Ryan Wheatley
General Manager
As a kid, Ryan always loved listening to music. He picked up his first guitar at the age of 12 and quickly developed a passion for it, deciding then that music would be his career. At the age of 14, Ryan was asked to join his first band, and soon after he was playing shows all around Ottawa.
After high school, Ryan took Algonquin College's Music Industry Arts program where he learned all about how to produce and record bands. Ryan has been performing and teaching music for well over a decade and, when not at School of Rock Orleans, currently performs with Garden Variety and other acts all across Ottawa.
Alex Pharoah
Music Director, Guitar Teacher
Born and raised in Guelph, Ontario, Alex began his musical career at the age of 12. He was gifted an electric guitar for his birthday and it was love at first sight. Alex got his start playing at church in the band on Sunday mornings which evolved to performing at various church events around the Guelph/Kitchener/Waterloo area. He moved to Ottawa in 2014 to attend Algonquin College's Music Industry Arts program and he graduated in 2016.
While in school, Alex met and became friends with Tori Dawson (who now goes by the stage name "Vi"). Alex has become her guitarist, performing live together and on her album "Blackwater". They eventually played at Ottawa's Bluesfest in 2019, opening for a band named The Backstreet Boys.
In 2015, Alex and a couple of his musician friends got hired to be the band in CBC Radio One's "Christmas Human Jukebox." They practiced for months beforehand learning every Christmas song they could. Listeners called into the show with a special story and a song that reminded them of Christmas. Then the band had to play whatever song they requested.
Since January 2020, Alex has been a music director at a church here in Ottawa.
Gabriella-Rose Nasrallah
Little Wing Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Gabriella was 12 years old when she took her first vocal lesson at School of Rock and was instantly hooked. Wanting to get more involved in music, she joined our Teen Performance group and picked up guitar lessons shortly after. Some of her best memories were made on stage, rocking out with the band at Hope Beach Volleyball, or singing her heart out to Paradise City by Guns N Roses at the Capital Fair. Since leaving the school, Gabriella continues to practice music at home and perform at open mics.
Now as a university student at UOttawa, Gabriella is studying Psychology and Music in hopes of becoming a music therapist.
Nathan Reid
Drum Teacher
Jonathan "Nathan" Reid is an Ottawa based drummer and multi-instrumentalist with a lifelong interest in performance and writing. Growing up in a predominantly musical household, Nathan was surrounded by a family of aspirating musicians, all trying to perfect their own specific instrument. His parents bought him a drum kit after he spent many childhood years drumming on pots and pans with wooden spoons. Learning drums mainly from participating in public competitive rhythm game tournaments, to filling in for many smaller bands on tour. Nathan wants to pass on what he's found to make drumming as a craft such a fulfilling and fun experience. Playing his first gig at 12, Nathan frantically joined local Rock bands, trying to pack in as much live performance as possible. After the high school years of hopping from band to band, Nathan co-founded their current project, known as "Amnita". Learning to use recording equipment from scratch and self-producing their own material, Amnita has recorded three EPs alongside a collection of singles, carving out their own psychedelic, Indie Pop sound. Between 2018 and today, Nathan has taken a passion in joining other bands as a hired drummer and bassist on their tours. Bands such as Castlefield, Romancer, Pine, Fanclubwallet and Plastic Farm have had Nathan behind the drums for shows ranging from Ontario and Quebec, to the southern American states.
Ryan Eagleton
Guitar Teacher
Ryan is a local Canadian music industry professional with a passion for entertainment, performance and learning. He picked up the guitar, teaching himself at age 12 how to play and continued pursuing his interest by participating in school band events and attending tons of concerts. After some years of working after school, Ryan went to Algonquin college where he received his diploma for graduating from the music industry arts program with honors in August of 2021. He currently resides in Orleans, Ontario where he spends much of his free time playing and learning music, creating content and gaming. The collaborative nature of music is something special and he is always eager to meet new people that share that passion.
