Maddie Barber General Manager
Maddie started out at School of Rock Memphis at the young age of 12, where she was always being influenced by jazz, blues, country and the ever-classic rock n’ roll of Memphis in the early 2000s. When she made her way to Texas in 2013, she found herself living down the street from School of Rock Frisco, and the rest is history.
Over her 4 years in high school she participated in Show Choir and also performed with several different cover bands, all while recording for her own personal musical endeavors. She spent over 6 years as a student at School of Rock Frisco, performing in Performance Bands and House Band. Though a classical vocalist at the core, Maddie’s tried several other instruments, including piano, bass and guitar.
Maddie started working at School of Rock in 2016, first as a camp intern and then as a Studio Coordinator. Over the years she has worked her way up to the role of General Manager. She is so grateful for the opportunity to work with all of the amazing students and families at School of Rock Frisco!
Saxon Lewis Music Director
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Saxon started learning music at the young age of eight. Like his father, he started out as a brass musician. However, he picked up many other instruments as the years went by like bass, guitar, and vocals. Saxon came from a classical background that spread to tastes in Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
After high school, Saxon went to college at The University of Nevada at Las Vegas. There he earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance. UNLV gave Saxon many
interesting opportunities to perform, including performing with a marching band at the Electric Daisy Carnival, performing on two of the UNLV Wind Orchestra’s albums, founding a Progressive Rock band, and traveling to Austria to perform with his tuba quartet.
After graduating, Saxon moved to Dallas and discovered School of Rock, and he has been hooked ever since. In 2018, Saxon was made music director of the Frisco location. When Saxon is not teaching at School of Rock, he writes, records and performs in multiple bands in the DFW area like his progressive rock trio, Ether After. Saxon is also currently pursuing his master's degree in music education at Texas Woman's University with an emphasis on music composition.
Marisa Saltzgiver Drum Teacher
Marisa Saltzgiver has been playing drums since she was 11 years old. She was section leader her senior year of high school and played on the snare line for six years. She also played in her school's concert bands, orchestras, jazz bands and percussion ensembles. Marisa has played with several different bands in the metroplex and at numerous venues/events, including House of Blues, Cowboy's Stadium with Sherill Douglas (international celebrity
impersonator), Trees, and Fair Park Coliseum. She also toured in LA and Colorado with Nate Hancock and the Declaration for a few years.
She currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and works at School of Rock Frisco as a drum instructor. Her main project is an all girl, heavy-hitting, 4-piece original indie rock band called The Roommates. They have played several venues and events, including Dallas Pride, Waco Pride, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and headlined Trees and Gas Monkey Bar & Grill. They have even had a song featured in “Gloria in te Domine”, an indie film which has won Best International Film by Birmingham Film Festival.
Al Hurd Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher
Al grew up in southern New Jersey, and started playing piano at age eleven after being introduced to bands like Queen and Supertramp. Al was in a children’s choir in Burlington, NJ, and started attending School of Rock Rockwall at age 14 after moving to Texas. During a four-year tenure, Al took lessons in keys, vocals, and bass, as well as drums senior year.
The colorful New Jersey music scene introduced various genres that continue to influence Al’s songwriting and playing style, including rockabilly, ska punk, and garage rock. Today, Al plays bass, keys, and guitar for a few different music projects, and loves to write new tunes every day.
Zack Griswold Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Zack has always been involved in music in one way or another. He started playing music in middle school where he played the upright bass. After doing that for two years he joined the jazz band at school where he started using electric bass, and that is when he came across School of Rock. He started taking lessons at age 14 and stuck with it through high school. He was in the House Band for most of his time there and went on the National Senior Tour.
After graduating, Zack moved to Denver, Colorado to start his degree in audio production. He was there for a year, and then moved back to continue taking online classes to complete his degree. He works on side recording projects as well as his own music. Zack helped with camps at School of Rock while he was a student and is now working as a teacher for bass and guitar.
Krissy Huerta Keyboard Teacher
Krissy was put into piano lessons at age 7. She discovered KISS around the same time and has wanted to pursue music since. She picked up bass and guitar during adolescence and began writing songs at age 13, took lessons here and there to refine technique, and then picked up drums at 19 years old.
She moved to Dallas in 2011 and sang for an alternative rock band for a couple years. Then began to play keyboards, sing backing vocals, and cookie monster scream for several original industrial and nu-metal bands. She is on a couple of streamable albums and has gone on tour. She has opened for many national acts and was featured at one of Vinnie Paul's Halloween Birthday Bashes.
She currently plays keys and drums for different tribute bands, keys and vocals for a horror punk band, and lead guitar for a rockabilly group.
