Teddi Tarnoff Regional Manager
At the original School of Rock in Philadelphia, Teddi was one of the first-ever students and All Stars. She has taught voice and directed countless shows, as well as ran the All Stars program for a time and developed some of the curriculum at the core of the School of Rock program. Outside of that, Teddi has studied music both in the states and abroad. She has had the pleasure of working with such famed opera teachers as Enza Ferrari and Bruno Rigacci, and attended Temple University for Jazz Vocal Performance. At the tender age of 11, Teddi began studying classical violin at The Curtis Institute. Teddi was in two all-female tribute bands, Misstallica and Queen Diamond, and performs original music with her band Mother Mercury. She has performed all over the world with some serious musicians including Jon Anderson (Yes), Alice Cooper, Marky Ramone (The Ramones), Miriam Linna (The Cramps), Ike Willis (Frank Zappa), Napolean Murphy Brock (Frank Zappa, George Duke Band), Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Dethklok), Richard Christy (Death, Iced Earth) and Stuart Copeland (The Police).
Erik Carlsson Regional Music Director
Erik Carlsson has been playing the guitar for the past 20 years. During that time, he has played in countless bands and been involved in many rewarding musical endeavors. Erik attended San Francisco State University where he received his B.M. in Theory and Composition. While in college, he focused heavily on performing jazz and metal on the guitar, while also teaching music at a local K-8 private school in Northern California. After moving back down to Southern California, Erik joined a heavy rap metal band named 3rd Strike and was signed by Hollywood Records in 2001. While in 3rd Strike, he was fortunate enough to be on the Vans Warped Tour in 2001-02, and also played Ozzfest. Other credits include heavy video play on MTV 2, a tour of the USA and Europe, music in "Ultimate X: The Movie," and a song on the "Tomb Raider 2" soundtrack. After leaving 3rd Strike, Erik was involved in several other projects in Los Angeles and has worked with producers such as Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn), Mudrock (Godsmack), Bob Marlette (Seether) and Chris Lord-Alge.
Maria Wynants Assistant General Manager
Born and raised locally in Las Vegas, Maria Wynants represents the core ideals and charm School of Rock has become known for. Working as Studio Coordinator since 2016, she manages the flow of lessons between the teachers and students, offers full information to the program's details and benefits, and shares her musical knowledge with any who seek it. While she's outside the teaching program itself, Maria has practiced in a repertoire of instruments since very early in her life, including piano, guitar and flute. Singing being a vital passion in her life, Maria has studied and trained her vocal talents extensively over a variety of styles, such as classical and modern genres, and can also be found featured on a few independent singles online. Maria is essential to the school and its successes by keeping the environment fun, open, intuitive and welcoming to all who come through the door.
Mario Ortiz Assistant Music Director
Hailing from Los Angeles County, Mario Vittorio Ortiz comes to School of Rock with over 10 years of experience as an educated, versatile and passionate guitar instructor with a comprehensive background in performance and teaching. Mario excels in offering a solid knowledge of music theory, technique and a wide variety of musical genres including rock, blues, punk, funk, heavy metal, soul and pop. Armed with a diverse sound/style and several years of charismatic live performances on many noted Las Vegas stages, Mario was also the lead guitarist, lead singer and main songwriter of the power trio At It Again. Focusing on music curriculum for beginner, intermediate and advanced guitarists, Mario helps students by teaching them to use their individual strengths and styles to develop unique practice rituals that incorporate theory, history, and the love and inspiration of music itself.
Kaelin Wilson Studio Coordinator
Artist and musician, Kaelin is currently a student at UNLV. She was born and raised in Las Vegas. A classically trained pianist, she joined School of Rock at age 10. She was a HouseBand member for many years and at age 14, auditioned for and was accepted onto the All-Stars touring team getting to perform all over the east coast with the best School of Rock students from across the nation. Currently, Kaelin is writing, composing, and producing music of her own.
Adam Fisher Drum Teacher
Adam Fisher was born and raised in Las Vegas. With his father being a drummer, he has been around music his entire life, which helped to fuel his love and passion for it. At the age of two he picked up a pair of sticks and played on his first drum kit. After years of playing off and on, he began to take it seriously at the age of 15, playing with other musicians as much as possible. He then began performing with local artists with big followings such as punk/rock band Absent Minded, rap/rock band Cornerstone and various funk artists. After being in the local scene for a few years, Adam decided that he wanted, and was determined, to attend Musicians Institute located in the heart of Hollywood, CA. There he studied jazz, latin, funk, contemporary music and digital drumming/computer programming. After receiving his Associates Degree in Music/Performing Arts, Adam began his professional career as a musician/drummer/teacher. Shortly after graduating, he landed a gig with rap/rock artist RapScallions. His biggest success has been having one of their songs featured on the video game "Rocksmith" by Ubisoft for PS3 and Xbox. Adam then moved back to Las Vegas to continue teaching, gigging and doing studio work. Specializing in rock, he is now teaching at School of Rock and helping to share his knowledge and musical experiences.
