Craig Sasson
Owner, Operator
Craig is a dedicated father, guitarist, passionate musician, and seasoned songwriter with roots in rock, blues, and metal. A high-energy bandmate with a performance career spanning two decades, Craig has taken the stage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Irving Plaza for FUSE TV, and with Connecticut's premier cover band.
After 14 incredible years with School of Rock, Craig took a leap of faith, purchasing his own School of Rock and relocating his family to Franklin, TN. He’s now proud to lead the next generation of young musicians, sharing the magic and language of music every day at School of Rock Franklin.
Sam Plourd
Studio Coordinator
Sam Plourd loves music so much that she moved all the way from Bristol, Connecticut to Music City to be constantly surrounded by it. She graduated from the University of New Haven in 2025 with a degree in Music and Sound Recording and relocated to Nashville shortly afterward.
Her passion lies in spreading joy through music, and she is thrilled to contribute to School of Rock's mission as the Studio Coordinator at School of Rock Franklin.
Outside of the school, Sam writes, records, and performs her own music. Her love for singing and songwriting began at a young age, and she started officially releasing original music three years ago. While she enjoys being a performer and songwriter, she is equally passionate about audio engineering and music production. Through her studies, she interned at several recording studios, which eventually paved the way for her current freelance work at Curb Studios on Music Row.
When she's not making music, Sam enjoys dancing, reading, and volunteering with the Nashville Rescue Mission.
Sam is excited to help students and families have an incredible experience while sharing her love of music with the School of Rock Franklin community.
Alex Fansel
Music Director, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Alex is a studio drummer, music producer/engineer, and orchestrator based in Nashville. With a passion for developing new music and young musicians, he’s spent the last several years teaching, recording, and writing music across the US, Canada, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Serbia. Outside of School of Rock, you can usually find him recording in the studio, or writing music for orchestras, world instruments, and choirs. In 2019, Alex graduated from Berklee College of Music with a dual degree in Contemporary Writing & Production and Music Production & Engineering.
Abby Davis
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Abby Davis has been singing and playing guitar for longer than she can remember. From starring in Berklee shows to playing music festivals, her folk/rock roots shine through with her acoustic guitar in hand.
Abby graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2023 with an undergraduate degree in Songwriting and has done private tutoring for her peers in subjects such as ear training, guitar, and voice. Abby is thrilled to be a part of the team at the School of Rock in Franklin, TN!
Gavin Capeling
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Gavin Capeling is a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville, Tennessee. He regularly writes and records original music, collaborates with fellow artists, and produces both demos and full song productions across a wide range of musical styles.
Currently studying Songwriting at Belmont University, Gavin is continually developing his craft as both a writer and producer while actively pursuing new creative projects and performance opportunities throughout the Nashville music community.
As an instructor at School of Rock Franklin, Gavin enjoys helping students discover their own creativity, build confidence in their musical abilities, and develop the skills they need to achieve their goals as musicians.
Whether he's writing songs, producing recordings, performing live, or teaching the next generation of artists, Gavin is passionate about making meaningful connections through music.
Garrett Olson
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Garrett is a bassist, performer, and music educator based in Nashville, and is dedicated to helping students at School of Rock Franklin build confidence, develop strong musical foundations, and discover their own musical voice. With a passion for live performance, he has performed all across the country in historic venues such as The Grand Ole Opry, Bridgestone Arena, and the Fisher Center. In 2026, Garrett graduated from Belmont University’s College of Music and Performing Arts with a degree in Commercial Music and an emphasis in Music Business.
Ashton Eller
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Ashton Eller is a Lexington, NC native and a 2018 graduate of Catawba College in Salisbury, NC where he received his BA degree in Popular Music and Music Business. While in college, Ashton studied under Adrian Crutchfield who is the saxophone player for Lionel Ritchie, CeeLo Green, Bette Midler, and the Late Prince. He also studied under Dolph Ramseur, who is the manager for the Grammy Award-winning group The Avett Brothers and founder of Ramseur Records.
Ashton has been teaching music professionally for quite some time and has a passion for helping students reach their highest potential through music. Outside of School of Rock, he is a singer/songwriter and performer and currently fronts and plays lead guitar for his own band. While Ashton teaches multiple instruments, he also plays mandolin and banjo and has experience in audio engineering. Ashton takes influence from an array of influential artists including The Beatles, John Mayer, and The Eagles. Ashton has written and performed many styles of music and has songs out on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.
Alex Paul
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Alex Paul is a solo country artist and multi-instrumentalist. He is from New York, with a second home in Montrose, PA. Alex grew up spending most of his time at his family’s second home in Montrose, PA. The mountains made it easy to love the outdoors, and this is where he fell in love with country music.
Alex grew up in a home where music was a staple, all genres, and from a young age, it was part of who he was. His love of country music began as a teenager, when he would listen to George Strait, Keith Whitley, Waylon Jennings, Tim McGraw and Randy Travis to name a few. He started playing the drums at the age of four, which quickly spread to the guitar, bass guitar, and then vocals as he grew older. When Alex was ten years old, he traveled around with his mother Michelle and father Alex, playing show after show until he was admitted to Berklee College Of Music. Alex Paul spent the majority of his time in college focusing on studio sessions as an instrumentalist.
