Jora and Adam Bart
Owners
Before opening School of Rock Plymouth, Jora worked in the sports and entertainment industry for 20 years, lived and worked in Hong Kong for a brief stint of time, and managed a band for fun in her early twenties. She produced publicity campaigns for a multitude of national and international events and served as the publicist for a world-class arena, a convention center, and a historic auditorium that hosted the likes of Elvis, Prince, and Dylan. One of her favorite hobbies is meeting new people. A big parenting goal for her is that her three kiddos grow up to be kind…and that they love music! Opening a School of Rock combined her passions for music, people, and making a difference.
Adam is a lifelong student of music, and had tried his hand at lead guitar, drums, piano, bass, vocals, and songwriting. In his younger days, he was in a band (that Jora managed) and had quite a few years playing smaller venues and shows in the Twin Cities. He is currently an academic advisor at North Hennepin Community College and enjoys helping students recognize and achieve their dreams. He finds that studying guitar and composing original music is a source of relaxation, and loves spending time with his children no matter what the activity.
Gabs Semansky
General Manager
Gabs Semansky is an experienced musician who started piano lessons at 6 years old and quickly fell in love with playing and performing. Throughout his childhood and into adulthood, Gabs’ excitement for music has led to countless hours of private instruction for keys, bass guitar, guitar, and almost every brass instrument.
This experience has allowed Gabs to take the stage with many bands ranging from punk to folk to blues outfits. As his skillset grew, so did the impetus to share that knowledge with the world. Gabs has volunteered for several music camps throughout the years and has served as an instrument instructor and the Music Curriculum Coordinator for the nonprofit Rock the Rez! since 2020.
Emily Hitchings
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Emily Hitchings is a Music Education major at Gustavus Adolphus College and has a passion for teaching and performing. She is a multi-instrumentalist who learned her first instrument at 12 years old and discovered her love of music from an early age.
At Gustavus, Emily was the treasurer for the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, a group that toured internationally and regionally as well as recorded two albums. Emily has extensive experience teaching music both in the classroom as well as private lesson settings. She is currently finishing student teaching and working towards her K-12 Instrumental Music Education license. Emily loves working with kids of all ages and believes in the importance of music education for everyone.
Tanner Bergersen
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Tanner Bergersen currently plays tenors with SKOL LINE (the Minnesota Vikings drum line). He joined his school band at a young age and has enjoyed making music ever since. He toured the Midwest with the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps and spent a year performing on the West Coast with the world-class Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps.
In his younger years, Tanner taught himself how to play guitar after being inspired by the Guitar Hero video game and constantly studied music performance, strategies for practicing, and learned a multitude of other instruments. He received a degree in Music Therapy from the University of Minnesota, and hopes to spread the knowledge he's gained during his musical endeavors to his students...and to never stop learning himself.
Tommy Bare
Studio Coordinator
Tommy Bare is a self-proclaimed lover of music and enjoys being lighthearted to try and help people feel a little bit better about life. He taught himself how to play guitar and piano, and his favorite genres of music include Folk, Soul, Classic Rock, and Indie.
When Tommy was around 12 years old, he found an album with four weird hippie dudes crossing the road. After listening to it, his mind was blown by the sounds that these guys had made, and told himself right then and there that one day he was going to make great music just like them. Tommy hopes that by working at the School of Rock in Medina, Minnesota, he can help students feel like the rock stars that inspire them.
Allie Casad
Music Director
Allie is a Minneapolis Community and Technical College graduate with an associate's degree in sound arts and brings a strong background in audio engineering to School of Rock Plymouth. Allie's journey in music education began at School of Rock Eden Prairie, where they advanced through the program to join the House Band and eventually took on an assistant directing role.
Allie is working on a personal music project called Manic Kin and plays bass in the local band 1947. They are passionate about teaching rock and roll, especially its history and the role of women, and aim to inspire and educate young musicians in a supportive environment.
Rob Fletcher
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Rob joins the School of Rock in Plymouth with a wealth of musical accomplishments and teaching experience. A graduate of DePaul University School of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Percussion, Rob has performed extensively, including as the house band drummer for Princess Cruises. He has taught privately and at various music schools in Chicagoland, the Twin Cities and abroad, including School of Rock Oak Park. Rob's diverse background in performance and education makes him an invaluable addition to the School of Rock Plymouth team.
Danny Ernst
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Danny brings a lifetime of experience as a guitarist and drummer to School of Rock Plymouth. They have performed in multiple bands, focusing on pop punk and metal, while constantly expanding their musical horizons.
In recent years, Danny has developed a passion for audio production, adding depth to their musical expertise. As a former School of Rock student, Danny is thrilled to return as a teacher, sharing their knowledge and passion with the next generation of musicians.
