Jordan Pasquin
Music Director. Drum Teacher, Bass Teacher, Keys Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Jordan Pasquin is a Drum Set performer and educator based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. He has been playing for 17 years, and in addition to performing across the country, he maintains a busy teaching schedule that includes students of all ages and skill levels. His diverse performance background and Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music allow him to authentically teach a wide array of styles and techniques, while focusing on helping his students achieve their personal goals. Jordan strives to demonstrate how music can be healthy for you physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Jordan is known for his work performing with Write Minded, Cary Morin & Ghost Dog, and I Am The Owl. He also works regularly as a session musician for countless other artists across all genres. He takes great pride in all he does relating to music, including helping other artists sound their best as a Drum Tech for The Blasting Room. Jordan is grateful for the impact music has had on his life and loves passing on the joy of music to his students.
Mike Shamrock
Assistant Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Michael Shamrock Robertson Jr., an American guitarist, was born into a military family that took him from coast to coast before finally settling in Fort Collins, Colorado at the age of 21. His earliest musical memories are of singing Billy Idol's "Mony Mony”, watching Michael Jackson's movie Moonwalker, and watching his dad, cousin, and their friend playing "Hotel California" at a backyard BBQ. He soon became mesmerized by the unique sounds of Rage Against the Machine, Tool, and Jane's Addiction. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, picking up bass soon after.
Shamrock's devotion to music is undeniable. His close friends, band members, and community acknowledge him as a guitar virtuoso. In 2009, he was recognized as the best guitarist and songwriter by KRFC's Night Howler JJ Johnson. He's been involved in numerous award-winning bands, such as 20XIII, AutoFate, Pretty Noise, Guerrilla Radio (Tribute to Rage Against the Machine), Sonic Temple (Tribute to the Cult), and Sabotage (tribute to the Beastie Boys) just to name a few! The mix of both original and tribute bands highlights Shamrock's versatility and diligent focus on his craft.
Shamrock's hard working disposition is shown through the countless acts and projects he delves into. On top of being currently active in six different bands, he utilizes his free time honing his technique, ear training, writing, and recording music, while also promoting his album "Not I!" Said the lil’ mouse.
Looking forward, he anticipates pushing 20XIII and his solo band, collaborating with other artists, and is especially excited about teaching his craft as an instructor at School of Rock Fort Collins.
Jake DiFebo
Singing and Keyboard Teacher
Jake discovered his love of singing in the eighth grade when he tried out for a rock opera and soon realized he had some potential. A few years of choir later he decided to major in music, and after applying to a number of colleges he chose to attend UC Santa Cruz for Vocal Performance. In his now eleven-year career as a singer, Jake has performed musical theatre roles, opera roles, sung in an a cappella group, and been featured as a soloist on a record.
Throughout his journey as a singer, Jake discovered his love for teaching. Now he is a Master's student in Music Education and Composition at Colorado State University. Nothing makes him happier than helping people to express themselves musically. Jake obsesses over a new band all the time, but his all-time favorites include: The Beatles, The Who, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, Muse, Radiohead, Nirvana, Kung-Fu, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Phish, Yes, CHON, System of a Down, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Rush - and honestly far too many more for this short bio. Ask him about music and he will gladly talk your ear off!
JJ Maestas
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Keys Teacher
Jacob Maestas has been playing rock, funk, ska, and punk in and around Colorado since he was 15 years old. In the short time since he’s built a solid musical resume that includes performing at major festivals like Taste of Colorado, and presenting TedX talks on how music education changes lives for the better. When it comes to teaching, Jacob tailors his approach to the uniqueness of each and every student, helping them to find their own unique musical voice.
Michael Millan
Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Michael is a keyboardist and vocalist based in the Northern Colorado area. He recently graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, and has been an active musician since his freshman year. Michael has had the great opportunity to study jazz piano under Dana Landry, Tom Amend, and Annie Booth, all active musicians in the Northern Colorado scene and beyond, and to study voice under Jenna McLean.
Having started playing classical piano at the age of 5, playing in jazz groups since middle school, and taking vocal lessons in college, Michael is well-versed in multiple genres of music. He has played in/for big bands, small modern jazz ensembles, salsa bands, musical theatre pits, and singer-songwriters.
Michael is excited to be a part of School of Rock Fort Collins, and he looks forward to making connections and guiding the next generation through their musical journey!
Ethan Christi
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Ethan Christi is a Fort Collins native and multi-instrumentalist specializing in drums and bass. He started playing djembe at the Fort Collins African drum and dance collective at 11 years old, playing shows around northern Colorado and becoming immersed in the culture of rhythm at a young age. Ethan later took up bass and drum set, and now gigs and tours with a wide variety of bands.
People in General is Ethan’s main project, a jazz-pop 4 piece that won the FoCoMa peer award for Best New Band of 2019. For the past 3 years, Ethan has also played drums in the Grace Kuch Band. During that time, the band has toured across the United States, and has played shows like BB King’s Blues Club in Memphis Tennessee and the main stage of the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena Arkansas.
