Ed
General Manager
Ed first slung a guitar over his shoulder in 2007, and hasn’t looked back since. What started as a curiosity quickly became a full-blown obsession, fueled by late nights learning solos, countless jam sessions, and a hunger to push boundaries. Whether he's ripping through blistering metal riffs, weaving through the complexities of jazz, or crafting cinematic soundscapes in the studio, Ed brings intensity, soul, and precision to every note.
His influences span generations and genres, Van Halen’s wild energy, Opeth’s progressive depth, Ghost’s haunting theatrics, and Avenged Sevenfold’s melodic ferocity. That eclectic taste shows in his playing style, which is equal parts technical and emotional, structured yet fearless.
Ed studied jazz guitar under Ian Wardenski at Anne Arundel Community College, where he built a strong foundation in theory, improvisation, and performance. Eager to dive deeper into the world of music, he went on to attend Berklee College of Music, graduating with a degree in music production and sound design. There, he sharpened not only his skills as a guitarist, but also as a composer, engineer, and creative collaborator.
Outside of teaching, Ed is a versatile performer and producer, with experience on stage and in the studio across genres ranging from smooth jazz and blues to hard rock and metal. He’s passionate about helping students find their own voice, whether they’re picking up a guitar for the first time or working toward mastering advanced techniques.
When he's not busy as General Manager at School of Rock Columbia or gigging, you’ll probably find Ed fine-tuning tones in his home studio, nerding out over gear, or spinning everything from Mahavishnu Orchestra to Meshuggah. Music isn’t just his career, it’s his life.
Tabi
Music Director
Tabi is a singer/songwriter and music educator based in the DMV area! She picked up the guitar at the age of three (yes, really) and has been obsessed with music ever since. With a background in indie, folk, rock, blues, and soul, she’s performed her original music on stages like Songbyrd Music House and The Fillmore Silver Spring, among others. Tabi started teaching in 2017 and joined the School of Rock Columbia team in 2021, where she now serves as Music Director, an instructor (guitar, bass, vocals, and drums), and resident School of Rock Columbia hype woman.
Passionate about helping students find their unique sound and energy on stage, she believes music should be equal parts skill and feeling. When she’s not teaching at School of Rock Columbia or performing, you can probably find her writing songs, attempting to train her very opinionated four-year-old pitbull, or running on pure caffeine and determination (shoutout to Red Bull for the assist).
Skyler
Studio Coordinator
Skyler is a performer and aspiring media professional from Columbia! She is a recent graduate from Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Media Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Studies. While she isn't the most versed in rock n roll, she is no stranger to performing.
Skyler has been performing for over ten years; from singing, dancing, acting, and even dipping her toes into directing, she has a love for all things theatre. She also has a love for media and has experience in social media management. She helped develop a theatre company at her college, where she acted as an executive board member and the marketing manager. She created content for the company's social media pages and photographed productions for promotion and the company's archive.
While she may not play any instruments, she loves music and is a certified DJ (Disk Jockey) and co-hosted a radio show called "Put You On" at WMSC 90.3 Upper Montclair. The show was all about discovering new music, so she is always ready for new recommendations! She is excited to be working at the School of Rock Columbia, and will be a friendly face to all
Tom
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Tom is a guitarist, bassist, and songwriter who performs in several bands throughout the DMV area. He studied Music Technology at Salisbury University where he performed in the Salisbury Jazz ensemble and earned a scholarship for his role as a leader in the ensemble.
Tom has performed a multitude of genres including rock, funk, jam, country, and jazz, as well as original indie/alternative rock songs. After learning guitar on his own for a number of years when he was younger, Tom’s brother convinced him to form their first band while in high school, and Tom credits much of his development as a musician to that experience. Tom learned firsthand the importance of playing in a band for your growth as a musician after seeing the immediate progress he made while jamming with other musicians. He is excited to share the knowledge and skills he has gained over the years as a performer with the students at the School of Rock in Columbia.
Cam
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Cam is a musician and songwriter who began playing drums at the age of 7 with heavy guidance from his parents who are both seasoned musicians. After playing in the school band, Cam was a part of a rock school through his early teenage years where he developed his skills as a drummer and also began self-teaching guitar.
Cam began performing as the drummer for his dad's solo music project, furthering his knowledge and teaching the skills of playing live shows. From there, Cam began writing original music with his lifelong friends who now all perform in their rock band Absent Habits.
Throughout all of these experiences, Cam has continued to develop his skills on drums and guitar, while also teaching himself the bass guitar. Cam looks forward to sharing all he's learned with his students and giving them the same confidence and knowledge he was given at his rock school!
Luke
Guitar Teacher
Luke is a guitarist and songwriter with over a decade of experience, having first learned from his father, an accomplished rock musician. He honed his skills by writing and performing original music with his band, Absent Habits, which he credits for his growth as a musician and performer. Through firsthand experience, Luke has learned how playing in a band fosters creativity, collaboration, and musical development. He is passionate about sharing his love for guitar and songwriting with his students at School of Rock Columbia.
