Bret Chadwick
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Bret is a bass, guitar and vocal teacher at School of Rock Colorado Springs. He has been involved in music for the better part of 50 years. He began training as a vocalist at the age of 6 and started trying out the guitar at age 9. He spent most of his time in high school in the chorus, performing in the Pop Choir, Chorale, Men's Quartet and the school choir. In his senior year, he was unanimously elected President of the choir. During these years Bret was able to get the rudimentary guitar instruction he sought. After this Bret pursued playing in bands, writing songs, and performing on stage while learning more about music every step on his journey.
John DeLoach
Music Director
John is a show director and guitar, bass guitar, keyboard + piano, and drums teacher at School of Rock Colorado Springs. He received two bachelors of science degrees from the University of Colorado-Denver, in both recording arts and music business. Since graduation, John released two full length solo albums, and produced a third for legendary trumpeter DJ Horn.
Over the last two decades, he created numerous bands ranging in genre from metal to jazz. John also specializes in waveform synthesis and counterpoint composition. He loves all aspects of music and hopes teaching music can excite his passion in others. John listens mostly to progressive and experimental metal genres, but also dabbles in electronic compositions.
Roewyn Korwek
Drums Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocals Teacher
Roewyn teaches drums, bass guitar, beginner keyboard + piano, guitar, vocals, and Rookies at School of Rock Colorado Springs. A proud graduate of the program and former House Band member herself, she brings a hands-on, energetic approach to teaching and loves inspiring the next generation of rockers.
As a multi-instrumentalist and active performer in the Colorado Springs and Denver music scenes, Roewyn has played with a variety of bands and also works as a music photographer. Her top priority is creating a safe, engaging space for students to grow their skills and confidence. Roewyn is passionate about helping every student discover their voice and have fun while doing it.
Ripley Hicks
Vocals Teacher
Ripley is a former School of Rock student with over 13 years of vocals experience spanning rock, metal, choral, a cappella, classical, pop, and musical theater. She has performed at renowned venues and festivals including Summerfest, House of Blues Dallas, and the Denver Coliseum.
A graduate of CU Denver with a bachelor's degree in Music Business, Ripley is also the lead vocalist of the progressive rock band Inertia Machine. She now teaches vocals at School of Rock Colorado Springs, where she brings her performance experience and passion for music into every lesson.
Jorden Gershon
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Jorden is a drum, guitar, and keyboard + piano teacher with a lifelong passion for music and performance. A graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Music, she combines formal training with real-world experience as an active member of two gigging bands and an emerging original artist. With a strong foundation in drum technique and performance skills, Jorden teaches students across a wide variety of musical genres, including rock, metal, jazz, alternative, blues, and classical music. Her diverse musical background allows her to meet students where they are while helping them grow into versatile, expressive musicians.
Jorden is especially passionate about working with beginners, helping them discover their love for music and build confidence both on and off the stage. She encourages every student at School of Rock Colorado Springs to play with expression and passion while developing strong musical fundamentals. Whether preparing for a live performance or learning their very first beat, Jorden strives to create a supportive and inspiring environment where students feel empowered to find their own creative voice.
Mike Lupton
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Mike is a guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and singing teacher at our school. A native of New Orleans, he received a soloist award from Loyola University Jazz Invitational for his saxophone performance. He studied music education at Southeastern Louisiana University. He has been touring and performing across the nation for over twenty years. He is very excited to teach at School of Rock Colorado Springs.
Zach Taggart
Drums Teacher, Vocals Teacher
Zach teaches drums and vocals at School of Rock Colorado Springs. A Colorado Springs native with over 22 years of drumming experience, he brings both passion and depth to every lesson. Zach holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Northern Colorado, and his performance background enhances his dynamic teaching style.
When he's not behind the kit, Zach enjoys golfing, cooking, reading, skiing, and diving into tabletop games like D&D, Magic: The Gathering, and cribbage. His musical tastes span genres and decades—some of his favorite artists include Pink Floyd, Arctic Monkeys, Led Zeppelin, LCD Soundsystem, Gorillaz, Rush, The Beatles, Chuck Mangione, and The Moody Blues. One of his all-time favorite concert experiences was seeing Arctic Monkeys live at Red Rocks in 2014.
Zach loves helping students build confidence and creativity through music, and he’s always ready to meet them where they are and help them grow.
Zay Friedrichs
Drums Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocals Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Zay teaches guitar, bass, keys, vocals, and drums at School of Rock Colorado Springs. A passionate musician and educator, he’s been involved in music from a young age and even earned a spot in the Colorado All-State Choir during high school. He is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education and enjoys sharing his knowledge not just with students, but with peers as well.
When he's not in the rehearsal room, Zay loves listening to a wide variety of artists—from Chet Baker and Ado to Lil Nas X and First of October. His first concert was the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, and he proudly calls Colorado Springs home.
Domino Vertucci
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocals Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Domino Vertucci teaches guitar, vocals, piano, and bass at School of Rock Colorado Springs. He is the first graduate to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Music from UCCS and is a professional performing and studio musician. Domino has spent thousands of hours honing his technique across multiple instruments—a skill set he credits to his absolute pitch and synesthesia. In addition to teaching and performing, he is an accomplished producer, engineer, songwriter, and composer.
Raised on rock ‘n’ roll, Domino brings a deep love for the genre into every lesson, but he also enjoys exploring metal, jazz, country, blues, and pop. His passion for music and versatile background make him a dynamic and inspiring mentor for students of all levels.
Rin Azevedo
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Rin is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and passionate music teacher at School of Rock Colorado Springs. She has been making music since the age of ten and brings years of experience across a wide range of instruments and genres. Rin teaches guitar, bass guitar, drums, keyboard + piano, vocals, and music production, helping students develop both technical skills and creative confidence.
She loves exploring everything from underground hip hop and UK bass music to metal, hardcore, and emo/post rock, and enjoys helping students find their own musical voice within those styles. In addition to teaching, Rin is an active DJ and producer, often performing in high-energy club environments that keep her connected to modern music culture.
Outside of music, Rin enjoys tackling notoriously difficult PC games and keeping up with her three very opinionated cats, who firmly believe all meals belong to them. Her teaching style is energetic, supportive, and focused on making music both challenging and fun for every student.
Janessa Best
Little Wing Teacher, Rookies Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Janessa is the Studio Coordinator and teaches Little Wing and Rookies at School of Rock Colorado Springs. She brings a creative background in performing arts and early childhood education, combining structure with a fun, engaging teaching style that helps young students build confidence and a love for music.
In high school, Janessa was a member of the Thespian Honor Society and has continued to pursue acting, improv, music, and dance. She worked as an actress in a murder mystery dinner theatre in Wichita, Kansas, and later performed with Columbine and Company in Colorado Springs, where she portrayed a variety of characters, including Princess Beauty. Her experience in interactive performance translates into high-energy, imaginative lessons for her students.
Janessa enjoys a wide variety of music, from rock and nu metal to R&B, Latin, and 90s pop. She especially loves female alternative artists like Regina Spektor, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Fiona Apple.
Her first concert was The Rolling Stones at Wichita State University—their first time performing in Kansas. Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Janessa is passionate about helping students explore creativity and have fun with music from the very beginning.