Ed
General Manager
Ed first picked up the guitar in 2007 and hasn't put it down since! Some of Ed's favorite bands are Van Halen, Opeth, Ghost, and Avenged Sevenfold and he has performed everything from jazz to heavy metal.
Ed studied jazz guitar under Ian Wardenski at AACC before attending Berklee College of Music and graduating with a Music Production degree.
Tabi
Music Director
Tabi has experience in both music education and rocking out. She picked up the guitar at the age of three and has been in love with the experience of music ever since. Tabi has experience playing and performing various genres and styles of music, including indie, folk, rock, blues, and soul. She began performing her original music live in 2016 and has since rocked stages including Songbyrd Music House, the Fillmore Silver Spring, and many more. Tabi began teaching in 2017 and joined the School of Rock Columbia team a year ago as our Studio Coordinator. She now serves as our music director, a guitar and bass teacher, and a self-identified School of Rock Columbia hype woman.
Gracyn
Studio Coordinator
Gracyn is a certified audio engineer with experience in both recording studios and live sound. Drawn to music from a young age, Gracyn taught themselves guitar and piano while receiving vocal lessons at school. They performed vocally at weddings and even sang in Italy for the pope in 2018. Gracyn looks forward to growing within the School of Rock community.
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!
Nick
Guitar Teacher
Nick performs in the death metal band Scum Sedition and has opened and headlined with bands such as Carnivore, Devourment, Eyehategod, Suffocation, Malevolent Creation, Blood Feast, Defeated Sanity, Immolation, and Blood Incantation.
Even though Nick plays death metal, he loves teaching and appreciates all genres and styles! Nick feels strongly that the love and learning of music never ends no matter what skill level you are!
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!
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.
Justin
Drum Teacher
Justin is a seasoned musician originally hailing from Brooklyn, NY, and currently based in Baltimore, Maryland. He has been honing his craft as a drummer since the tender age of 3. Raised in a musically enriched environment, Justin's exposure to diverse genres—including jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel—has significantly shaped his musical prowess.
Justin's journey took a pivotal turn during his junior high school years when he seized the opportunity to deepen his understanding and passion for drums and music. This foundation laid the groundwork for his musical pursuits, propelling him to explore further opportunities in the realm of music.
Upon entering college, Justin continued to fortify his musical expertise. He had the privilege of studying music performance and music business at Nyack College in New York City. It was at this prestigious institution that he not only expanded his knowledge but also had the honor of showcasing his talent in front of large audiences, including performing at the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Having recently relocated to the vibrant musical landscape of Baltimore, Justin is now poised to make a profound impact on the world through his exceptional musical gift and passion for teaching. His journey, marked by a rich tapestry of musical experiences, sets the stage for a promising future dedicated to leaving an indelible mark in the world of music.
Ray
Vocal Teacher
Ray arrived at School of Rock Columbia after earning their Master of Music degree at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins in 2023. Ray started teaching voice in 2018 while earning a bachelor’s degree in music and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and has taught musical theatre, opera and classical voice, jazz, folk, and rock vocal techniques.
Ray has studied vocal pedagogy and performance at the Peabody Institute, teaching students of all ages and backgrounds. Ray focuses on embracing and encouraging a student’s natural interests to build confidence, trust, and skill in their instrument through exercises, technical knowledge, and performance to reach and surpass each student’s musical goals.
When not teaching, Ray is an active performer, recently a principal with the Victorian Lyric Opera Company, regularly singing in their local community, and collaborating with composers and other performers in the Baltimore and DC area. During the summers, Ray also performs as a professional pirate on the children’s pirate cruise in the Inner Harbor!
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.
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, 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.