Chloé Martin
Drums Teacher
Chloé Martin discovered her passion for drumming at the age of 12. After taking some lessons at School of Rock, she participated in the performance programme where she got to play with other musicians who were just as excited about music as she was. Later on she joined bands outside of the school and started playing gigs in bars all over Ottawa. She then picked up vocals, guitar and cello to further her abilities in songwriting.
In 2022 , she is now a student at Carleton University. She is part of the BMUS performance program studying jazz drums in hopes to be a session musician.
Jacob Neufeld
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jacob is a fingerstyle guitarist and multi-instrumentalist based in Ottawa. He started teaching himself how to play on his sister's abandoned guitar years ago and has since added bass, banjo, harmonica, mandolin, and piano to his bag of tricks.
Jacob studied at Algonquin College's Music Industry Arts program, graduating with honours in 2016. Since then, he's done session work, freelance music production, studio recording and mixing, live accompaniment, commissioned arrangements, solo performances, and, of course, teaching!
Brad Beekmans
Drum Teacher
Brad first started drumming in high school, when his best friend wanted to start a band and needed a drummer. He started taking weekly lessons, and playing the various school talent shows.
In 2014, Brad attended Algonquin College, taking the Introduction to Music Industry Arts program, and completing the full Music Industry Arts program the following year. He spent a lot of time recording drums in the college studio, and since then has gone on to record, tour, and play shows all around Ontario.
Brad enjoys being able to share his musical gifts with others and is proud to watch his students perform at the various School of Rock Orleans performances held throughout the year.
Julie Faul
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Julie has always had a love for singing and a passion for music. As a long-time music enthusiast, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and inspiring students to find their own voices. Julie has worked with kids in various settings for many years and brings a warm, encouraging approach to her lessons.
She is also a proud School of Rock parent with three children in the program who love every moment of it! When she’s not teaching, Julie participates in the School of Rock Orleans adult program, continuing to grow as a musician alongside her students.
Louis MacDonald
Guitar Teacher
Originally from Prince Edward Island, Louis taught at National Music Studios in Charlottetown, read charts in a theatre pit orchestra for two seasons, and gigged extensively on PEI with a busy R&B tribute band leaning heavily on the Blues Brothers soundtrack.
Since moving to Ottawa in 2002, he gigged regionally in Ontario and Quebec as lead guitarist with local metal bands, and taught private lessons from his home studio in Quebec. Louis was also School of Rock Orlean’s first guitar instructor for two and a half years after opening in 2014.
In addition to his stage and teaching experience, Louis is graduate of the Berklee College of Music, and received Berklee’s international Paul Simon Scholarship for academic achievement. Over the years, Louis has studied with many amazing teachers, including: Steve Vai (David Lee Roth; Whitesnake), Scotty Johnson (Boston Pops Orchestra), Mike Williams (James Cotton Band), Greg Howe (Michael Jackson) and Derryl Gabel (Dweezil Zappa’s “Dweezilla”), focussing on rock technique, blues styles and jazz/fusion improvisation.
Louis works with players of all ages and skill levels, and especially enjoys helping beginners get their start at School of Rock Orleans.
Marcus Boekhoven
Drum Teacher
Starting on the piano at the age of nine, music has always been an integral part of Marcus' life. Having travelled extensively as a child, music and art have been everywhere in his life and he has carried the sound and culture through his own compositions. Around the age of 12, while living in Syria, he found the Djembe, playing in drum circles to establish a sense of rhythm. Shortly after moving back to Canada, the drum set was introduced - and music took off from there. Since middle school, music has been included in every school he has gone to - including performing bands in school, as well as additional bands formed outside with friends. This eventually led to becoming a graduate at Algonquin College in 2023 - in the Music Industry Arts program - where he met fellow collaborators and band members.
Since then, Marcus has played in multiple shows and festivals across Ontario and kept up with a few different instruments - playing piano and drums and picking up bass. He currently plays in three separate bands, one preparing for an album release while the others perform in Ottawa. He is a passionate musician, producer, and writer, having a deep love for several genres including Hip Hop, Rock, Jazz, and Blues. He is eager to share this passion with students and progress the craft of both drumming and music at School of Rock Orleans.