Nicole
General Manager
Prior to taking over as general manager in September of 2019, Nicole was a vocal and keys instructor at School of Rock Katy. She’s been a student of music since a young age and loves watching young musicians find confidence in rehearsal and on stage while learning to work together to produce great music. She’s recorded two albums, 2007’s “Miscellaneous” and 2014’s “Black Coffee and Key Lime Pie.” Nicole believes that you should never stop learning, currently playing bass and drums in the School of Rock Katy Adult Band.
Mason
Music Director
An artist from a very young age, Mason didn’t take an interest in music until at 13 he heard Randy Rhoads slaying the guitar on the radio in his dad’s car. He immediately wanted that same energy and began taking lessons soon after. He can be found around the Houston area playing as a solo artist and has become an integral part of the School of Rock Katy staff band. With inspirations like Ritchie Balckmore, Freddie Mercury and Kate Bush, Mason brings solid musical knowledge and a dry sense of humor to the lesson and rehearsal room. His individualistic approach to teaching reaches each student where they’re at: “Each of us learns a bit different from one another. I do my best to work with my students to determine their best approaches for each of them individually.”
Maddy
Studio Coordinator
As a studio coordinator, Maddy is a welcoming face at our front desk ready to get your student set up with the right instructor and help with any questions our parents may have. She grew up in an artistic family with a large focus on the performing arts. She spent many years in dance, acting and vocal lessons, so she loves Broadway and all things stage, particularly as part of the ensemble cast for Young Frankenstein and Little Shop of Horrors. Years of choir have taught her the importance of teamwork and she loves the band aspect of School of Rock. Her musical tastes are all over the place from Edith Piaf to The Mamas & the Papas All Time Low, Panic at the Disco, and the works of Stephen Sondheim. She sees teaching as cyclically beneficial to the student and the instructor, best put into words by Phil Collins: “In learning you will teach, in teaching you will learn.”
Tiffany
Studio Coordinator
Tiffany represents all things 80s at School of Rock Katy as one of our two studio coordinators. Her love for music started with listening to the classic rock radio stations with her grandfather which led her to explore 80s rock, New Wave, Goth, Punk and Bubblegum Glam. When not rocking the front desk at School of Rock Katy, Tiffany sings leads in two local bands performing prog metal and punk. Her musical inspirations include Brett Smiley, Sweet, Vain, Dogs DAmour and Suspiria. For Tiffany, learning is one of the most beautiful human experiences and lives by this quote from Sydney J. Harris: “The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”
Carla
Vocals Teacher
Hailing from Maracaibo, Venezuela, Carla brings a love for music that has been passed down through generations of her family. Her grandfather, a nationally famous music director in Venezuela, inspired Carla's mother to open a music academy in Venezuela where Carla herself studied for ten years, developing a strong passion for singing and music theory and technique. Although voice is her instrument of choice, she is also an accomplished flute player and has a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design.
She finds inspiration in wide range of music genres that include The Living Tombstone, Deftones, Lasso, Lady Gaga, The Marias and Billie Eilish. At School of Rock Katy, Carla finds joy in helping others unlock their potential and says that "the biggest gift of teaching is the mutual exchange of knowledge - a journey where I learn as much from my students as they learn from me."
Connor
Drum Teacher
Born in Kingwood, TX, Connor spent his youth moving with his family across the country and overseas. He began focusing on drumming at 13 years old when given the opportunity to drum in his school’s Rock Band. Previously providing the foundation for the band with his bass playing, he realized he was uniquely talented on the drums.
Connor later joined School of Rock Katy as a student. He performed for three years in a row at Summerfest in Milwaukee as a drummer for the school's selective House Band while also supplying the foundation on both drums and bass during numerous School of Rock shows. During his final years as a student at School of Rock, Connor joined with his brother and three other School of Rock students to form a band that gigged at many of Houston's popular music venues. Their debut album allowed Connor and his fellow band members the opportunity to showcase their ability to create, perform, and record their own music.
Connor continues to develop his creative skills in audio, video, and digital media in college. He has also returned to School of Rock as a drum instructor and is now leading the next line of musicians on their exciting musical journey.
Jake
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Drum instructor Jake has been a part of the School of Rock Katy team since he was in high school, but he’s been around music his entire life. Born into a musical family, he is a skilled drummer, keyboardist, and vocalist.
Jake wears many hats at the Katy school, instructing Little Wing and Rock 101, directing shows, and teaching drums and keys. Teaching drives him to be a better player and with love for bands like Tool, Polyphia, and Rush, he’s a hardworking player who passes his love for music onto his students.
Josh
Vocals Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Josh hails from a long line of musicians with parents talented in music, uncles who are professionally gigging musicians and grandmothers who were both music teachers. He started off with piano at six years old and by eight was playing guitar as well. He's currently playing bass guitar in Held in Orbit and gigs regularly all over Texas as one part of an all request dueling piano team.
Here at School of Rock Katy, he's mostly teaching vocals and keyboard + piano, but can easily step in to teach guitar and bass guitar as well, particularly with his background in jazz guitar from University of Louisville. Josh leans to the heavier music with influences like Black Sabbath, Between the Buried and Me, Yes, Opeth and Motorhead. He believes the majority of what he does is undo limiting beliefs in students.
Juan
Drum Teacher
Juan wanted to play drums since he was 10 years old against his parents' wishes, but after insisting for several years, got his first drum set at 14 and has never stopped. Like most School of Rock teachers, he plays a little guitar and bass as well, but you’ll never see him without his sticks.
Juan has played in multiple bands ranging from cover bands to alternative rock to punk and indie. He is strongly influenced by The Cure, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, and Jane’s Addiction. He believes that drumming is all about coordination and free flow. Feeling the music and playing from the heart.