Alex is now living in Nashville, Tennessee, where he plans to continue his songwriting journey and furthering his career as a solo artist, instrumentalist, and teacher at School of Rock Franklin.
Christian Bojarski
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Christian Bojarski is a drummer, pianist, and producer based in Nashville, Tennessee. A recent graduate of Belmont University, Christian brings experience from both the stage and the studio, giving him a well rounded approach to music performance and education at School of Rock Franklin.
Drawing inspiration from a wide range of genres including pop, country, folk, Americana, jazz, and contemporary Christian music, Christian is passionate about helping musicians develop both technical skills and musical creativity. As a drummer and playback engineer, he has worked with notable artists including Canaan Smith, Erin Gibney, Molly Lovette, Josh Melton, and Emmy Moyen.
Whether performing live, producing in the studio, or teaching aspiring musicians, Christian combines professionalism, versatility, and a genuine love for music to help others grow and succeed.
James Weiss
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
James Weiss is a musician, guitarist, performer, composer, and educator from the DMV area. His playing and teaching experience span jazz, blues, rock, folk, metal, and musical theater. He graduated summa cum laude from George Mason University with a bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies in December 2021.
Following his graduation, James taught and performed locally throughout the DMV area for two years before moving to Nashville in September 2023. During his time in the DMV, he performed with cover bands, blues bands, jazz bands, rock bands, and musical theatre companies. His goal as an instructor is to inspire within his students the creativity, self-expression, and joy that music has given him.
Jason Powers
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jason began playing guitar at the age of 15 after seeing a solo by Eddie Van Halen. That was and is the catalyst that has inspired his pursuit of the instrument to this day. At the age of 21, Jason attended the Atlanta Institute of Music with an emphasis on performance and theory. After school, he performed and taught guitar full-time for years. Most of his experience was as a studio musician where he was blessed to have worked with many notable artists in the R&B, Jazz, Rap, and Christian industries in Atlanta at that time.
After years of studio work, Jason decided to pursue engineering, mixing, and production. He was blessed to have worked in many of Atlanta's flagship studios during that venture. Jason's passion now is to continue to press on to become the best musician he can and to invest himself in others to help them to fulfill their musical goals, including his students at School of Rock Franklin.
Jason Smith
Drum Teacher
A native of Branson, MO, Jason W. Smith began playing drums at the age of 9 and playing in bands by age 12. He was active in the drum line, concert band, and jazz band during high school and was the winner of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and was selected as All-State Missouri Jazz band as an alternate. After high school, Jason attended Berklee College of Music and continued his education at UMKC in Kansas City graduating with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree concentrating on audio recording. After college, he dedicated his musical focus to an indie rock band, touring the country, and releasing albums independently. In 2014, as an employee of Sprint, he participated in the Fortune Magazine Battle of the Corporate Bands as the drummer for Cleyson Brown Unlimited. He won the Best Drummer award and the band first place honors after their performance at the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This experience prompted his move to Nashville in 2016 to further pursue his musical career. His time in Nashville includes freelance work with professional touring and recording artists, most recently with Twitty & Lynn, Dave Wilbert, and The Jason Lee McKinney Band.
Teaching has also been a passion for Jason. He began teaching in the greater Kansas City Area at Southland Conservatory in 2006 and Mobile Music Teachers in 2007 with students who were looking to sharpen their school band auditions and others who wanted to learn how to play beats on a drum set. Jason excels at finding ways to attach musical concepts to interests his students already have to facilitate quick understanding while curating enthusiasm for their instrument and music in general. A background in a State Award-winning school band program and the DIY rock band side of music afforded him a unique skill set that can cater to all backgrounds. No matter how the student has found their passion for music, Jason can facilitate relevant lessons to build a skill set that the student can use now and in the future.
Laney Lebovitz
Songwriting Director, Vocal Teacher
Laney Lebovitz is a lifelong vocalist and performer with a long history at School of Rock. Laney is a former School of Rock student who spent a decade taking lessons and participating in performance programs until her high school graduation. She spent many years in her school's House Band and was a four-time AllStar, which had a huge impact on Laney’s stage presence and performance philosophy. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2023 with a degree in Songwriting.
Laney’s influences span a variety of genres, from rock greats like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath to Motown/soul artists like Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and Stevie Wonder. She is game for any song that requires belting it out, although her songwriting influences take a departure from the loud, energetic style she loves singing. As a self-proclaimed “songwriting nerd,” Laney prefers to emulate artists with a softer tone like Fiona Apple, Hozier, Sufjan Stevens, or Kacey Musgraves, with an emphasis on lyrics and melody.
Laney can’t wait to impart what she learned from her time at School of Rock and beyond with her students. She is hopeful that she can extend her love for music and writing to the next generation.