David Vincola Drum Teacher
Las Vegas-based drummer/percussionist and multi-instrumentalist David Vincola continues to provide a rock-solid groove and a sound as wide as they come for a variety of musical genres and performing situations across the globe. At various high points in his career, he has found himself performing onstage with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Diana Krall, Quincy Jones and John Williams. Whether performing alongside some of the finest artists in the business or providing the rhythmic foundation for a few of the biggest hit Broadway musicals, he continues to adapt and evolve as a musician and share his passion for music with anyone he meets along the way. David has been teaching in private, group and classroom settings since his time at The University of Miami School of Music where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Performance. He continued his performance studies at The Boston Conservatory and soon after relocated to New York City, where he taught privately out of his studio in Brooklyn for more than a decade. Calling Las Vegas home since 2014, David has appeared in some of the most popular shows on and off the Strip, such as "Rock of Ages," "Million Dollar Quartet," "MJ Live" and "The Rat Pack is Back," as well as many other live music venues, theaters and lounges.
Liz Ofte Singing Teacher
Liz has been singing since she was a little girl. Music and expressing herself have always been in her blood, from playing trumpet and piano to singing in musicals, jazz choir, show choir, concert choir, barbershop quartets and state solo competitions in high school and college. She’s toured the whole state of Wisconsin two summers in a row in a traveling troupe called Kids from Wisconsin, performing 73 shows a summer. She went to college for Trumpet Performance at the University of La Crosse Wisconsin with a minor in Theater. Now she sings in the Las Vegas pop/synth/rock band Pet Tigers that she has fronted for six years, playing keyboards, trumpet and singing. She has also been in cover bands in her home state of Wisconsin, as well as in Las Vegas for years. She’s toured the west coast and the Midwest and played in the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as in music festivals in Las Vegas.
Spencer King Piano Teacher
Spencer King grew up in Las Vegas and began classical training on the piano when he was six years old. In high school he played with a rock band until he graduated. Shortly after he moved to Boston, where he attended the Berklee School of Music, as well as gigged and toured with multiple bands. After two years, Spencer moved to back to Las Vegas, where he has since been gigging with multiple bands ranging from jazz to metal styles.
Lenny Widegren Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Lenny Widegren received his Bachelor of Music from Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California where he is a faculty member. At MI he studied contemporary guitar performance, and learned styles such as Blues, funk and R&B, but his main focus has always been rock, and he also loves to play punk and metal. He has five full-length albums to his credit with original bands, and has also contributed as a studio guitarist on many projects. Lenny has toured internationally and in the U.S. and was also featured as the guitarist in the movie “Get Him To The Greek” alongside Russell Brand and Jonah Hill. He has shared the stage with many great musicians such as Ray Luzier (Korn) Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper band) Billy Sheehan (Mr.Big) Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses) Richie Ramone (Ramones) among others, and also opened for bands such as Drowning Pool and L.A. Guns. Lenny loves teaching and inspiring players, and loves to perform live. Other than his original band “Elegantly Wasted” he also plays in the ABBA tribute band “ABBA L.A.” and the punk rock cover band “DTH”.
Jim Papanek Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Jim found his first love at around the age of 12 or 13 and has been playing the guitar ever since. He worked his way through college teaching lessons, as well as performing classical guitar at weddings and other special events. Jim earned his Bachelor of Music in Education from Roosevelt University in his hometown of Chicago. Jim has over 25 years experience in teaching that includes general music, private lessons, and group classes on several instruments. As a performer, Jim has played guitar and bass in a few rock bands during his college days. He has also been a part of worship teams at various churches for nearly 30 years. Currently, Jim uses his talents as part of the praise team at his church in downtown Las Vegas. He also plays guitar and sings in the Las Vegas based rock band Atomic City.
Gregory Delcore Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Greg Delcore is a Boston native who plays electric bass, guitar and keyboard. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 1992. Greg has played and composed a wide range of music styles and genres from Rock to Pop, Hip Hop to Be-Bop. Greg has performed all over the world and most recently was the bassist/keyboardist for Britney Spears Award winning “Piece of Me” Residency at Planet Hollywood from 2013-2018. In addition, he has performed with Tracy Bonham, Iggy Azalea, Tinache, Ray Green (Santana) and has been featured on the Lifetime Movie soundtrack “Last Hours in Suburbia”. His original music has produced 3 number #1 hit singles and won 4 European Music Awards. Greg’s music has been released by SONY Music, EMI, Millennium Records (CZ) and his own production company Delcore Music (BMI).
Maleah Blackburn Singing Teacher
Maleah has been singing and performing for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Chicago, IL, she sang downtown and performed in musicals until she moved to Las Vegas to attend the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. Maleah has been in bands and performed around Vegas for the last four years. She is a graduated Hall of Fame School of Rock student and was accepted onto the international touring team as an All-Star! Currently Maleah is continuing her musical education, writing original music, investing time and focusing on finding her place in the music industry. She is passionate about motivating her students and helping them to realize themselves as musicians and performing artists.