Kyle
Bass Guitar Teacher
A native of Tomball, Texas, Kyle started his music career as a self-proclaimed “band nerd” playing trumpet in middle school and the high school marching band. After seeing KISS in 2004 and Black Sabbath at 2005’s Ozzfest, he found his love for rock and metal music, quickly taking up the bass guitar.
Kyle not only excels on bass and trumpet, but also plays drums, keys, and guitar. He graduated from SHSU with a Bachelor of Music Education and played trumpet with the SHSU Trumpet Ensemble, Marching Band, and Concert Band. Heavy into the Houston and Dallas local music scene, he has performed with bands LIVIC, Framing Grey, And Then Suddenly, Rogues Among Us, and Trench Coat.
Currently, Kyle performs with his band Razo Rodriguez. His roots have always been in rock and metal with a special love for Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Pantera, KISS, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Queens of the Stone Age. Like many bass players, he also loves funk and R&B, like James Brown, Bootsy Collins, Al Green, and Silk Sonic. His bass heroes are Victor Wooten, Tal Wilkenfeld, Thundercat, Roger Waters, and Sting.
As a teacher, Kyle believes it is important to find out how his students learn best and encourage creativity with a focus on teaching music theory, technique, fundamental skills, and musicianship. He has also done some studio work, recording bass guitar on albums for Razo Rodriguez, LIVIC, Framing Grey, and Rogues Among Us.
Larry
Drum Teacher
Born in Baytown, TX, Larry has been playing drums for over 40 years. Immersed in music from an early age, Larry was hooked on the drums after seeing Ringo Starr and The Beatles on television. Since then, Larry has performed in numerous bands, honing his skills behind the kit. Some of his bands have opened for such famous groups as The Drifters, The Platters, The Temptations, Muddy Waters, and Jimmy Vaughan.
Currently, Larry is actively working the blues circuit with his nephew, 2017 Blues Award winner John Del Toro Richardson. In addition to the drums, Larry also plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica and enjoys his time in his own studio making music.
Matt
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Drums Teacher
Matt found his passion for music at a young age, surrounded by a music-loving family. As a graduate of the Musicians Institute, Matt has a thorough grasp of music theory and composition evident in his teaching of guitar, bass, and drums here at School of Rock Katy. Obsessed with progressive rock and metal, Matt jumps at the chance to direct these highly technical shows and loves working with students looking to dig deep. His primary goal as an instructor at School of Rock Katy is to inspire students to nurture and develop a passion for music.
Michael
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Michael is a multi-talented instrumentalist with skills in kit, percussion, piano, bass, and guitar. He has performed with Percussion One under the instruction of Lamar Burkhalter and tracked drums for several bands including the Primaries, Forget-Me-Nots, Sabela bee, Guamskyy, and The Alex French Revolution.
With a strong base in theory and fundamentals mixed with a solid love for all things rock, Michael finds influence in artists that range from Chopin to Periphery to drum great Dave Grohl. He marched in The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a trumpet player, placed first in high school’s Battle of the Bands, and more recently performed in Lone Star University Park’s Jazz Quartet.
Michael believes that music theory is necessary when learning the fundamentals, but, like any true rock musician, says that the better you understand the rules, the easier they are to break.
Rachel
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Rachel started playing keys at 5 years old but really found her love for music when she picked up a guitar at 17. Her love for classic rock was born through her influences Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jimi Hendrix, and The Police. Six months later, she started her first band. \
Rachel is the lead singer and guitarist for her band Pretty Vacant, plays bass for Quinn the Brain, and joined Shot Gun Sally as guitarist for a time. Rachel’s teaching philosophy allows students to be themselves: “This is YOUR musical journey - I’m just here to guide you.”
Shane
Guitar Teacher
Shane brings his love for music to School of Rock Katy with over 14 years of guitar experience, but don’t strap him to one instrument! Shane also plays some mean licks on the saxophone. His approach to teaching is to meet each student exactly where they’re at, introducing them to the vast universe of music to be discovered.
As one of our Rock 101 instructors, Shane brings humor and fun to the rehearsal room while also encouraging kids to move to the next level—getting on stage! That diverse approach to music is evident in his influences that range from Eric Johnson to Kanye West, John Mayer to Allan Holdsworth.
Stan
Guitar Teacher
Stan is a seasoned performer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and teacher with over 30 years of experience working with students of all ages and all genres. He is an expert in playing various styles of both guitar and bass and also sings. He is also an accomplished session player and recording artist.
Stan has a wide knowledge of and teaches various musical styles such as rock, metal, pop, acoustic, classical, jazz, funk, fusion, world and blues. He has recorded guitar tracks on numerous commercials, has recorded multiple albums with numerous bands, and has traveled the world on tour with numerous bands. He has taught all levels of instruction and skill sets (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) and has provided instruction on sight-reading, ear training, musical and chord theory, speed picking, pick techniques, rhythm guitar techniques, lead guitar techniques, and explaining modal concepts.
Stan is an expert in performance and has led many workshops on different types of methodology, as well as demonstrations of various types of pickups, strings, picks, and pedals. He has prepared students for performances, auditions, and festivals by also leading band performance workshops.
Alex
Bass Guitar Teacher, Camp Director
Alex started his career at School of Rock as a student turned House Band member. After leaving School of Rock as a student, he played in a local Houston band with fellow SoR students before heading off to college. During his summers away from college, Alex teaches Rock 101, bass guitar and directs summer camps at School of Rock Katy. Upon graduation, he plans to teach history and moonlight at School of Rock. He believes that when teaching music it’s important to incorporate clear goals while at the same building a fun and safe environment for students to learn and grow.