Bob Jones
Owner
Bob Jones is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music educator based in New York. He received a bachelor’s degree in double bass performance from Michigan State University and has built a career spanning rock, classical, folk, electronic, and jazz. With performances on dozens of albums and extensive touring across the United States and Europe, Bob’s musical footprint is broad and diverse.
His School of Rock journey began as a guitar sub in 2010, today he is owner and director of two franchises in Brooklyn and Manhattan, where he applies his two decades of teaching experience to mentor students and staff. His students have gone on to performing arts high schools, colleges, and careers in music. He loves The Kinks, Aphex Twin, Arco Part, Napalm Death, cycling, and food-based adventures.
Adam
Music Director, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Adam grew up in Miami, Florida, and attended the School of Rock there as a student for five years before becoming a teacher at age 18. He holds an associate's degree in jazz vocal performance from Miami Dade College and a bachelor's degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Before making the move to New York City, Adam performed in Boston projects such as indie rock outfit Red Mill, pop songwriter Griffin Robillard, and his own songwriting vehicle Tree Signs. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Adam plays many styles of music including rock, bluegrass, jazz, metal, and folk.
With a deep background in writing and recording, Adam has directed a wide variety of programs at School of Rock New York in addition to the performance program, such as the songwriting and recording summer camp. He is the Music Director at the School of Rock in New York.
Kate
Studio Coordinator
Kate is an actress, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of NYC. Her acting career began at the age of 6 when she played the pivotal role of Background Bunny #2 in her local community theater's production of Children of Eden, where she fell in love with performing and has been hopping around the stage ever since. Kate studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and further pursued her education at The New School where she received her BFA in Performing Arts, double majoring with a BA in Psychology.
Jean
Studio Coordinator, Show Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jean is a NYC based musician and educator. Growing up listening to heavy metal and rap music, he found his passion for Western Classical music after a concert left him in tears of joy, and starting learning piano. Once he began working at School of Rock New York, the environment motivate him to learn guitar , bass guitar , and drumming.
Besides playing music, he enjoys learning about music history, philosophy, holistic nutrition and cooking. Jean is currently pursuing a degree in Music Therapy at Montclair State University, hoping to blend his love of music with the need to help others.
Josh
Drum Teacher, Assistant Show Director
Josh is a New York-based drummer from Rochester, NY. Josh started taking drum lessons with Jeff Welch and also learned through the Hochstein School of Music and started studying under Rich Felice.
In 2008, Josh joined the Army Band and studied at the Armed Forces School of Music. Shortly after he was sent to Fort Drum, New York, and became an Army Bandsman of the 10th Mountain Division Band. Over a two-year period, he performed in jazz, funk, rock, and orchestral bands across New York and other states in the U.S. Josh was honorable discharged from the military and started attending the New School for jazz and contemporary music. He studied with such greats as Mike Clark, Shawn Pelton, Mark Guiliana, Adam Deitch, Steven Wolf, and Thomas Pridgen.
During his time in NYC, Josh has been a studio/freelance drummer. He has played with artists such as Oba, Monroe, The Sweet Things, Gas House Gorillas, and Ginger Minj. In addition to teaching at School of Rock New York, he currently plays in his own bands: Civilians and Flowmingos. Civilians play a mixture of hip-hop, rock, and contemporary jazz music. They’ve released their first studio album, Look Cool, with another album soon to be released. Josh's other band, Flowmingos, started by playing in the subways and in parks throughout NYC.
Daniel
Show Director, Drum Teacher
School of Rock New York teacher Daniel is a New York-based touring/session drummer and music educator. He graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA in the Spring of 2012.
Since relocating to Brooklyn, NY in the fall of 2012, Daniel has recorded with numerous bands and artists in the United States, Mexico, and his native Bolivia. He has toured the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia with artists like Young Magic, playing in renowned venues such as The Fillmore, Fonda Theatre, and Bowery Ballroom among others.
Daniel has also played in festivals like Northside Festival, Billboard Hot 100 Festival, 30 Days in LA, SXSW, NXNE, Suoni Per Il Popolo Festival, Lowlands Festival, Sweden Emmaboda Festival, Milhoes de Festa, Visions Festival and Strawberry Fields Festival, sharing the stage with artists including Portishead, Queens of The Stone Age, and St. Vincent.
Pete
Drum Teacher
Pete is a New York-based drummer and educator. He grew up in the small town of Lebanon, Pennsylvania with a dad who was a full-time drummer/educator. Pete moved to NYC at the age of 18 to attend the Manhattan School of Music, from which he graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Music degree. While attending Manhattan School of Music, Pete had the privilege of studying with renowned drum educators John Riley and Kendrick Scott who, along with his dad, instilled in him a true appreciation and love for education.