Ethan has always had a fascination with the different rhythms and styles from cultures across the world, and tries to incorporate the different types of drums and percussion into his play style and teaching style. To Ethan, the best part of teaching is to open student’s eyes to the diversity and impact of music across the world, and get them motivated to find their own purpose in playing music.
Lucy Logan
Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher
Lucy discovered her love of singing in middle school, singing in choirs and musicals, and began taking voice lessons as a freshman in high school. She participated in All-State Choir, Thescon, and NATS, where she placed 2nd in the classical category. She is now a junior at CSU studying vocal performance and is excited to dive into the world of teaching lessons herself, after taking them for many years. This is her first professional teaching gig, and she is so excited for the future and to be joining such a wonderful team of musicians who share her love and passion for music. But above all else, she is excited to share that with her students, and to get them singing like a rockstar!
Brian Zitti
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Brian Zitti's musical journey first started with the saxophone when he was 10 years old, and eventually led to him picking up the guitar after high school - and he hasn't put it down since! Cutting his teeth in the Fort Collins music scene, in addition to rock Brian has gained experience playing bluegrass, Americana, folk music, blues, and more. His band Lucid Blues has played on numerous Fort Collins stages including the Aggie Theatre and the historical Mishawaka Amphitheatre. After adding drums, bass, and piano to his musical arsenal, he is now focused on composing songs for the band and producing music on his own. He believes music allows communication through sound that words cannot deliver, and hopes to inspire, heal, and move people through his playing. Teaching others and helping them on their own musical journey brings great fulfillment to Brian, and he can't wait to help students at School of Rock grow so they can share their experience with the world.
Devin Johnson
Singing and Guitar Teacher, Little Wing and Rookies Director, Rock 101 Teacher
Devin Johnson found her love for music in Flint, Michigan where she was raised. When not in school, she was constantly attending acting, flute, and classical vocal lessons. Her summers were spent participating in musical theatre programs in South Philadelphia, where she also discovered a love for performing. Although her background is primarily in musical theatre, Devin is very much a classic rock enthusiast, thanks to her aunt who ensured that she listened to famous bands from the 70s, as opposed to the 2000s pop that was flooding the radio at the time. Ironically enough, she's also a massive Taylor Swift fan as well. To accompany her vocal capabilities, Devin is learning piano and guitar, and she has also taken up writing music in her free time. Devin accredits her love for music and performing to the instructors that taught her in her youth, and she is incredibly excited to be sharing the same enthusiasm with her students.
Kyle Krueckeberg
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Kyle Krueckeberg has been playing guitar, bass, and singing professionally for over 20 years. Over that time he has been involved in numerous projects that have covered a multitude of different musical styles. Kyle is currently the bassist and vocalist for Fort Collins based punk metal band, I Am the Owl, as well as his solo project, The Dark Lake. He brings with him a wealth of experience in other musical skills, including live sound, recording, mixing/mastering, and songwriting - and can’t wait to apply those skills to teaching the next generation of rockers at School of Rock Fort Collins.
Nic Federle
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Hailing from a small town in Indiana, Nic began his musical journey at a young age. From elementary through high school he played violin and performed in an award-winning school orchestra. As a teenager Heavy Metal became an escape from the monotony of the Midwest for Nic, so he traded-in his violin for an electric guitar. Playing in metal bands in Indianapolis as a teenager and cutting his teeth on stages sparked a life long passion for performance.
After high school he attended RECW in Ohio, learning music production and recording arts before moving to Colorado to pursue greater opportunities in music. In his decade of residence in Fort Collins, Nic has been employed by many of the area’s most notable music stores, concert venues, and organizations.
Nic is an accomplished songwriter, performer, recording engineer, music producer, live sound engineer, instrument repair technician, voice actor, music journalist, booking agent, promoter, and even foley artist! Concert-goers know him (and his hair) from acts such as Retract, The Little Black Bottles, For None Now Live, and Triton. He has an understanding of every functioning piece of the music industry and over 20 years of experience performing. Even though Heavy Metal (and all its subgenres) is his forte, Nic has a breadth of knowledge and experience in every genre of music and every facet of its execution.
Bethany Conniff
Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher - Little Wing and Rookies
Bethany has been involved in the arts for as long as she can remember. Starting at the age of six, she joined several children’s choirs and performed in a multitude of theatrical productions in the Chicagoland area. Though Bethany is classically-trained with an extensive theatre background, the soundtrack to and from rehearsals and performances was always classic rock! By participating in such a variety of musical experiences, this devotion to music eventually led to some wonderful teaching opportunities where Bethany’s passion of music education flourished.