Brandon Ortega Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Brandon was born and raised in Temecula, California. Showing an affinity for music at a young age, he started taking drum lessons at age 10. When he turned 13, however, he sold his drum kit to buy his first guitar. Shortly thereafter, he fell in love with bands like Rage Against the Machine and Royal Blood, then finding and falling in love with jazz artists like Joe Pass and Charles Mingus.
Fueled by his new appreciation for the jazz greats, Brandon auditioned for and was accepted into the top jazz band his freshman year of high school, followed shortly after by being accepted into the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory. There, he studied technique, theory, and performance from jazz masters Charles McPherson and John Clayton. After graduating from high school, Brandon spent a few years playing gigs around San Diego and arranging tunes for jazz combos.
Brandon currently attends the University of North Texas studying jazz guitar performance while playing in jazz guitar ensembles, a funk/R&B ensemble, and a jazz combo. Brandon, with his nuanced guitar knowledge, can channel both rock legends and jazz legends alike in his lessons.
Chris Ortiz Drum Teacher
Chris Ortiz has been playing drums since he was 6 years old. Throughout junior high and some high school, Chris played trumpet and was first chair for a couple years. After graduating high school, Chris studied at Richland Community College, where he started and joined a few bands with genres ranging from Blues to Gutter Punk. After college, he joined the Dallas blues scene and played in venues all around Dallas and Deep Ellum with acts such as Reverend K.M. Williams, Janky, The 1969’s and Robert Kimbrough Jr.
Chris currently stays in the DFW area and works at School of Rock Frisco, as a drum teacher. His main band is an Alt-Pop five piece called Matchstick Ghost. They’ve played at venues such as Andy’s Bar, Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, J&J’s Pizza, 3Links, The Ridglea Room and M.A.S.S. Chris has put out several EP’s and albums and is currently working on releasing more.
Cole Clary Studio Coordinator
Cole was born and raised in Plano, Texas. After showing an affinity for music at a young age, he was put into piano lessons at the age of five. Although he stuck with it for three years, the constant practice without sparking nearly any love for music caused him to get frustrated easily, and led to quitting. That was when he found School of Rock Frisco.
Cole’s parents actually had to trick him into attending his first lesson at School of Rock due to his laziness and introverted nature. Afterwards, he fell in love. Cole spent four years enrolled at School of Rock, a few seasons in House Band (known then as Dean’s List), before he became too busy with the choir program at his high school. Cole is very fond of his years in choir as it has helped shape his understanding of musical fundamentals from a singer’s perspective.
After graduating in 2019, Cole spent a year studying vocal performance at UNT before deciding to take a gap year. During this gap year, Cole saw that the school which taught him to love music, School of Rock Frisco, was hiring. Luckily, Cole landed the job and now takes great pride in helping bring new students into the community he was, very fortunately, forced into. Cole is still studying music with the help of being surrounded by the very talented musicians and teachers he has come to know.
Joe Cool McBride Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Joe Cool was born in Cumberland, Maryland as Matthew Joseph McBride. After many years of having the same name as his dad, he decided to go by his middle name and was given the moniker “Joe Cool”. Joe fell in love with hard rock and heavy metal bands like AC/DC, KISS, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Van Halen and Metallica at a very young age. After singing for many years, Joe picked up guitar for the first time at age 13.
During all 4 years of high school, Joe played lead guitar and sang for Rockskool where he learned important lessons for performing and learning music. He also recorded a song in a studio in Dallas and shot a music video as a semester final. After graduating, he also taught himself drums and bass to work on music of his own. Joe also played with local metal bands in southern California like We Are The End, Holes in Heaven, and Deafboutique.
After moving back to Texas, Joe soon found School of Rock. He always goes the extra mile to make sure his students are excited about the music they work on, as well as the instrument itself. In addition to teaching, Joe is currently working on his own musical projects.
Kay Carpenter Singing Teacher
Born and raised in Houston,
Texas, Kay has always had a love of music. In 2012, Kay started at School of Rock. What started out as a fun summer camp experience turned into a lifelong love of music. While a student, she was very active in her local school’s house band and performance groups. She participated in countless season shows over her School of Rock career as a bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and keyboardist.
Since graduating, Kay has joined the School of Rock Dallas Alumni band. She is currently a student at the University of North Texas, studying Advertising and minoring in Communications.
In her spare time, Kay can be found at a race track. She was raised by a team of race car drivers and their families, along with her father, who drove a Miata, and mother, who was a Race Steward. She began volunteering for the National Auto Sports Association’s Texas Region as a Grid Marshall before she was old enough to drive a car. Recently, she’s also started running social media & marketing operations for professional race car drivers in Pirelli World Challenge. She has become a dedicated and loyal staff member and loves spending her weekends with her race family.
