanded her range for music! An avid Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Zappa listener, Jada enjoys learning and teaching all sounds.
Marey Steffansson
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Marey Steffansson is a singer, keys player, songwriter, and producer. Originally from Finland, Marey moved to the United States to pursue her master's degree in Songwriting and Production at Berklee NYC, graduating in 2023.
Marey is one of our band directors and teaches vocal lessons and keyboard lessons. She strives to create a safe space for kids to explore their passion for music and artistry. With her bachelor’s degree in music education, she centers her lessons around kindness and meeting kids where they’re at in their skill sets as well as their interests and passions. Every student's day should feel a little brighter after band class.
When she isn’t teaching at School of Rock Brooklyn, Marey is an independent artist and DJ who writes and produces music for herself and others.
Nic Everaert
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Nic Everaert is a former student and longtime member of the School of Rock community. A versatile guitar and bass skill set allows him to fall into any style or genre he wants to tackle, always keeping an open mind to musical exploration. He loves to push new players towards their goals, no matter the size, and specializes in improvisational techniques and fingerpicking.
Nic studied digital media and audio engineering at Ithaca College and loves to dive into the technical aspects of music production from the stage to the studio. Inspired by music from film, television, and games, Nic's musical tastes are wide and ever-changing.
Sam Russo
Drum Teacher
Sam Russo is a jazz drumset player currently residing in Brooklyn, New York. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Sam had the pleasure of studying under the direction of Dom Moio and Lewis Nash. He has adopted both of their senses of tradition and history, which are always at the forefront of his own performances. Sam has spent countless hours enjoying the music of Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Elmo Hope, and many others.
In addition to studying the master drummers such as Philly Joe Jones, Billy Higgins, Kenny Clarke, and Kenny Washington, Sam holds a master’s degree in jazz performance from Arizona State University where he had the great privilege of performing with both Dick Oatts and Jim McNeely with the ASU Concert Jazz Band, as well as both Harold Mabern and Joel Frahm as a part of his ASU Jazz Combo. Sam has also performed a number of times with Jane Monheit, Michael Weiss, Bruce Forman, Jason Palmer, Howard Alden, Gunhild Carling, Billy Stritch, Mike Kocour, Nick Manson, Eric Rasmussen, Jeff Libman, and many others. Since moving to Brooklyn in October 2024, Sam has been enjoying performing, teaching, and being a member of the vibrant music scene.
Shubh Saran
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Shubh Saran is a New York-based guitarist and composer who has performed extensively as a solo artist and with globally renowned musicians in the United States, India, Bangladesh, Canada, and Vietnam.
Shubh completed a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (B.Mus.) from the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he was awarded the Berklee Achievement Scholarship. During his studies at Berklee, Shubh had the privilege of honing his guitar-playing skills under the mentorship of distinguished guitarists Tim Miller, Tomo Fujita, and Dave Fiuczynski. He has also performed alongside some of the most famous artists in the American and Indian music industries, including OMI, American Idol's Michael Lynche, A.R. Rahman, Clinton Cerejo, Prasanna, and Mohini Dey.
Stephen Vario
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Stephen Vario is a dynamic musician and educator with a rich background spanning a variety of genres, including jazz, rock, funk, blues, fusion, and metal. With a bachelor's degree in jazz from The New School, Stephen has a deep understanding of music theory, composition, arranging, and performance. He has honed his craft under the guidance of renowned musicians like Oz Noy, Rez Abbasi, Steve Cardenas, Andy McKee, and Reggie Workman. Drawing from a diverse range of influences, Stephen excels in teaching any concept related to music and offering expertise in any genre. Whether performing live or instructing students, Stephen brings a dynamic and adaptable approach to music, fostering a love for both technical mastery and creative expression.
Vincent Blackshadow Braimes
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Vincent is a lifelong rock musician and songwriter from Bellingham, Washington, who started teaching himself guitar and piano as a toddler. By the age of 10, he was playing semi-regular gigs around Washington state, belting out KISS, AC/DC, and Blue Oyster Cult covers as well as original material. He has played in rock bands and as a solo act since middle school.
Vincent graduated from Portland State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. A prolific songwriter, he has independently released six full-length studio albums since 2016, with a seventh on the way. Currently, Vincent can be found playing lead guitar for Bald By Choice, bass for Annie Collette, Swear Tapes, and Oxa, as he continues to front his solo band. Outside of music, he enjoys making collages and reading philosophy.
Vincent has taught at three different School of Rock locations across the country. As a teacher, he strives to establish and grow the student’s independent love for and curiosity about music.