Patrick
Drum Teacher
Patrick has a lifelong passion for music. Patrick has been playing the drums for over 13 years, beginning with learning from the best drummer he knows — his father. Over the years, he has gathered experience playing various styles of music live, including rock, jazz, funk, and Latin, performing anywhere from Church picnics to Merriweather Post Pavilion. Patrick hopes to pass down his love for rhythm to all of his students at School of Rock Columbia!
Bob
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Mr. Schwab (Mr. Bob) started playing piano at age 7 and studied classical, jazz, and popular music until he was 17. He started his first rock band in high school, named Phoenyx. They covered classic rock from several artists including The Doors, The Rolling Stones, J. Geils Band, The Who, and Billy Joel.
Mr. Bob participated in the student jazz band and started his second band while attending the University of Delaware. The core members of that second band are still together after all these years in a band called Out of Order, playing a mix of classic, modern, alt-rock, and some blues. Mr. Bob retired after 35 years of teaching with HCPSS and is very excited to join the School of Rock community in Columbia, Maryland.
Alex
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Alex is currently a senior at the University of Maryland studying music performance. He has been playing the piano for over 15 years, performing a wide variety of genres such as classical, jazz, and rock. After years of being classically trained, Alex started exploring jazz/rock piano in high school, and has participated in jazz ensembles throughout college. His biggest musical influence is his mother who taught him everything he knows about piano from the earliest years. Alex has been teaching piano, clarinet and saxophone for over 4 years, including internships in Baltimore, Montgomery, and Prince George's county public schools. Alex considers music one of life's greatest joys, and can't wait to share his love for the piano with his students!
Chris
Drums Teacher
Chris picked up drums when he was 11 years old at School of Rock Gambrills. He fell in love with playing the drums as he worked his way through Rock 101, Performance Program, and spent a while bouncing between the Annapolis and Gambrills house bands. He also has four years' experience with jazz and classical music as a member of the advanced percussion ensemble and the first chair percussionist at DeMatha Catholic High School during his senior year.
Since then, he has continued playing drums through college and helped found the Lynchburg-based band "Unsent Letters." Through the band and at college, he has learned several skills in music theory and songwriting. Now having graduated from Liberty University, Chris hopes to inspire young drummers and provide them with the skills to succeed at School of Rock Columbia!
Katelyn
Vocal Teacher
Katelyn Powell is super excited to be a Vocal Instructor at the School of Rock Columbia! She graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and a Minor in Music. Katelyn is an opera singer and loves all things vocal! She can’t wait to share her passion and help amazing aspiring artists reach their goals. Katelyn has been lucky enough to perform in opera plays and at various events, and she looks forward to hearing her students' unique vocal styles. She can't wait to embrace this incredible journey with her students.
Ashton
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Ashton discovered his passion for singing at a young age and has since immersed himself in choral music and voice training. With a background in classical music, Ashton now enjoys performing in choirs and operas and teaching voice and keyboard. He fosters a supportive learning environment that encourages students to explore their musical interests while developing healthy habits for success.
Having worked with students of all ages and skill levels, Ashton is dedicated to helping each student progress on their musical journey. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, he pursued his M.M. in vocal performance and pedagogy at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, graduating in 2023 after completing his B.M. in vocal performance at East Carolina University in 2020. Passionate about diverse musical genres, Ashton also plays guitar, bass, and violin alongside his vocal and piano pursuits.
Kathy
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Kathy is a professional keyboard player and singer with experience in many different bands and musical groups since the age of 17. She is a coordinator of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Washington, D.C. chapter and also plays guitar and ukulele.
Kathy currently plays keyboards and sings lead and harmonies in three groups in the D.C. area: two classic rock/variety bands, and an oldies duo. She has previously played venues in San Diego, Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Alaska, and Calgary, Canada, sharing the stage with many amazing musicians.
Kathy is also a songwriter and independent artist. She plays showcases in the D.C. area, and has attended numerous NSAI song camps, coordinator training sessions, and workshops in Nashville. She has also pitched songs to publishing companies and secured two single-song publishing contracts.
Kathy has recorded her original songs at various studios in Nashville, and her music was featured in Cohesion Theater’s Baltimore performance of Coriolanus by William Shakespeare and their Political Cabaret.
Matt
Guitar Teacher
Matt is a musician and solo artist who has been playing for 15 years. He started off taking lessons at his local shop in Reisterstown along with classes at high school. He began playing in a progressive metal band called Artifacts with some of his high school classmates and together they played all over the DMV. Matt and his band have played shows with some of the biggest metalcore bands in the world such as Bad Omens, Fit for a King, and Dayseeker.
While he may not be as active in the live music scene currently, Matt is hard at work with his solo project Telesis where he self produces music with the goal of not being bound by any set genre. He is excited to pass on his knowledge of live music and the industry as a whole to those looking to begin their own music journey at School of Rock Columbia.