Lucas McGaha Drum Teacher
Lucas has always had a passion for music, but he didn’t pick up drums for the first time until age 16. Lucas attended School of Rock from Fall of 2017 until he graduated high school while participating in House Band (he’s on the House Band posters in the student lobby). What started as playing music with friends turned into a desire to perform, connect with more musicians, and teach.
Lucas started working for School of Rock to help give back to the place that helped form his lifelong passion for music and performing.
Lucas is currently enrolled in Berklee College of Music Online, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies. Lucas is consistently pushing to learn more about music and further his skills. In his free time, Lucas enjoys traveling, skydiving, and pushing his boundaries to experience life to the fullest.
Maria Paniagua Singing Teacher
Born and raised in Texas, Maria started her singing career at 3 years old. She was always influenced by her father who was an active member of the church choir. When Maria started elementary school she joined the school choir, and since then she was a part of the choral program throughout her school career. Maria always had a special place for singing.
While in college for a meteorology degree, Maria was a music director for the university’s all girl acapella group. This experience helped her discover her true love for teaching music. She changed her degree to music and earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education at Midwestern State University. During her time at MSU Texas, Maria performed in the local community and discovered her true voice. This experience inspired Maria to want to help others find a love for music and discover their own voice.
After graduating college in 2021, Maria moved to Frisco to explore more jobs in the music industry. During her journey, Maria found a great opportunity to work for School of Rock. Although Maria is a classically trained vocalist, she is dedicated to inspire young minds to love and appreciate music for their entire lives. Maria is ready to help her students become Rockstars!
Matt Travi Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Born and raised in Garland, Matt started learning music in the 6th grade band program at his middle school. He played the clarinet in the G.I.S.D. school system all the way through high school. Matt loved being in band as an extracurricular activity. He was a drum major for the Sachse High School marching band, made the 5A All-State Concert Band, and was awarded the John Philip Sousa award upon graduating high school.
After High School, Matt earned a scholarship for his musical ability and attended college at Texas A&M University-Commerce as a Music Education major for a year. Life took him in a different musical direction when he moved back to Garland and picked up the guitar and bass. It was at this time that he developed an interest to serve in church worship. He played guitar, bass, and drums for Elevate Young Adult Ministry in Collin County, and eventually became a Staff Musician and Music Director at Hope Fellowship Church in the Frisco-Mckinney-Prosper area.
Matt is currently a Worship Resident at Hope Fellowship, where he is gaining experience learning the behind the scenes work that is involved in putting together a worship service. In his free time, Matt loves spending time with his wife and dog at his home in Carrollton and playing video games. Along with worship, he also loves listening to rock and metal music! Some of his favorite bands include Dream Theater, Foo Fighters, Anberlin, and Wolves at the Gate.
Ian Bartholomee Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Ian was born and raised in the Metroplex by a guitarist/bassist and a pianist/bassoonist. He started taking guitar lessons in the third grade after hearing Elephant by the White Stripes, and bass lessons in highschool after getting into Muse. He learned the instruments from jazz, rock, and bluegrass musicians, picking up as many skills along the way as he could. Alongside playing in church bands, he joined his school's Rock Band elective, which then developed into his first band, Ballistic Pineapples, making his first recording and gigging experience in the process.
At the same time, he started getting into all aspects of theatre. Ian both wrote and performed in plays throughout highschool, including Theatre Arlington's run of the musical School of Rock, where he performed both on stage and in the live band. This led to a pursuit of a degree in Theatre at UNT, with a minor in Music. Soon after starting at UNT, he started another band with his sister, who had previously drummed for Ballistic Pineapples, called The Troubadours.
Alongside that, he has recorded with the American Homebound Orchestra, Sheridan Coffee, and Mars the Maven, played in Tree Veins and Oliver's Army, and now is working on his own music. Finishing up at UNT, Ian is doing what he can to pay forward the same performance experiences he had in high school-- armed with a holistic approach ranging from set design to band arrangement, and everything in between.
Jon Reich Drum Teacher
Jon has been playing drums since he was 11 years old. He began learning the drums to hopefully play music with his friends one day. He later realized his passion for the instrument in high school marching band where he played up to the position of Drum Captain and was accepted into his school’s jazz band, on top of participating in multiple percussion and band ensembles. His biggest achievement in high school was winning the Louis Armstrong Jazz award. He also took his passion to play in a worship band at church, and now plays at multiple churches in the area.
Nowadays, Jon is pursuing an undergrad in Modern Music for Drums at Visible Music College. He is the drummer for an Alt-rock band called “Week on the Beach”. He spends his time outside of teaching to play in his band, practice his studies, or spend time with family and friends. Some of Jon’s favorite bands are Pierce the Veil, Neck Deep, Thundercat, Childish Japes, and Delta Sleep.