Bethany holds an Associate of Arts in Music from Rock Valley College in Rockford, Illinois. She also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts with a focus in Vocal Pedagogy and Musicology from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater where she studied under Dr. Rachel Wood. Currently, Bethany is pursuing her Master’s of Music Education at Colorado State University here in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is thrilled to join the team at School of Rock, and to help students pursue their dreams of finding their voice and becoming the ultimate rock star!
Mckenna Reeve
Drum Teacher
Drum teacher Mckenna Reeve (she/her) is well versed in genres ranging from jazz to rock and roll. She received her Masters in Jazz Composition in 2022 from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and is now based in Fort Collins. In addition to teaching, Mckenna is currently performing with Veronica May and the Magnetics, the Aquiles Quiroga Band, the Thistle Tones, and the No Hands Brass Band. She is very excited to be working at the School of Rock where she can help the next generation of musicians learn to rock!
Cameron Olver
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Born and raised in Fort Collins, Cam has had diverse musical experiences from classical to EDM and beyond. Starting on guitar at a young age, he’s since added several more instruments to his musical arsenal including bass, sax, clarinet, and most recently drums. After earning his bachelor's at Berklee College of Music, Cam has been committed to continuing his music education by learning new techniques, sounds, and even more additional instruments. He is now focused on growing his musical brand in the Fort Collins music scene as a performer, recording artist, and instructor. Cam believes the love of music deserves to be shared, and is excited to have the opportunity to do so at School of Rock!
Anthony Welch
Drum Teacher
Anthony's destiny as a drummer was decided as a small child when he strapped an oatmeal container around his neck and picked up two Lincoln Logs as drumsticks. His parents bought him his first drum kit when he was 12 years old, and he’s still rocking.
Anthony has actively played in bands for over 27 years. He's crafted his chops playing mostly metal, but was also a part of Colorado Springs' award-winning cover act, 40oz. Freedom Fighters. Currently, Anthony is the drummer for the Colorado Springs thrash metal band, Planetary 27, and drums for the groove/death metal band, Red Gremlin. He also fronts his own solo band, The Dub Project. Anthony splits his time between Southern Colorado and Northern Colorado and handled drumming duties for the NOCO Judas Priest tribute act, The Fold. He also now supplies beats for the NOCO-based Beastie Boys tribute band, Sabotage.
Anthony is thrilled to have a job that allows him to share his love for rock with the next generation of musicians.
Mike Adams
Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher
Mike Adams has been playing the keys for almost 25 years. He earned a degree in Professional Music at Berklee College of Music, where he was the president of the Songwriters Club — the largest club at Berklee.
He moved to Fort Collins in 2017 where he started working at the Downtown Artery. His work at the Artery sparked a passion for the Fort Collins local music scene, and in 2018 he started playing keys for local surf rock band Robert Shredford. Mike plans to spend the rest of his life playing music.
Adrienne Ash
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Adrienne is a rock/punk/emo/metal guitarist and singer from St. Louis, MO with over 15 years of experience playing music professionally. Her favorite guitars are Gibson Les Pauls and her favorite bands are Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance, The Gaslight Anthem, Against Me!, and The Darkness. Adrienne's favorite foods are St. Louis staples like Imo's Pizza, chili, and the world's best barbecue. Her motto is to always play WITH the song, not ON the song.
Kota Martinez
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher, Little Wing Teacher, Rookies Teacher, Rock 101 Teacher
Dakota “Kota” Martinez has been dreaming of being a rockstar since the day they could walk. Their musical journey started with a mini pink guitar and a clown act, performing for their family at every opportunity. Kota then began studying classical music in the 6th grade, starting with such instruments as the tuba, french horn, and cello. Shortly thereafter, Kota discovered their singing voice, which led to them becoming a student at School of Rock. Kota quickly found a home there, and though they were shy at first they eventually blossomed.
Loving a good challenge, Kota took every opportunity the school gave them including an opportunity to audition and perform for their house band. Kota loves watching people find their shine through music and the thousands of smiles make it all worth it. Though Kota is still learning so much themself, they are so excited to guide the new generation of rock stars to stardom!
El Duncan
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher, Little Wing Teacher, Rookies Teacher, Rock 101 Teacher
El Duncan began their musical journey in the 5th grade with vocal lessons. Having come from a talented musical family, they picked up the guitar shortly thereafter but El really hit their musical stride when they joined the School of Rock in Philadelphia at the start of 7th grade. El continued to rock at School of Rock through high school, joining House Band and adding bass guitar to their instrument arsenal along the way. They moved to Fort Collins to study music at CSU and has made the transition from student to instructor at School of Rock Fort Collins. El is thrilled to share their passion for music with the next generation of rockers!
Maya Reno
Drum Teacher
Maya Reno is a third year Music Education major at Colorado State University. Her primary instrument is drums, but she loves playing and experimenting with just about any musical instrument. As an artist, Maya believes in the importance of communal music-making and strives to bring this belief into her teaching. That’s why Maya is thrilled to be at School of Rock Fort Collins, where she can create a positive and safe space where students are encouraged to develop their identity in music and life.