Our Experienced Music Teachers
All of School of Rock Perrysburg ’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. Our instructors guide students one-on-one to personalize learning, inspire confidence and build social skills.
Thomas Johnston
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Thomas Johnston is an Australian-born composer and multi-instrumentalist studying at Bowling Green State University. He is working towards a dual Bachelor of Music in Music Composition and Jazz Studies.
Thomas’s love for music not only is rooted in performing and composing but also as an educator as well. Thomas is an active educator and teacher of music around Ohio and looks forward to rocking out here at the School of Rock in Perrysburg.
Dr. Christopher Schoelen
Music Director, Camp Director
Dr. Christopher Schoelen is a riveting, award-winning classical guitarist from Central Vermont. In 2019, he obtained a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar performance from the University of South Carolina and was also a three-time prize-winner of the school’s Creativity in Music competition. He received a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied with the world-renowned guitarist, Eliot Fisk. During his time at the conservatory, Dr. Schoelen participated in masterclasses with great artists such as Sharon Isbin, Marcin Dylla, and Grisha Goryachev. As a seasoned performer, he has performed in prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall in New York, has been a judge and given master classes in various guitar festivals, and has performed internationally in Spain and Italy.
In 2021, Dr. Schoelen released his second solo guitar album titled Neo: Modernism & the Guitar. He performs and interprets music from the Renaissance to Contemporary works. In 2011, he moved to Seville, Spain to learn flamenco guitar and further his study of classical music with the Spanish guitarist, Fransisco Bernier. While living in Europe he developed a love for languages and learned how to speak Italian and Spanish.
Evan Palermo
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Dating back to high school, Evan has played in numerous orchestral ensembles, one of note being the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, where he was a three-year member and performed multiple concerts at Severance Hall with the group. Evan has also been an active jazz community member, playing in big bands and combo groups, which have led to performances at venues such as the Bop Stop and also a residency at Cedar Fair’s own Sawmill Creek Hotel.
Evan has taught lessons for over four years and enjoys watching his students develop and succeed as both performers and people. Evan is currently a full-time student, a freelance musician, and an educator.
Bella Haack
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Bella is a highly-trained vocal musician with nearly two decades of experience under her belt. She fell in love with the art of performance through musical theater but has enjoyed varying her skill set to encompass multiple genres including rock, classical, and jazz. In her training she participated and placed in many vocal and piano competitions, most notably being named the regional American Guild of Music NAIC Vocal Broadway Champion in 2016 before graduating as a Music Major from Toledo School for the Arts in 2017.
Bella is excited to share her knowledge with students of all ages and levels as she is a firm believer in the positive effects that artistic creation can provide for everyone.
Joseph Ortner
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Joseph started playing classical piano at 5 and studied with the Suzuki Method. At 13, he began playing guitar and performed with local garage and church bands. He studied jazz guitar at Fullerton College, where he started getting professional gigs with artists and theater productions.
Since then, Joseph has toured throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico with various artists, as well as working as a studio musician for producers such as Peter Temple and Calvin Turnbull.
Jacob Kendall
Drum Teacher
Jacob Kendall is a drummer and percussionist from Mason, Ohio. He is a former School of Rock student and currently is pursuing a degree in Music Education at Bowling Green State University, where he is involved in the symphonic band and percussion ensembles.
Throughout his endeavors, Jacob has also become very involved in the marching and pageantry arts, performing with various groups such as Matrix Performing Arts.
John Kneip
Music Director
John Kneip (pronounced "kuh-NIPE") is a Toledo, OH native who returned to the 419 in 2022, after a long stint in the Washington, D.C. area where he began his 15+ years of music teaching experience. During those years, John spent his time in various bands recording original music and touring up and down the East Coast (including Canada!). His teaching style focuses on the raw feel of music while incorporating theory and technique through songs students know/love...think 60% Dewey Finn from the movie School of Rock and 40% Glenn Holland from Mr. Holland's Opus.
John obtained a Music Business degree from Middle Tennessee State University in 2007. Some of his favorite bands include Foo Fighters, The Beatles, Meshuggah, AC/DC, Leon Bridges, Queens of the Stone Age, Beck, and Nathaniel Rateliff. He could easily list 20 more artists right here, but will spare your time. John loves his family of four and their two Siberian Huskies to no end.
John's prolific solo music output can be found under the name, "Nasawives" (pronounced "NASA Wives"), available on all streaming services.
Note for parents: Even though it's hard rock music, there isn't any cursing in his lyrics!
School of Rock is where music and learning come together
For over twenty years, our amazing instructors have transformed hundreds of thousands of students across the world into skilled musicians. Become a musician at School of Rock.