Mike Lisante
Owner
One random morning in mid-2021, Mike woke up (figuratively and literally) and decided he needed out from his 22-year career as Director of Operations for a major distribution company. In his exact words, he was “bored, ignored, and tired of living someone else’s dream.” What he really aspired to do was open his own music school, so off he went in pursuit of musical happiness. It took a few more months, but upon discovering School of Rock, he knew he had found his destiny. Being welcomed into their family of owners has been the true highlight of his career.
Mike is a lifelong guitarist and product of the '80s, raised on large doses of hair metal. He is pretty sure he was vaccinated with a phonograph needle as a baby because he’s been obsessed with guitar and music ever since childhood. He graduated with a business degree from Ramapo College and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt…but really, who cares about all that? Mike is most proud of the two-year stint he did with Berklee College of Music to gain a master’s certificate in guitar. He obsesses over School of Rock from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to bed, much to his family’s chagrin.
Mike would rather watch ballet than football. He likes Japanese food, Halloween movies, Orange Theory Fitness, and all things guitar. When not working, Mike plays in the NJ-based cover band Toy Canon, hanging with his wife and kids, and going to church.
Robin Cabana
Studio Coordinator
Robin Cabana is a graphic designer, Star Wars enthusiast and Girl Scout leader who lives in New Jersey with her pug, Penny. She is an aunt to five awesome kids. Robin doesn’t play any instruments, but she’s not afraid to rock the mic at karaoke. Robin spent most of her career working in newspapers, until she started her own graphic design and social media business. She graduated from Rutgers University where she majored in history and one of her favorite classes was History of Rock and Roll.
Robin is a proud nerd, obsessing over Star Wars, Thor, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Supernatural, and too many other things to list. She reads about 100 books a year (seriously!) and loves building Legos and taking care of her succulent plants. Musically, Robin is a child of the 80s and teen of the grunge era who grew up listening to 60s pop. Her favorites include the Beatles, Springsteen, the Pretenders,U2, Depeche Mode, the Who, Bob Dylan, the Stones, the Killers, Madonna, Indigo Girls, Lady Gaga, and all the showtunes.
Chris White
Studio Coordinator
Chris is a lifelong music fanatic with an obsessive passion and encyclopedic knowledge of all things rock n’ roll. Chris is excited to share his passion with the next generation of rock and rollers and bring them up to speed on all things Aero-to Zep.
Favorite Colors: Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Moody Blues, Green Day and Pink Floyd.
Favorite Foods: Pearl Jam, Chili Peppers, Meatloaf, Bread and Cream.
Chris is married and has one teenage son that does NOT share his rock n’ roll passion, even though he tried very hard. When his son was 5 and asked him: “What’s heavier, a car or a tree?” Chris answered: “Black Sabbath.”
Cindy Torres
Music Director, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Cindy has been studying and practicing voice for almost a decade and teaching most of that time. She has worked with (and been taught by) various vocalists from many genres, including opera, jazz, rock, and folk. Her absolute favorite band is Paramore, and her influences range from Amy Winehouse to Janis Joplin to Leonard Cohen.
Cindy loves Seattle, sushi, and her cat named Cleo. She is excited to bring her talent and experience to our students at the School of Rock in Maywood, New Jersey!
Chris Hawkins
Drum Teacher
Chris has been teaching drums since 2001. He is a former Spaun Drum endorser and is featured on the Vic Firth Educational Program as an educator. If you love drums and metal, Chris is your guy! Past bands include Midian (thrash metal) from 1989-1991, Gomez’s Childhood (hardcore) from 1994-1996, and The Binary Code (Tech-metal) in 2015. Notable recordings include Wolf’s Blood EP (2020) and Tears Of Rain (single 2021). His current project is Beyond Shadows, a melodic death metal band. He is also the author of the book “Chris Who??!! The Writings and Ramblings Of An Unknown Musical Bore” available on Amazon.
Steve Hoffman
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Steve has been playing guitar for over 30 years in various bands and projects. He also has 15 years of experience as a bandleader and composer, performing in venues such as CBGBs, Mercury Lounge, and The Knitting Factory in NYC.
Steve was educated in music theory and jazz improvisation at Pennsylvania State University. He specializes in funk and rock styles and is also an avid record collector and DJ. He lives in Garfield with his wife and two young children.
Rhonda Schuster
Little Wing and Rookies Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Rhonda Schuster is a published singer-songwriter, performer, musician, and the author of her first children's book, Oobba Dabba Wabba Chu. Rhonda's passion is singing in clubs, restaurants, and concerts, from the tri-state area to St. Barths in the French Caribbean, and performing all genres for all ages.
