FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
White Plains, NY — April 1, 2026 — School of Rock White Plains is pleased to announce that longtime School of Rock operators Vanessa and Tory Ridder have acquired the school from founder Jeff Silverman, who has owned and operated the location since opening it in 2018. Silverman is retiring after successfully building the school into a thriving music community for young musicians in the White Plains area.
Vanessa and Tory Ridder are experienced School of Rock franchise owners, having owned and operated School of Rock Mamaroneck since 2014. Under their leadership, the Mamaroneck location has grown into a vibrant hub for performance-based music education, helping thousands of students develop musical skills, confidence, and a love of live performance. The Ridders are also known for creating unique, real-world experiences for their students, having led international performance tours to London, Dublin, Galway, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Santiago, and Concón-Reñaca, Chile—giving students the opportunity to perform abroad and experience music through a global lens.
“We’re excited to welcome the students and families of White Plains into our extended School of Rock community,” said Vanessa Ridder. “Our goal is to build on the strong culture already here and create even more opportunities for students to grow as musicians and performers—both locally and beyond.”
Jeff Silverman expressed confidence in the transition. “Vanessa and Tory are fantastic operators with a deep commitment to their students and the School of Rock model. I’m thrilled that the school will continue to grow under their leadership as I step into retirement.”
“We’re honored to continue the great work Jeff started,” said Tory Ridder. “He built an incredible foundation here, and we’re excited to carry that forward while bringing our experience and passion for music education to the White Plains community.”
School of Rock White Plains will continue offering its signature performance-based music programs for students of all ages and skill levels, including instruction in guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and vocals. The school is also a four-time recipient of the School of Rock “Headliner” Award, recognizing it as one of the top-performing schools across the entire School of Rock system.
School of Rock White Plains will maintain its commitment to high-quality music education while expanding programming, performance opportunities, and community engagement in the years ahead.
For more information about School of Rock White Plains, please visit whiteplains.schoolofrock.com or contact whiteplains@schoolofrock.com.
