Stephen Port
Owner, Music Director, Drum Teacher
Stephen Port is the Owner and Music Director of School of Rock Fayetteville NY, which he opened alongside his wife, Karly, in February 2025. The school brings together Stephen’s background in professional performance, music education, and administration, with a shared vision to create an inclusive, high-level music community rooted in real-world performance.
Stephen spent over a decade touring internationally as a drummer with punk and hardcore bands including Polar Bear Club, Off With Their Heads, Another Breath, and Mayflower, and as a guitarist with GhostXShip. His career took him across multiple tours of the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, and Australia. This included full runs on the Vans Warped Tour, Reading & Leeds Festival alongside Foo Fighters and The Cure, and Australia’s Soundwave Festival with Metallica, Blink-182, and Linkin Park. One of the defining moments of Stephen’s career came when he was unexpectedly asked to fill in on drums for Bad Religion—his all-time favorite band (and the first band he ever saw live in 1996 at Syracuse’s Lost Horizon). At the time, Polar Bear Club was opening the tour when Bad Religion’s drummer needed to step away for a family emergency. Stephen was asked if he could learn “a few songs” to help cover a set; after a brief rehearsal and explaining that he already knew their entire catalog, he went on to play seven shows with the band. That experience continues to shape how he prepares students today: always be ready for your moment, because it will come.
After stepping away from full-time touring, Stephen moved to Denver, where he became an administrator at Swallow Hill Music, a respected non profit music school. After returning to Central New York, he served as a music program coordinator for an Access CNY program supporting individuals with traumatic brain injuries, leading a weekly rock band and adapting music education to meet a wide range of abilities. During this time, he also taught private drum and guitar lessons and completed a Bachelor of Technology in Business Administration from SUNY Morrisville.
Opening School of Rock Fayetteville NY has allowed Stephen to bring all of these experiences together. His personal mission is to remove the gatekeeping, luck, and “right place, right time” barriers that often limit musicians, and to give students of all levels access to professional equipment, real venues, and large audiences.
Karly Port
Owner, General Manager
Karly spent her early childhood on the East Coast before moving west as a teenager, eventually returning east after more than a decade. Creativity has always been a steady thread in her life, shaping how she connects with others and navigates challenges. She believes deeply in the value of having a supportive environment where people can express themselves and grow.
As General Manager and co-owner of School of Rock Fayetteville NY, Karly opened the school alongside her husband, Stephen, combining their shared vision for music education and community impact. Together, they built School of Rock as a family-owned, locally rooted space dedicated to helping students grow both musically and personally. Karly is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where students and families feel supported from their very first visit.
Outside the studio, she enjoys reading, creating art, writing, exploring new ideas, and spending time with loved ones — usually with a competitive game of Mario Party close at hand.
Tim Wood
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Tim has been immersed in music since the early ’90s, beginning as a self-taught keyboardist and guitarist before earning his first professional gig at 15 with the Stan Colella Youth All-Star Jazz Band, led by a fixture of Central New York music history. That early experience sparked a lifelong commitment to music in all its forms.
He later launched his own original projects, hiring local musicians and college music majors to perform music he composed and transcribed — moving seamlessly from acoustic campfire songs to jazz fusion to hook-driven rock, pop, and R&B. Additionally, he spearheaded a classic album series where his band performed note-for-note renditions of classic records, including Abbey Road by The Beatles and Strange Days and The Soft Parade by The Doors. His background blends classical and jazz study with real-world arranging, bandleading, and production.
After building a home studio and recording extensively — both his own work and demos for local artists — Tim stepped away to raise and begin to homeschool his two young children. He now brings decades of broad musical experience to School of Rock Fayetteville NY, focused on developing skilled, confident, and collaborative musicians.