Rhonda has had her song, "We Might Never Feel This Way Again," featured in a segment on the CBS soap opera, As the World Turns. Her songwriting afforded her a position as a staff writer at Phantom Publishing. Rhonda has released four albums to date and is currently recording her fifth album.
Rhonda specializes in music programs and performances for children from Pre-K to 6th grade, the YWCA of Bergen County, numerous hospital audiences, and treatment facilities for disabled patients. She creates a productive environment for group participation, physical movement, rhythmic play, and group singing, where freedom of expression and socialization is the key—which is what brought her to School of Rock!
Rhonda loves cupcakes and is a cookie dunker, which led to her writing a song about it. She loves to be spontaneously creative in humorous ways. Some would say she is a master at creating pipe cleaner animal figures.
Myles Yambao
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Drum Teacher
One of Myles's earliest memories is being picked up from a babysitter's house and seeing his mom carrying two vinyl records: Sgt. Pepper's and Pet Sounds. Since then, he has been a proud disciple of rock and roll and has picked up multiple instruments including drums, guitar, bass, ukulele, and singing.
Myles received guitar lessons from Richie Ranno of Starz and Starz Central fame, was percussion captain of his high school's marching band, sang in his high school's choral ensemble, and was even a member of the Bergen County Chorus. Myles formed his own band, The Neverends, when he was in the sixth grade and continues to play shows and tour all over the country to this day with them.
Myles has played iconic venues such as NY's Mercury Lounge, Bowery Electric, Rockwood Music Hall, and The Knitting Factory, as well as NJ's The Stone Pony, Debonair Music Hall, Crossroads, Prototype 237, and countless others. His influences include The Beatles, Beach Boys, Misfits, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, The Lemon Twigs, KISS, Queen, ABBA, and anything and everything produced by Motown. Myles is incredibly excited to be a part of the School of Rock Maywood team!
Rob Hunkele
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Rob is a musician with over two decades of experience playing all over the country. His primary instruments are the guitar and keyboard, and he brings a vast knowledge of music theory to his teaching approach.
Rob is currently the guitarist for the rock-jazz band Jupiter X-9, as well as a member of the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation. Additionally, his talent spans many genres, as he has directed film and theater and done video editing as well.
Sophia Zuniga
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Sophia, also known in the music industry as Loza Rose, is a Latin American singer-songwriter and recording artist. Born and raised in Paramus, New Jersey, she started her love for singing at the age of 7, alongside being put in piano lessons.
Sophia decided to pursue a professional career in music at the age of 19 when she came in contact with the owner of her last label. After undergoing artist development to sharpen her craft in songwriting and vocals, she was soon signed with her label at the time. Sophia was also taught songwriting, exposed to music production, and actively attended studio sessions with her studio engineer Stephen Kellner (with whom she still records and writes music to this day at The Burn Room Recording Studio).
Sophia released her first single and electronic pop album Roses Feel Pain Too in 2019. In 2022, she parted ways with her label and is now pursuing her career as an independent artist exploring her Spanish roots and expanding her discography in Latin pop/reggaeton and different Latin-based genres.
Ang Lawson
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Ang is a guitarist, teacher, and audio engineer with foundations in metal and jazz. He was formally educated in jazz guitar and music education at Raritan Valley Community College and the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. He currently plays with his band Emerald Eyes and has gigged throughout New Jersey and New York.
During his career in education, Ang has aimed to encourage students to explore their passion with an emphasis on self-expression, all while building confidence and discipline in ways only music can build. Sharing everything that music has done for him with the next generation brings him endless joy, and he's thrilled to be doing so with the staff and students at School of Rock Maywood!
Corey Moore
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
With over two decades of experience in music education, Corey brings a wealth of knowledge to School of Rock Maywood as a performer, composer, and vocal/keyboard instructor. An accomplished musician with multiple degrees in music education (B.M., M.S.), Corey continues to leave a lasting impression on young musicians and audiences alike.
Mike Marguccio
Drum Teacher
It all started for Mike at an Eric Clapton concert a few months before he was born, with his mother saying, “I hope it’s not too loud for the baby!” From his earliest memories, drumming has been his heartbeat and rhythm has flowed through his veins. Mike was raised in a family of musicians, and the legacy of his father's drumming, his mother’s piano playing, and his brother's continued passion for the drums fueled Mike's journey with the sticks.
In high school, Mike joined the same band (a rock/jazz ensemble) his brother had joined 13 years before, and was lucky enough to have the same teachers—professional musicians who helped him develop and hone his skills. From the football games in the pit and all of the seasonal concerts to playing at amusement parks, teen arts festivals, and hospitals during the holidays, Mike has been keeping the beat alive since he was 14.