Victor Ruiz Guitar Teacher
Victor has had a fruitful career as a studio session player for studios in Southern California and Nashville, Tennessee. A seasoned road musician for several Nashville artists, he spent the last 20 years playing the Nashville Clubs working a full-time schedule logging 52k hours of stage time over the course of that period. Much of the skills developed were putting bands together for singers, songwriters, and his personal band. Knowing who was a good fit with what project was an important skill in the day to day and week to week at HonkyTonk U. In his formative years in choir, he studied the baroque period from high school and later community college provided ear training for what was to become a demanding career in music. Although having a strong theoretic knowledge is important, Victor learned much of his craft by making it all work live on stage. Having the confidence and patience to put forth a successful plan is something that he is proud of and is convinced is the cornerstone for musicians in a successful show.
Matt McDonald Guitar Teacher
Las Vegas-based singer/songwriter Matt McDonald started his musical journey by singing from a young age and started to learn guitar at the age of 12. Picking up the guitar was where he discovered his passion for music and the emotion it conveys. Matt learned guitar through private and group lessons for a year before joining a program similar to School of Rock, where he learned the history of Rock music and developed a love for Rock, Metal, Blues and Pop music. Matt moved to Las Vegas in 2007 & started playing with local bands, getting his start in the local scene and industry, and later attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas to study marketing. Currently, Matt is the vocalist and guitarist in TRVLRS, an original hard Rock/Metal band here in Las Vegas. In his spare time, Matt writes and collaborates with other artists in the recording studio, attends the College of Southern Nevada to study music business/audio production, and spends time with his family and friends.
Chase Brickenden Drum Teacher
Chase Brickenden began drumming at an early age under the guidance and encouragement of his drummer father in Grants Pass, Oregon. Playing on pots and pans and eventually a hand-me-down kit, Chase began to expand his musical knowledge and skills behind the drum set. Chase played in a competitive marching band throughout high school while dedicating and writing music with his local band who played shows throughout Oregon. In 2005 Chase moved to Los Angeles to attend Musician’s Institute where he graduated with a degree in occupational percussion performance. Chase began touring in 2010 with internationally recognized heavy metal act, OTEP, which continued through 2013. At this time, Chase left Otep to pursue original projects and session work. In 2016 Chase began playing full time with the popular metal band BUTCHER BABIES. Chase wrote and recorded drums on their critically acclaimed album, Lilith and the band began to tour the world extensively. Currently, Chase can be seen playing live on tour and at some of the biggest rock/metal festivals on earth. He currently proudly represents, Paiste Cymbals, Promark Sticks, Evans Drumheads, Trick Pedals, and Yamaha drums.
Crucial Hernandez Drum Teacher
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Crucial has been inspired by live music since he was three years old. His love for live music led him on his path to becoming focused on playing drums. He started out with private lessons and then joined School of Rock, where he nurtured his love and passion for drumming and music. A graduated member of the Houseband and now Hall of Famer, he has been performing live with School of Rock and his own bands since he was 13 years old. Crucial is currently writing music, performing, and recording with multiple original bands in Las Vegas. He is passionate about sharing what he has learned at School of Rock and inspiring students to become great musicians.
Fabian de Armas Keyboard Teacher
Fabian de Armas is proud to call School of Rock their new home. They have been teaching music lessons for ten years and have always enjoyed helping others learn and grow. As a child growing up Fabian knew music was their passion. They started taking guitar and drum lessons at a young age and grew up performing in church and in Hawaiian luaus. Fabian went to Grossmont College for classical guitar and voice studies. They've been actively engaged in a wide array of musicality, such as performing in live settings, teaching/mentoring students and their progression in various instruments, working in recording studios, and creating their own studio from scratch. Fabian has performed with various groups in venues throughout the US such as House of Blues (Downtown Disney & San Diego), Cheyenne Stadium, The Parish, and many others. Fabian loves playing a variety of instruments including Piano, Drums, Bass, Harmonica, Singing, and Guitar. Fabian's goal as a teacher is to direct their students to more extensive use of their instrument without losing that special quality that sets each individual apart. They aim to help students establish a solid foundation of technique so to help can meet any musical challenge squarely and with confidence. Fabian loves working with students of all ages and experience levels!
Nidia Martinez Guitar Teacher
Nidia is a Vegas-raised alternative r&b singer-songwriter. Nidia graduated from Las Vegas Academy in 2016 with a degree in music business and technology. She has performed across Las Vegas solo and alongside local bands at venues such as Brooklyn Bowl, The Foundation Room, and Ferguson’s Downtown. She looks forward to educating and being a mentor to young musicians.
Max Burton Guitar Teacher
Max Burton was born and raised in Las Vegas, and found his passion for music and the guitar at the young age of nine years old. He has been with School of Rock since the very beginning of his musical journey and knows what it’s like to be in a student’s shoes. His expertise is with extended range instruments and advanced techniques, and he is currently working on original music in an upcoming two-man Progressive Metal band. Max looks forward to being a mentor for aspiring rockers and the chance to be a part of their growth.