Pete first began teaching private drum lessons while in college and quickly realized how much he enjoyed passing along his musical knowledge to others. He also keeps a very busy gigging schedule, regularly playing everything from pop-punk to jazz to indie rock to theater and just about everything in between. Pete's wide range of gigging and teaching experience gives him the versatility to teach just about anything a student may want or need to learn.
Thomas
Assistant Show Director, Drum Teacher
Thomas is a professional drummer originally from North Carolina. He began playing drums at age 13 and later received a bachelor’s degree in Jazz DrumSet Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2018. He has experience performing in a variety of styles, including rock, jazz, funk, and blues, as well as working in studio recording settings. He has over a decade of teaching experience and enjoys helping students at School of Rock New York develop their skills and musicality, whether they’re just starting out or looking to refine their technique.
Jacob
Drum Teacher
Hailing from California, Jacob has been drumming since he was 8. He holds a degree in mathematics and teaching from Bard College.
Jacob became the music director at the School of Rock in Maywood, New Jersey in 2022 before joining School of Rock NYC in 2024. His favorite food is pigs in a blanket and his favorite date is April 25th because it’s not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket.
Oli
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
For Oli, compassion, empathy, and trust are key to understanding his musical sensibilities. Growing up in Connecticut and Wellington, New Zealand allowed him to understand different intersections of how people and cultures get together to celebrate life, art, and happiness. Oli's bass playing aims to reflect upon those perspectives in whichever musical context he plays in.
As a professional bassist, Ollie has performed or recorded alongside some of New York and New Zealand’s top artists, including Lenny White, Letizia Gambi, Dave Pietro, Malick Koly, Roger Fox, and Cory Champion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ollie moved back to his hometown of Wellington, New Zealand, and was involved in a number of projects and nationally renowned groups, including serving as principal bassist in the Royal New Zealand Airforce Band. He also was the co-founder of Nebulus Slim, which aimed at mixing the traditions of jazz-rock with dance-floor electronica.
Today, you can see Ollie playing with a variety of bands and artists, both on bass, guitar, and drums. His two main recurring projects are the groups Astrium and Stello, where he performs, composes, and directs each group.
Nick
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Nick knew music had to be in his future as soon as he witnessed his first rock show. After playing guitar for a few years, Nick received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where he honed his craft and played with several diverse artists.
Nick moved to Denver in 2011 and worked at the School of Rock in New York for over two years directing shows and teaching guitar, bass, and vocals. Nick currently resides in New York City and works as a guitar teacher and drum teacher at the School of Rock in New York, and is also an aspiring songwriter.
Ryan
Show Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Ryan is a multi-instrumentalist and producer based in New York City. He was raised in Chicago where he got his start as a musician. Initially a drummer, Ryan played all kinds of music throughout Chicago before studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Ryan’s favorite styles to play include funk, R&B, Latin, and jazz. His biggest musical inspirations are Max Roach, Nate Smith, and Yussef Dayes. Outside of School of Rock New York, Ryan loves to play synthesizers and bake banana bread.
Daniel
Show Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Daniel is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer from New York City. Having studied classical piano and rock guitar from a young age, Daniel has been a practicing and performing musician for over 18 years. Daniel attended School of Rock NYC from ages 14-16, where he played guitar and sang in the Red Hot Chili Peppers/Foo Fighters show, as well as the UK2K and Pearl Jam/Soundgarden shows.
Daniel went on to graduate from the University of Miami Frost School of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Film Scoring & Production, with a focus in contemporary guitar styles and songwriting. An avid songwriter, his original music combines guitar-driven indie rock and pop, R&B grooves, and introspective lyric writing; in 2021 his debut album was released, which he wrote, produced, and released on his own. When not at School of Rock New York, Daniel is currently writing and producing a new EP and performing at NYC venues, as well as working as a guitarist, producer, and songwriter for fellow NYC acts in the DIY scene.
Nathan
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Nathan is a musician, songwriter, and producer based in New York City. Since moving to New York in 2019, he has performed throughout the city as a solo performer, a bandleader, and a sideman. In his musical projects, Nathan explores a wide variety of styles, drawing on rock, metal, and soul, as well as folk and classical influences.
In his teaching, Nathan encourages students to find their style and be empowered to express themselves through music, as well as develop greater physical awareness and connection with their instrument. Above all else, he aims to pass on his love for music and musicianship.
