Karen Lee Marconi
Singing Teacher
Karen can’t recall a time in her life when she wasn’t involved in performing. Her formal music education began at the Hochstein School of Music in Rochester. She went on to earn a BM degree in Vocal Performance from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam as well as an Early Childhood Education degree and a Master’s degree from the College of St. Rose. Karen taught Jr. High music in the Herkimer Central School system and then continued to pursue a singing and acting career, performing on stages in resorts, theaters and on cruise ships. Her vocal range has allowed her to play roles from Mame to Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof to Julie in Showboat. Karen is as comfortable singing the standards as she is classical, and has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Buffalo Master Chorale. Her first love however, will always be musical theater.
She was humbled when named Overall Category Finalist at AMTC out of 1,500 contestants, and has had the opportunity to sing with Vanessa Williams and Mary Margaret Humes through affiliation with the Miss America Pageant. For the past five years, she has been the director for several Jr. Musical productions and private vocal instructor at the Academy of Theatre Arts while continuing voice acting.
She is “thrilled to be a part of sharing the love of music with the School of Rock staff and students”!
Liam Flanagan
Guitar Teacher
Liam Flanagan has been playing guitar for 10 years. His favorite genres are alternative and punk and has experience playing in bands professionally. In addition to guitar Liam has experience on Cello, Bass, Ukulele and Mandolin.
Ken Loschiavo
Guitar Teacher
Ken Loschiavo has been playing guitar since 1979. After he graduating from high school he attended Villa Maria College for Music where he was instructed in theory, bass guitar and classical guitar. After becoming disillusioned with attaining a degree in music he began to pursue his passion – performing. Ken met other musicians at Villa and formed a heavy metal band named Assailant in 1983. The band performed all original music, opened for Talas, Savatage and other national heavy metal bands. During this time he also taught at the former Airport music store as a guitar teacher. He also taught at home for many years. He currently has begun recording with the reformed Assailant band. He has a master’s degree in Speech Pathology and has worked with preschool and school age children throughout his career as a speech pathologist. He is excited to be teaching at School of Rock!
Stacey Rybarczyk
Vocals Teacher, Piano Teacher
Stacey Rybarczyk is a pianist, keyboardist, and vocalist from Niagara Falls, NY that has been performing live for over 35 years. Her most recent project has had her traveling the USA and Ontario, Canada for the last decade with her tribute band, performing headliner shows at festivals, concert halls, theatres and performing arts centers.
Her love for music began in childhood with songs by The Bee Gees and Stevie Wonder. She started playing the piano on her own, by ear, at age 5. Stacey then took formal piano lessons from age 7 throughout her college years, with the addition of voice, percussion, and mallets in her teens. In her high school years, she developed a love for rock music, listening to bands such as Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, and Rush. These musical influences sparked a desire to perform, evolving into the formation of her first band at age 16. Performing in multiple music groups throughout high school and college, she also expanded her music training with classes in music composition and choral conducting.
Stacey taught piano and voice in the 90’s, working with students of all ages, teaching many genres of music, along with assisting the local high school theater students with their audition and performance pieces.
Her extensive background in music theory, ear training, live stage experience and collaboration with some of the best WNY musicians has been a key factor in her long success as a musician and she is grateful for the opportunity to help others as they journey down the path to their musical dreams!
Rick Carfa
Piano Teacher
Rick Carfa has been involved in the music industry for over 40 years and has played with many talented musicians such as the James Clay Band, Duane Durrett and David (Fat Head) Newman from the Ray Charles Band, Bill Tillman of The Blood, Sweat & Tears, Singer-songwriter Jay Dref, Rock Voices of New York, his own bands Tocar, Visiting King, Grey Sector and has toured with Proclaim International throughout Europe. He has also recorded with several artists worldwide and has released 8 of his own albums which he arranged and produced.
Rick has performed all over the world, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the San Diego Jazz Festival, the Montreux Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah and has toured Europe many times over.
Ovi Collins
Guitar Teacher
Ovi Collins is a guitarist and vocalist from Amherst, NY. With over 15 years playing experience, 20 years vocal experience, and a BA in Music Composition. Ovi has spent the past 10 years working on making her own music and projects from her home workstation. She has over 5 years experience with ProTools, and has played with two local punk bands since 2019, including the one for which she currently plays guitar. In her spare time, Ovi likes to write, play games with her friends and cook. She currently lives happily in Amherst with her partner, their three dogs and two cats.
Paul Beringer
Bass Guitar Teacher
Paul Beringer is a musician, composer, and producer from Lewiston, NY. He has over 50 years of playing experience and specializes in guitar, bass, and saxophone. Paul obtained his formal education as a woodwind player in the orchestral and big band environment from 4th to 12th grade. He was a standout soloist on sax, oboe, bassoon, and clarinet, and studied saxophone and guitar privately for several years. Paul later attended Pittsburgh's Duquesne University for Jazz Guitar. He has over four decades of live performing experience with many top local musicians and continues to perform regularly throughout WNY and beyond.
Quentin McCauley
Piano Teacher
Quentin McCauley is an educator and saxophonist originally from Long Island, NY. He has been playing woodwinds for over 16 years. After discovering a passion for music education Quentin studied piano, music education, and saxophone at SUNY Buffalo State. While in Buffalo he has had the opportunity to serve as a teacher, musical instructor, bandleader, conductor, and arranger. Currently, he is employed at 3 different music studios and teaches various instruments to a large, diverse group of students. As a performer, he has performed locally with several musical groups, bands, and ensembles including his own band. He is familiar with several
musical styles and genres including classical, rock, jazz, funk, hip-hop, ska, r&b, and digital music.
Quentin’s mission is to be able to influence musicians of all ages and help them reach theirgoals and overcome any musical obstacles. Quentin is pleased to begin this new journey in his career as a part of School of Rock and is excited to inspire the next generation of musicians.