Michael Pierce Guitar Teacher
Michael Pierce is a guitar teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. He has been playing guitar from a young age, and has been actively performing and teaching since 2012. Michael graduated from Aquinas College in 2017 with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance, and he has studied with many world-class guitarists. Michael currently performs and tours with the rock band Conrad Shock and The Noise, and soul-pop band August. He also plays solo classical guitar for weddings, corporate parties and private events all around West Michigan.
Tommy McCord Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Tommy McCord is a Lansing-based musician with nearly two decades of performing, recording and touring experience. At School of Rock East Lansing Tommy is a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher. Tommy has toured the continental US, Mexico and Canada multiple times as a guitarist and singer in the bands The Plurals and Drinking Mercury, and has overseen over 100 independent music releases as a co-founder of the record label GTG Records. Tommy also has experience as both a live sound and recording engineer and can be found behind the mixing desk at venues like Mac's Bar, The Avenue Cafe and the studio space for GTG Records.
Mandy Waltz Drum Teacher
Mandy Waltz is a drum teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. Mandy started drumming when she was 10 years old, and did drum line, jazz band and orchestral band throughout high school, but had the most fun when playing with her friends in rock bands. In 2014, she graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Writing and Communication, again finding she had the most fun playing in rock bands with her friends. Since then she has toured all over the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK and continental Europe, and is looking to do even more with her main band, Rodeo Boys.
Kait Wilson Singing Teacher, Piano Teacher
Kait was born and raised in Green Bay, WI. After starting college for music, she transferred to the University of Hawaii at Hilo where she received her bachelor of arts in performing arts. She spent some time on the east coast, auditioning and working at theaters, until relocating to Michigan. In Lansing, she has worked with several theater companies, including Evolve Theatrics, Blue Light Players, Starlight Dinner Theatre, and Riverwalk Theatre. Kait sings, plays piano and ukulele, and music directs on top of teaching music lessons. During the day she teaches kindergarten.
Sarah Wallace Singing and Keyboard Teacher
Sarah Wallace is a vocal instructor and piano teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. Sarah started performing at the age of 3 and began her professional career at the age of 5 as Caroline Kennedy in Accidentally Exalted for Kenneth Robbins Opera Company, St. Paul, MN. She has a BA in Music – Vocal Performance from ORU in Tulsa, OK and has since become a member of the professional Actors’ Equity Association.
Being a native to Lansing, she has performed at the Okemos Barn Theatre, Civic Theatre, Boarshead Theatre, and at Dart Auditorium. Throughout her career she has appeared in a myriad of roles in musical theatre, plays and operas, throughout the Midwest, New York Metropolitan area and southern states and presently sings in cameo roles in other states, countries, and throughout the state of Michigan.
Alex Everdeen Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Alex Everdeen is a guitar, bass, and drum instructor at School of Rock East Lansing. He picked up his first guitar when he was 10 years old and still has a hard time putting it down. Over the years, he picked up French Horn, drums, bass guitar, trombone, trumpet, and saxophone. He received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Michigan State University and has performed with many prestigious ensembles, such as the MSU Wind Symphony and the Spartan Marching Band. He is an avid musician with a passion for finding the newest cool sounds.
Kaitlyn Riel Music Director, Studio Coordinator
Kaitlyn is a graduate of Central Michigan University with degrees in music education and musical theatre. She hails from the Lansing area but has recently returned from New York City, after performing in Bridging the Gap Cabaret series at 54 Below in Manhattan. She has previously performed at Midland Center for the arts as Edwin Drood (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and Bay City Players as Reno Sweeney (Anything Goes), and is excited to be Music Director and Studio Coordinator here at School of Rock!
Joey Lindstrom Guitar Teacher
Joey has been playing guitar since the age of 15. He has since learned to play the bass guitar and continues to learn other instruments such as piano and drums.
He enjoys playing all genres of music. Joey has toured and performed across the nation with multiple bands and artists, including country groups with David Shelby, and Adam Calvert. Also hip-hop group Mikeyy Austin and The Happy Medium.
Brian Alspaugh Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Brian began playing guitar since he was 14 years old and hasn't stopped yet. In addition to guitar, he also plays drums, bass and keys. He has been playing gigs since 2003. He is the guitarist and primary songwriter for local band Mr. Denton On Doomsday, an avant-garde rock 4 piece. Mr. Denton has performed at several national tours in support of their release "Origami Trail". Mr Denton performed in front of over 10,000 fans at the Common Ground festival in Lansing alongside Three Days Grace, All That Remains and P.O.D. At the Rockapalooza Festival in Jackson, they shared the stage with Candlebox, Saliva, Mushroomhead and many others.
Benjamin Martin Drum Teacher
Benjamin Martin teaches drums at School of Rock East Lansing. He began playing drums in elementary school, in both concert and marching band. Two years after graduating he joined a local rock band, "Mr. Denton on Doomsday", that has toured regionally, nationally, and continues to perform today. Benjamin has 15 years of experience performing in shows and is excited to teach students not only how to practice, but also how to perform for an audience.
Elijah Hoene Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Elijah Hoene is a Lansing native who has been playing piano since he was five years old, and guitar since he was seven. Between the ages of 12 and 19, Elijah was the frontman and guitarist for the band "The 89th Key", who went on to win the Loft's Homegrown Throwdown competition in 2018. Elijah loves to sing, play guitar, piano, drums, bass - really any instrument he can get his hands on. From Beethoven to Black Sabbath, Elijah loves all varieties of music. He is studying psychology at Lansing Community College, and in the time he does not spend studying, you can be sure you will find an instrument in his hand. He also has a dog and two cats and loves animals as much as he loves music.
Charlie Bonkowski Drum Teacher, Bass Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher
Charlie Bonkowski is a drum, bass, guitar, and piano teacher from Royal Oak, Michigan. He has been making music for over 12 years starting with trombone in elementary school then quickly progressing to drums and bass. He is pursuing a degree in Music Therapy from Eastern Michigan University. He specializes in music theory and fundamentals, as well as integrating classical ideas with modern rock and pop. Charlie is well versed in all styles of music from pop to metal to jazz and likes to spend his time jamming with other musicians in the community and recording and mixing his own music as well as others."