Dominick
Show Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Dominick is a multi-instrumentalist hailing from Miami, FL. He began his musical journey on guitar, which he has now played for over 20 years. While studying music in college, Dominick discovered a deep love for playing drums and shifted his main focus over to that instrument. Although he had only dabbled with drums as a teenager, he now has been playing and studying drums seriously for over 8 years. His experiences through the years have shown him that he is now in the unique position of being highly competent on both guitar and drums in many different musical contexts.
Dominick moved to New York City in December of 2023 to further his musical career in addition to his personal growth as a musician. In addition to studying with acclaimed drummer Dan Weiss, he is also studying the tablas (Indian hand drums used in North Indian classical music) with his teacher Samir Chatterjee.
Teaching regularly since 2021, Dominick takes his role as an educator very seriously and finds it extremely gratifying to be able to help his students along in their musical journeys.
Alexis
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
A versatile teacher and performer, Alexis has toured the U.S., sharing the stage with artists like Blues Traveler, Howie Day, Boz Scaggs, The Verve Pipe, Cody Simpson, and Sister Hazel. His songs have appeared on VH1, MTV, E!, and UPTV. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he won the school’s “Performer Songwriting Award,” and is able to offer students of all ages and levels at School of Rock New York a tremendous amount of knowledge and passion for numerous different styles. Alexis also is the frontman of a Disney cover band called The Little Mermen.
Shayla
Show Director, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Shayla (she/her) is a singer/songwriter based in Brooklyn, NY. Shayla studied classical voice with the Elena Heimur studio in 2020. She currently studies Jazz vocal performance in West Harlem at City College of New York under the mentorship of Suzanne Pittson.
Shayla is passionate about sharing the tools needed to find vocal freedom through healthy, sustainable technique, improvisation, and logical and creative thinking at School of Rock New York. Shayla's experience includes musical theater, classical choral singing, and jazz choir. Shayla is inspired by players such as Sarah Vaughan, Wayne Shorter, Aretha Franklin, and Joni Mitchell.
Andrew
Show Director, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Andrew Bonieskie is a singer and pianist from Virginia. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a specialization in classical voice, they relocated and are now based out of Brooklyn, New York.
They work with multiple projects such as singing with the progressive rock band Pebbles Palace, and play keys and guitar for the solo artists Jamie Goodson and Frankie Stephan.
Andrew has scored two films, recorded three albums of original music, and has taught for three years at multiple School of Rock locations, including School of Rock New York.
Liana
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Liana Chin (she/her) is a bassist from NYC. Liana started playing bass guitar in high school, switching between many different instruments such as violin, guitar, vocals, classical double bass, drums, and electric bass playing jazz and jazz fusion. She studied jazz at Cornell University with a focus on composition and performance.
After college, Liana spent three years in Pittsburgh connecting to the underground and DIY music scene. After returning to NYC, she formed the jazz fusion band Jasmine Blooming, where she wrote, produced, and recorded her own album. Liana has played in a number of different bands and genres in New York. Her musical experience includes the afro-jazz fusion band Foreign Destination, the math rock band Lavender Tops, and the jazz fusion band Melatonin.
Liana has been teaching at School of Rock New York for a year, where she teaches guitar and bass. With her focus in jazz and her multi-instrumental experience, she is able to help students build strong fundamentals and deepen their understanding.
Madeleine
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Madeleine McMillan is a native New Yorker and singer/songwriter. She studied voice at LaGuardia High School and earned her Bachelor of Music in Studio Composition from SUNY Purchase. She has performed in venues across NYC, from The Bitter End to The Beacon Theatre.
Believing that personal growth never stops, Madeleine has studied voice and piano privately since her tween years and continues her private training today. In her teaching at School of Rock New York, she emphasizes confidence and authentic self expression, creating an encouraging environment where students can take creative risks while building a strong musical foundation.
Chloe
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Having grown up in a family of musicians in Texas, Chloe has always had a love for music and performing. Chloe graduated from BTWHSPVA in Dallas, Texas, studying Theatre. In 2021, Chloe became a YoungArts Musical Theatre Silver Winner, and wrote an original song for the final showcase, which catapulted them into songwriting. Chloe went on to found the Songwriting Club at Texas State University, where they recently obtained a BFA in Musical Theatre. Chloe’s Honors Thesis Project was an original album that was released on all platforms. Chloe was also selected for both the Johnny Mercer Foundation’s Young Songwriting Intensive and Songwriter’s Project.
Chloe has taught at a School of Rock in Texas and now at School of Rock New York. Chloe believes in helping students find their most sustainable practices, all while fully expressing themselves through music.