Currently, Mike is in a high-energy rock/ska/punk band, The Schwam, and when they’re not playing gigs or taking a break, he also subs for multiple bands like The Detonators, The Mix, and Bobby Steele’s band, The Undead, and countless other local bands.
Mike’s journey extends beyond the drum kit. Having played baseball for almost two decades, from Little League to college, he discovered that the discipline, repetition, and determination in sports ran parallel to his musical pursuits. This fusion of sportsmanship and drumming not only shaped him as a drummer but also as a versatile musician.
Kate Molinari
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Kate has been playing piano since she was 5 years old and loves to play Alicia Keys, show tunes, classical music, and anything that feels good. She has sung in many choirs and even ran one in college for two years. Kate used to be a special education teacher and is certified in elementary school teaching and special education. She got her master's degree in Teaching from Fordham University.
Kate loves to teach and share her joy in music and life with others! If you're looking for a kind, patient music teacher for piano or beginning vocals, look no further!
Vince Genella
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Vince Genella has been working consistently in the music business for over 37 years. He has been recording, performing, teaching guitar, and working as a clinician at trade shows and music stores all over the country. Vince has had the pleasure of sharing the stage over the years with some fantastic artists like Stuart Hamm, Larry Mitchell, Lou Pallo, Steve Vai, Johnny Highland, Ace Livingston, and Greg Martin.
Vince's instrumental compositions are led by searing melodic technique and passionate, fiery leads through mature song-oriented hooks and progressions. Live, Vince combines straightforward lead guitar with a showman’s flair to create a dynamic on-stage presence.
As a teacher, Vince has taught hundreds of “kids of all ages” how to play guitar and bass, along with music theory. He is not sure exactly how many people he has taught over the years, but it's in the thousands. Between private lessons, teaching at high schools, and music stores, Vince has given well over 70,000 individual lessons! This amount of experience makes Vince a great guitar instructor.
Whether teaching, recording, or performing, Vince gets the job done and has a blast doing so! For him, it’s all about fun and the love of music and he is grateful to be able to do what he loves.
Ethan Govea
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ethan is a lifelong musician who first learned percussion in elementary school, and is primarily a self-taught guitarist and bassist. Ethan grew up listening to rock, and through his studies at Drew University, became immersed in the blues, funk, jazz, and soul.
While at Drew, Ethan gained experience singing and vocal arranging after joining the school's a capella group, 36 Madison Avenue, and went on to become Music Director for all four of his college years. Ethan's senior year lined up with the 36th anniversary of the group, and through donations from generous alumni, the group recorded an album at Shorefire Studios in Long Branch, NJ, gaining extremely valuable studio experience.
Aside from music, Ethan spent five summers as a counselor at the Hasbrouck Heights Recreation Camp, which is open to children from ages 5-14. He served the camp in multiple roles, including running the front desk, supervising trips, and training new counselors. Ethan was voted Counselor of the Year in 2022 and is excited to teach and inspire other musicians!
Sabrina Rogers
Singing Teacher
Sabrina has lived and breathed music since she was a child. Being born into a family of musicians, her first karaoke song at 8 years old was “Shake the Sugar Tree” by Pam Tillis. As a School of Rock alumni, she was a member of School of Rock Wayne’s house band from 2018-2020, and made it to the third round of School of Rock Allstars two times. In addition to School of Rock, she also studied Vocal Technique at Passaic County Technical Institute. Sabrina has experience many genres including rock, country, musical theatre, and opera. She is passionate about sharing music and teaching the next generation of musicians.
Liam Nye
Drum Teacher
Liam comes from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and has been playing and teaching drums for several years. He has experience playing and teaching many different styles of music such as rock, metal, jazz, pop, Latin, and more.
Liam is formally educated by Berklee College of Music, studying performance on drums. He also plays piano and is knowledgeable about other instruments, including guitar and bass. Liam currently plays in many bands, including a prog-metal band, a hip-hop band, and a jazz band.
David Lopez
Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
David is a versatile multi-instrumentalist known for his ability to compose across a wide range of instruments. He specializes as a metalcore vocalist and is active in two projects known as Crystal Plains and Illusion Of Solace. His broad skill set allows him to contribute creatively in multiple areas, bringing a fresh and diverse approach to each project he’s involved in. From guitar and drums to bass and keys, David infuses everything with passion and has become a driving force, delivering intense live performances and innovative compositions that resonate with fans worldwide. His influences include Northlane, Silent Planet, Invent Animate, Relient K, Soulkeeper, Like Moths to Flames, Miss May I, Underoath, Volumes, Structures, Alpha Wolf, Thornhill, and Sentinels.