Jordan Del Rosario
Assistant General Manager, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Jordan has a long history with School of Rock, beginning at the Downingtown, PA location in 2005 as a guitar instructor, show director, and sound/lighting technician. From there he evolved into numerous roles involving House Band, AllStars, and other School of Rock events and festivals. In 2006, he co-founded the band Cheers Elephant, with whom Jordan has played thousands of shows across the country, recorded numerous albums, and racked up millions of plays on Spotify.
In 2014, Jordan made the move to California and began teaching at School of Rock Tustin. From 2014-2024, he was acting Music Director overseeing AllStar tours, House Band trips to Las Vegas and Summerfest, and helping the school grow to over 300 students.
From 2024-2025, Jordan made a brief stop in Denver, CO where he directed shows and taught lessons for School of Rock Denver and School of Rock Highlands Ranch. While in Colorado, he founded the Grateful Dead tribute band Dead & Friends. In Late 2025 he moved to Syracuse, NY forming a new version of Dead & Friends and taking a position at School of Rock Fayetteville NY.
Jordan is an avid musical gear nerd. On top of building and repairing guitars and amplifiers he has his own effects pedal company specializing in vintage circuits built with old stock components. When he is not teaching, building, or tinkering, he can be found hiking in nature with his wife and dog.
Nina Pelligra
Studio Coordinator, Vocal Teacher
This is Nina, the vocal harmony lady. At School of Rock Fayetteville NY, she prepares our vocalists for their band practices and local performances, developing skills in ear training, stage presence, and healthy singing techniques. She is also the one greeting you at the front desk, overseeing scheduling, and keeping daily operations running smoothly.
On Tuesday evenings, you'll find her directing Syracuse's Rock Voices, a non-auditioned community choir. On the weekends, she’s known for creating a cappella looper covers on YouTube or jamming and harmonizing with her School of Rock colleagues in Dead & Friends band. At Syracuse University, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Industry, where she focused on choral music, voice, and studio recording.
Beyond that, she has spread her love for vocal arts by leading vocal harmony workshops, recording and producing studio albums for collegiate a cappella groups, recording session vocals, and directing semi-professional a cappella groups. Whether from in the studio, on stage, in a classroom, at the piano, or behind a desk, Nina’s goal is to create strong, welcoming, healing communities around music.
Kiera Walsh
Show Director, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
From a very early age, Kiera found her life-long passion for music. She began reading sheet music at three years old after her parents signed her up for a preschool music program, and started classical piano lessons at five.
Kiera has also had a long history with School of Rock. Starting as a student in 2016 at School of Rock Downingtown, PA, Kiera originally studied guitar, but soon added on vocal, keyboard, and bass lessons. There, Kiera completed 30 seasonal shows, 5 years with her school's house band, and four years as a School of Rock Allstar. With her school's house band, she had the opportunity to play at the Fillmore in Philadelphia in 2022.
After enrolling in Syracuse University in 2023 as a Political Science major, Kiera picked up a minor in Jazz Studies, with a concentration in piano and vocals. Her band, After Hours, has played many shows since her freshman year, featuring Kiera on vocals, keyboards, guitar, and the occasional bass and drums.
Kiera has been working at School of Rock Fayetteville NY since it opened as a teacher and show director. She intends to remain in Syracuse and pursue a masters in Music Business at Syracuse University after she obtains her Bachelor's degree.
Mike DeGiovine
Show Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Mike has been playing guitar since the age of 12, and since then music has had a significant place in his life. Having played in a wide range of bands and live settings, his musical experience spans genres from rock and metal to jazz and classical, with early influences like Metallica and Led Zeppelin later giving way to a broadened musical outlook shaped by hearing Coltrane’s A Love Supreme and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
With aspirations of becoming a teacher, Mike enrolled at Five Towns College in Dix Hills, New York, where he graduated in 2010 with a degree in music education. Several years later, he moved to China to work as a music and English teacher from 2013 to 2021, teaching concert band, choir, and performance-based groups similar to School of Rock ensembles.
