Eric Lonning
Owner
School of Rock Chesapeake is owned by Eric and Jennifer Lonning. Before opening the Chesapeake school, the Lonnings opened School of Rock Virginia Beach in 2015. Throughout his childhood, Eric took guitar and drum lessons, played in bands, and had success touring and recording with a great group of friends and bandmates. Later, Eric pursued a career in marketing before returning to music at School of Rock. Eric's mission is to create a music school where students will become outstanding musicians, but more importantly inspiring and amazing individuals. Eric attended Wake Forest University where he studied Communication and Religion.
Roo O'Donnell
Music Director
Andrew "Roo" O'Donnell started drumming at 9 years old and was touring by the time he was 17. Roo has been giving lessons since he was in his early twenties.
After moving to New York in 2016, Roo found himself in dozens of bands and projects, thrust into the competitive but exhilarating session music scene. He has since relocated to Virginia and loves teaching the future rockers at the School of Rock in Chesapeake. In addition to supervising many of our group programs, Roo is also responsible for driving the usage of our proprietary Method App and overseeing our music teachers.
John Orengo
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher
John relocated to southeast Virginia after living in New York City for many years. John has over 15 years of experience giving guitar lessons, playing in bands, and working in a variety of companies. John loves to teach and help School of Rock students conquer the stage!
Koren Okpodu
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Koren is a vocal and keyboard + piano teacher at School of Rock Chesapeake. She loves teaching students of all ages and also teaches our Rock 101 program. You can catch Koren performing around Hampton Roads and putting out new, original music regularly.
Joe Graves
Guitar Teacher
Joe is a local legend and popular guitar teacher at School of Rock Virginia Beach. Joe has been playing guitar for as long as he can remember and recorded and toured throughout the east coast with his band, TRUCK. A mainstay at School of Rock, you will find Joe teaching guitar lessons, coaching bands, and fixing whatever is broken.
Mike Morgan
Drum Teacher
Mike Morgan is a multi-instrumentalist with over 20 years of experience playing the drum set and other percussion including congas, bongos, and timbales. Mike also has significant experience with keyboard, bass, and guitar. Before joining School of Rock Chesapeake, Mike worked at the Norfolk location for over two years.
Mike officially began playing drums when he was around 10 years old on popcorn tubs covered with towels and large pots. He still uses the same white CB percussion drum set he got when he was 16 for recording and gigs. Mike drums for several local bands in the Hampton Roads area, including Mosquito Cabaret, Janks, Saving Daylight, and Ghost Town Union. He also records his own instruments and vocals for his one-man band project, Sundef.
Mike's drumming influences include Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, jazz great Elvin Jones, Abe Cunningham of Deftones, Chico Hamilton, Poncho Sanchez, and Santana just to name a few.
Cameron Felton
Drums Teacher
Cameron "Cam" Felton is a School of Rock Chesapeake alumnus, graduating as an esteemed member of the school's House Band, where he performed throughout Hampton Roads and across the US during annual summer tours.
Cam is capable in countless genres, but his true loves are pop-punk, metal, and emo. Cam teaches his students speed, power, and coordination. He is known for his kindness, patience, and passion for music.
Cam is continuing his education at Tidewater Community College, and has become a key member of the School of Rock Chesapeake team!
Matt Nichols
Bass Guitar Teacher
Matt is the lead bass instructor at the School of Rock in Chesapeake, Virginia. He has also taught at the Virginia Beach location and has made a name for himself as a great guitar and bass instructor.
When he's not teaching at School of Rock, Matt gigs with a live looping project called onemanbassband, where he loops bass parts to create the sound of a full band. Matt is a technical bass player who reads music and plays all styles.
Kai Varela
Guitar Teacher, Studio Coordinator
Kai Varela is a talented guitar teacher and also is a part of the admin team at School of Rock Chesapeake. Kai can be seen performing locally with his band, High Tide. Kai is a master of many styles and is known for his lead guitar playing. Kai is a former School of Rock student where he completed over 20 seasons in the Performance Program and was in the elite student House Band for five years. Kai grew up in Norfolk and Chesapeake, and graduated from Great Bridge High School.
Sophie Bershers
Vocals Teacher, Studio Coordinator
Sophie Bershers shined on stage in her seven years at School of Rock Virginia Beach, achieving a coveted position as House Band member. In the School of Rock House Band, Sophie performed hundreds of times throughout Hampton Roads. Now that she's graduated, Sophie has taken that star power to her roles at School of Rock Chesapeake.
Taking inspiration from singers like Serj Takian, Fiona Apple, Etta James, and Florence Welch, she has always shown incredible versatility. She loves interacting with students and parents, and has insight on matters of music and school management. Sophie is continuing her education with a Major in Music and Voice at Tidewater Community College, and has used her experience as a School of Rock alumnus to excel on and off stage.
Maria Ramirez
Vocal Teacher
Maria Ramirez is a bilingual performer, producer, vocalist, and keyboardist who owns her own mixed media production company. Maria jumped into the world of musical theater and chorus as a high school student, before moving into music production and mentoring vocalists in the recording studio environment. She also has experience with music production including music engineering, mixing, and mastering. She has also toured with the American Electric Light Orchestra and has many years of building client relationships.
Maria is excited to be a part of School of Rock Chesapeake while she continues to pursue her dreams of recording original music and working on various creative projects.