Rachel Pores
Director
As a young child, Rachel found music to be magical. Every chance she had, she had to be musical. Her family was immersed in the arts, which helped foster her deep love of the performing arts. Rachel started playing the piano at 6 years old and found pure joy. She wrote her first song a year later and after ten years, she was performing classical concertos and had aspirations of becoming a concert pianist. But her true passion was centered around the voice.
Rachel attended Interlochen Arts Camp for piano and voice study at the early age of 8 and also had the opportunity to attend Interlochen Arts Academy for her high school career. There she continued as a voice and piano major, afterward attending the University of Michigan School of Music for Voice Performance. Searching for a more creative study in jazz, which was not available to Voice majors at the time, Rachel began performing outside of school in various bands and attended jazz courses for no credit. She found her home on stage, telling stories within her own original songs and singing her favorite genre, funk. Soon after, she met Jeremy, a jazz drummer from New Jersey. They fell madly for each other and started playing music together in 1997.
Rachel has been a performing, touring, and studio musician ever since. She has had the pleasure of working as lead vocalist for the iconic Parliament Funkadelic and The Talking Heads keyboardist, Dr. Bernie Worrell, along with many hip hop artists, recording and touring with the likes of Tame One of the Artifacts, Grandmaster Caz of the Cold Crush Brothers and El-P of Run the Jewels. Rachel has also performed and recorded with numerous original and cover bands all over the east coast. She is currently working on a funk project singing lead vocals and playing keys.
In 2012 Rachel had the incredible opportunity to work as an instructor at her local School of Rock. She fell in love instantly, and couldn’t believe she was getting compensated for such a fulfilling job. She knew immediately she had to pursue further, and soon after, she became Assistant Director at another School of Rock location. Because of the impact of School of Rock’s performance-based music education model, Rachel even went back to school through Montclair State University’s Music Education program to help hone her skills in order to better serve her School of Rock community. Her hope is to become a steward of music, a confidant, and a guide for students to help reveal their own individuality and potential through programs at School of Rock Hoboken.
Jeremy Pores
Director
Jeremy Pores’ passion in life has always been music. He started playing the drums at age 10, and quickly transformed into a professional. By age 16, he was playing in cover bands in the New Jersey music scene. He found his niche throwing down drum beats, and could always be found with his drumsticks and even with his drums in tow whenever and wherever possible. His early teachers include the great Glen Weber and Joe Morello. Jeremy went on to study jazz drum performance under Jackie MacLean at the Hartt School of Music and then transferred to the Berklee College of Music to pursue lessons with Jamie Hadadd. Jeremy’s work in the music industry has always been guided by performance. Whenever Jeremy can get on a stage, he’s there. His work in hip-hop and funk music has been extensive. For the past 25 years, his work as a professional performing artist includes national tours, house and studio work, not only as a professional drummer but also as a producer and manager for numerous solo artists and bands centrally located along the east coast. His performance experience includes playing such renowned stages as the Trenton State Arena, NYC Knitting Factory and Maritime Hall. Most notably, Jeremy toured as lead drummer for the late Rock and Roll Hall of Fame keyboardist Bernie Worrell of Parliament Funkadelic and The Talking Heads.
Jeremy’s most recent endeavor has been teaching the next generation of musicians how to perform on their instruments. He has such a great passion for teaching and helping others understand the complex rhythms of modern music. He is so excited about the next stage of his life, passing on the knowledge that was taught to him through his teachers to the next generation of musicians at School of Rock Hoboken.
Leon Litewski
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Leon Litewski (they/them) is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and occasional pianist based in New York City. Leon grew up primarily listening to first-wave progressive rock bands such as King Crimson, Yes, Gentle Giant, and Genesis, but loves all kinds of music ranging from pop, hip-hop, jazz, folk, country, metal, all the way to indigenous folk music from all over the world.
Leon attended Berklee College of Music and released their first single under their own name in 2020 called “Sunshine.” Leon currently plays with pop rock band Teddy Hold On with fellow Berklee student Teddy Parker. Leon is also starting up a new post-hardcore band with New York-based drummer and singer Nate Repasz called Feaster.
In teaching, Leon seeks not only to teach students to learn to play their instrument proficiently but to also develop a deep, lifelong love and passion for music, whether or not they choose to pursue music professionally.
Keilani Ramirez
Assistant Manager, Vocals Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Keilani is super excited to be a part of the team at the School of Rock in Hoboken, New Jersey! She is currently working towards her bachelor's degree in Special Education and is also studying Music and Theatre on the side. Keilani spends her free time performing her own original music and covers at local open mics. She has a passion for music and teaching, and hopes to one day create a safe space for children with special needs to learn the magic of music!