After his tenure in China, Mike returned to New York and began working at OHM BOCES in New Hartford, where he continues to work today. Though many years have passed since he was that 12-year-old boy picking up the guitar for the first time, Mike’s love for music and education remains as strong as ever. Mike brings his experience to School of Rock Fayetteville NY.
Cooper Pokrentowski
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Cooper is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer from Syracuse. After Graduating from East-Syracuse Minoa High School in 2018, he attended the Crane School of Music, majoring in music education. He now spends his time outside of School of Rock Fayetteville NY playing gigs in the CNY area, either solo, or with a band.
Cooper’s personal style blends elements from R&B and soul artists like D’Angelo and Prince with those of classic rock groups like Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Eagles. Cooper is currently working on his first solo album.
Vatressa Teamoh
Drum Teacher
Vatressa Teamoh is a drum teacher at School of Rock Fayetteville NY. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Business from the Crane School of Music, where she performed in a variety of ensembles including Jazz Ensemble, Latin Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble. Her time at Crane allowed her to deepen both her technical skills and her understanding of collaborative musicianship.
Outside of her formal training, Vatressa has performed as the drummer in numerous bands, gaining extensive experience in group performance across a wide range of genres — from rock to jazz fusion and everything in between. This versatility allows her to connect with students of all musical interests and skill levels.
What Vatressa enjoys most about teaching at School of Rock is watching students not only learn their instruments, but develop a genuine love for music. She believes it’s not about being the best player in the room or sounding like a professional — it’s about connecting with one another, connecting with the songs, and making music together. Seeing students grow in confidence and build bonds with their peers is one of the most rewarding parts of her role.
A passionate studio drummer, Vatressa is especially proud of the music she has recorded and released on streaming platforms with other artists. She plans to continue recording and collaborating throughout her career, as she finds the creative process of bringing songs to life in the studio both fun and deeply fulfilling.
Vatressa’s own journey as a musician is something she often shares with her students. She began as a shy and quiet drummer who didn’t feel confident playing loudly or hitting hard — she didn’t even break her first drumstick until college. By high school, however, she was confidently performing in front of large crowds and truly playing out. She reminds her students that every musician’s journey is unique — growth takes time, but it is always worth it.
Brandon Morse
Drum Teacher
Brandon Morse is a drum teacher at School of Rock Fayetteville NY, bringing over 30 years of drumming experience to his students. A student of Recording Arts & Sciences, Brandon combines deep performance experience with an understanding of how music comes together both on stage and in the studio.
Throughout his career, Brandon has performed on virtually every major stage in Syracuse and was a member of the 2013 SAMMY Award–winning Mike McKay Band. His decades of live performance experience give him real-world insight that he passes directly to his students — from stage presence to groove, timing, and musical professionalism.
What Brandon enjoys most about teaching is the moment when “the lightbulb turns on.” Whether it’s a new rhythm clicking into place or a student gaining confidence behind the kit, he finds those breakthrough moments incredibly rewarding.
One of the projects he is most proud of is his current band, LARZ, which is quickly becoming the most exciting musical chapter of his career. Continuing to grow creatively keeps his teaching fresh and inspired.
Brandon also understands what it feels like to be unsure at the start. He was once hesitant to take lessons himself, but he quickly discovered that great teachers produce great students — who often grow up to become great teachers themselves. That full-circle perspective fuels his passion for helping the next generation of musicians find their confidence and voice behind the drums.
Michael DiGiorgio
Studio Coordinator
School of Rock Fayetteville NY Studio Coordinator Michael's journey with music started with his own parents, his mother being a trained vocalist, and his father loaning him his collection of 80's and 90's rock CDs. He is a singer and drummer first and foremost. He took drum lessons for nine years and continued to play in bands and participate in choirs during his time in college. He has a Bachelor's degree in both physics and music from Colgate University, and a Master's degree in Audio Arts from Syracuse University.
He is directly knowledgeable of multiple realms of audio gear, and has also worked at both Sweetwater Sound and Guitar Center. He's an avid listener, and, while metal may currently be his preferred genre, he is always excited to hear new music!