Matt Drummey
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Matt Drummey is a musician from Kingston, MA. A versatile player, Matt is equally comfortable as a bassist or guitarist. Years of performing and teaching make him an excellent resource for any aspiring musician. His playing style is an exciting blend of a wide range of influences. Over the course of his time playing Matt has studied blues, classic rock, jazz, neo-soul, bluegrass, funk and many more.
Matt received a degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music in 2011. During his time at Berklee he studied under master guitarist Tim Miller. His time at Berklee also led to him being one of the co-founders of Boston jam band Skyfoot. During his time with Skyfoot Matt performed over 200 shows, spanning over 20 states. Skyfoot released their debut album "Eternal Bend" in 2011. This album features Matt on both electric guitar and bass. His deep understanding of both instruments gives him a unique perspective on playing and teaching. In the spring of 2016 Matt relocated to Nashville to continue to pursue a career in music.
As an instructor Matt’s goal is to make lessons a fun and engaging environment for students. His sense of humor and approachability make him a great fit for all levels of students. Matt puts a strong emphasis on helping students learn their favorite songs and discover improvisation. Matt can teach music theory, reading, ear training, improvisation concepts, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric bass, fretless bass techniques, various musical genres, songwriting and more.
Spencer Moore
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Spencer is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where he studied classical guitar and composition. He's a multi-instrumentalist with years of keyboard, percussion, guitar, and bass experience. He was a School of Rock student himself in the Philadelphia area where he developed a strong passion for music theory and an equally strong love of rock. Treating music as both a science and a beautifully robust language capable of infinite expression, Spencer dreams of a world where everybody plays an instrument, understands the music they create and hear, and strives to explore and experiment with the creation of music.
When he isn't playing guitar with Nashville-based psychedelic rock band, The Mango Furs, he is likely petting a cat or getting lost in a good video game with an inspiring soundtrack.
Caroline Bergan
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Caroline is a songwriter, performer, and educator in Nashville. After graduating from Syracuse University in 2023 with a Master's in Music Education, she moved to Nashville to grow her music career. In addition to teaching at School of Rock Franklin, Caroline is the lead singer of a band on Broadway, frequently performing at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, and works remotely for The Songtuner.
Since moving to Nashville, she has honed her songwriting through frequent co-writing and performance opportunities. She has played countless writers' rounds and is a proud member of the renowned Bluebird Cafe. When she’s not performing, writing, or teaching, she enjoys exploring the city, cooking, and reading.
Soraya Rafat
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Soraya is a professional touring guitarist, session musician, and producer based in Nashville. She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and relocated to Tennessee to pursue her career in performance and production.
Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Soraya began playing guitar at age 11 and quickly expanded into bass, piano, drums, and music production, bringing a versatile, well-rounded approach to music education.
Soraya is passionate about helping students grow as confident, creative musicians and is excited to share her energy and experience with the School of Rock Franklin community.
Lucas Vittore
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Lucas is a multi-instrumentalist and music educator, teaching guitar, bass guitar, and keyboard + piano. He’s currently studying Music Business at Belmont University, and is a former School of Rock student and three-time AllStar. His time there was foundational, sparking both his musicianship and his desire to help others grow through music.
Now based in Nashville, Lucas performs his original music across the city and East Nashville, and records as a session musician on Music Row. Whether he’s playing live, tracking in the studio, or working with students at School of Rock Franklin, Lucas is always surrounded by music—and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Calli Scofidio
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Calli leads our Little Wing program for students ages 3–5, our Rookies program for students ages 6–7, and our adaptive music lessons for students with disabilities. Her work focuses on creating inclusive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate musical experiences that meet each student where they are.
Calli is a graduate of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, where she earned her B.A. in Neurologic Music Therapy. She specializes in early childhood education and adaptive music instruction, bringing over a decade of teaching experience to students of all ages, abilities, and experience levels.
She began her journey with School of Rock in New Hampshire and recently relocated to Nashville to pursue her career as an independent artist while continuing her passion for music education at School of Rock Franklin.
In Calli’s words, “I’m really passionate about the power music has to drive change in our world — from the individual level to entire communities.”
Nolan Brown
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher & Vocal Teacher
Nolan Brown has been passionate about music since his first piano lesson at age six. After several years studying classical piano, he picked up guitar at twelve and later studied rock performance as a student at School of Rock in Rochester, MI.
As a teenager, Nolan’s pop-punk band performed at Warped Tour 2016. He later moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, earning a degree in Music Business while performing regularly with various bands. In 2021, Nolan co-founded his alt-rock band Multi Ultra, which now performs over 100 shows a year and won Lightning 100’s Music City Mayhem Battle of the Bands in 2023 out of more than 450 submissions.
Today Nolan writes, records, and performs with Multi Ultra, works as a freelance audio engineer and producer, and performs twice a week on Broadway at Nudie’s Honky Tonk. With over 1,000 live shows under his belt, he loves sharing his experience with the next generation of musicians.
“Teaching at School of Rock Franklin is a dream come true. Music is a universal language that connects us all.”