Keilani taught herself how to play guitar and ukulele at the age of 11 and has been singing for as long as she can remember. She believes that every child learns differently and the most important part about rockin' with kiddos is finding what touches their heart and excites them to learn so that they love what they do!
Sofia Oro
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Sofia is very excited to be a School of Rock Hoboken instructor! She has experience teaching vocals, guitar, and keyboards, and is actively performing locally with both a band and as a solo artist.
Sofia is currently studying music education with a concentration in jazz voice at Montclair State University! She was selected as an Emerging Artist for Hudson West Fest for her original songs in October 2023. Her foundations and influences in music are deeply rooted within the rock genre.
A unique factor of Sofia’s teaching is emphasizing self-accompaniment, to ensure a student can feel independent in both solo and band settings and bridge the gap between "singer" and "musician." Sofia will encourage students to push beyond their comfort zone, and most importantly, to have fun!
Stephen Ellison
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Stephen is a lifetime lover of music. He has been playing drums professionally since 2014 and started in local bars and weddings in his home state of New Mexico. He studied drum set performance at Berklee College of Music. While in Boston he continued gigging live and in the studio. Stephen also plays guitar and keyboards.
In 2022, Stephen began working and playing in Nashville. He taught at a School of Rock location there and discovered his love for teaching. His passion for music and experience in the industry is what he strives to share with every student at School of Rock Hoboken. Stephen is currently gigging with several bands around the metropolitan NYC area.
Ameer Aljalaad
Drums Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Ameer Aljallad is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and lifelong music lover. Starting on the drums at age 12 and gigging by 16, Ameer has years of experience performing live with bands and recording in the studio. Known for his intense and explosive rock/metal drumming, Ameer may be a "metalhead," but he has other interests in styles like jazz, jazz fusion, Latin, marching, and classical music.
Ameer also works as an audio engineer in NYC when not playing with one of his groups. He tries his best to keep music in his life at all times whether it be for work or personal enjoyment. Ameer has joined School of Rock Hoboken to further his love for music and drumming by sharing his skills with those who want to join the world of live performance, an aspect of his life that couldn't be traded for anything.
Daniel Parks
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Daniel has had a fascination with music as far back as he can remember. Tinkering with the guitar from the age of six and taking lessons at age nine set the groundwork for a lifelong passion to follow.
Growing up in Pittsburgh, his professional music journey began during high school at age 14 when he started gigging in the blues and rock clubs and teaching lessons. In 2010, Dan earned a Bachelors of Commercial Music from Belmont University where he was a member of the University Guitar Ensemble, Bluegrass Ensemble, and the Country Music Showcases. This led to a successful career of touring and recording for numerous artists based out of Nashville. His time as a sideman included radio appearances, national and international show dates, live television performances, demo and master scale recording sessions, and a string endorsement from GHS Strings.
Now based in Hoboken, he is excited to share his experience and connect with the next generation of musicians through the universal language of music at the School of Rock Hoboken!
Joe McCaffrey
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Joe has had a love of music since before he could talk, clapping out call-and-response rhythms in his Huggies. This soon developed into banging on pots and pans before finally getting his first set of drums at age seven. Since age 13, Joe has been playing in bands on both drums and guitar. He participated in New Hampshire Jazz Allstate in high school before attending William Paterson University, majoring in jazz performance on drum set.
At WPU, Joe's love of music flourished as he immersed himself in the studies of jazz, classical, and world music, further deepening his appreciation for music of all styles and sounds. Under the premiere tutelage of WPU faculty, Joe experienced the significant influence teachers can have on their students, as both musicians and people, and became inspired to reach the next generation of musicians. Joe currently works as drummer in a variety of rock and jazz groups on the New York music scene, and he is excited to spread the joy and power of music at School of Rock Hoboken!
Tyler Wachtel
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Tyler Wachtel is a Hoboken native who started playing guitar at age 11. When School of Rock Hoboken opened its doors in 2019, Tyler became immersed in the school, quickly becoming a fixture in the Monroe Street studios. Tyler was a member of the House Band since its inception through 2024, and played in over 20 performance shows. Currently, Tyler is the lead guitarist and member of the Hoboken-based post-emo punk band 3 Dollars.
Tyler can be found constantly challenging himself by learning more and more complex riffs, and also plays the drums.
Whether playing a high-energy solo, playing rhythm, sitting behind the drum kit, or lately, mixing, Tyler’s love for music, and performing is evident to everyone around him. Beyond performing, Tyler is constantly pushing himself to grow as a musician, studying different styles, experimenting with new techniques, and teaching at School of Rock Hoboken. Tyler will be attending Berklee College of Music in Boston in the Fall of 2026.