Shania Willette
Studio Coordinator
School of Rock Plymouth Studio Coordinator Shania Willette brings a background in vocational rehabilitation and human services to the role. Passionate about restoration and preserving memories, she ensures the studio runs smoothly while supporting staff and students in their musical journeys. Shania's favorite artist is Machine Gun Kelly.
Connor Bahauddin
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Connor Bahauddin, keyboard teacher at School of Rock Plymouth, is an experienced and versatile multi-instrumentalist who has been creating and performing music since he was five. As an adult, he has worked as a freelance keyboardist across various genres in both studio and live environments and as a music educator. In his free time, he enjoys recording in his home studio and restoring old audio gear and synthesizers.
Taylor Haagensen
Guitar Teacher
Taylor Haagensen, guitar instructor at School of Rock Plymouth, is a skilled guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader with over 13 years of experience. He performs with Silva and Begravement, and has played major events like Milwaukee Metal Fest 2024. Taylor has taught students of all levels and brings a passion for creative growth to every lesson.
Morgan Martincek
Studio Coordinator
Morgan Martincek is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in child psychology and currently works in the human services field. With a strong passion for working with children and a lifelong love of music, School of Rock Plymouth is the ideal place for her to spend her free time. She plays a key role behind the scenes, helping keep things running smoothly and supporting students on their musical journey.
Bob Delage
Bass Guitar Teacher
Bob Delage, bass guitar teacher at School of Rock Plymouth, is an accomplished bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and sound engineer with years of experience performing, touring and teaching. He plays with Woodzen and Emmy Woods and the Red Pine Ramblers, appearing at festivals like Blue Ox Music Festival and venues such as the Turf Club and Green Room. Bob has taught students of all ages on bass guitar, guitar, keyboard + piano, and ukulele, and brings a creative, supportive approach to every lesson.
Elsa Swanson
Vocal Teacher
Elsa Swanson, music teacher at Rockford Area Schools, is an accomplished vocalist, conductor, and educator with a passion for inspiring young musicians. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Memphis and a Bachelor of Music Education in Vocal and Instrumental Music from Northern State University.
Elsa has taught choir, directed theater productions, and even coached volleyball, bringing energy and leadership into every role she takes on. As an active performer, she sings soprano with The Singers- Minnesota Choral Artists and will perform with the Minnesota Opera this spring. She has also sung and conducted with Vox Nova Chorale and the River City Singers, both based in the Twin Cities.
Elsa brings her wide-ranging experience and enthusiasm for music to School of Rock Plymouth students, fostering creativity, collaboration, and a lifelong love of the arts.
Siera McGregor
Vocal Teacher
Siera McGregor is a vocal teacher at School of Rock Plymouth, and also teaches our Little Wing and Rookies programs. She brings over seven years of experience working with children of all ages and backgrounds. Siera began her passion for teaching and childcare while growing up alongside her sister with autism, which gave her a unique perspective on supporting children’s development and learning.
Siera began singing and playing piano at a young age and has been in several bands throughout the years in the Twin Cities area. Known for her creativity, patience, and ability to adapt, Siera is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing musical environment where children can thrive.
Derek Droogsma
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano, Rehearsal Director
Multi-instrumentalist Derek Droogsma, is a full-time professional musician with over a decade of experience performing, teaching and leading bands across the Twin Cities. A passionate educator and performer, Derek brings enthusiasm, expertise and a deep love of music to every lesson and stage he steps onto.
Since 2017, Derek has taught private lessons in guitar, bass guitar and keyboard + piano, creating personalized, song-driven curriculum that helps students grow in both skill and confidence. His teaching philosophy centers on performance-based learning- inspiring students to connect with the music they love while developing the technical and collaborative skills to thrive in real-world band settings.
At School of Rock Plymouth, Derek brings his wide-ranging experience as a musician, arranger and bandleader to help students of all ages discover their sound, gain confidence and have a ton of fun making music along the way.
Ben Davies
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Multi-instrumentalist Ben Davies is a dedicated musician and sound engineer with hands-on experience performing, teaching and producing music across the Twin Cities. Ben brings both technical expertise and creative passion to every lesson, rehearsal and stage he steps onto. At School of Rock Plymouth, Ben channels his enthusiasm for performance-based learning to help students build confidence, master their instruments and connect with the music they love.
Bennett Turner
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Bennett Turner, multi-instrumentalist and teacher at School of Rock Plymouth, is an accomplished bassist, drummer and guitar player with over six years of professional gigging experience across jazz, soul, gospel, pop and rock. A groove-focused musician at heart, Bennett quickly became one of southeast Missouri’s go-to bass players, and has appeared at events like the Cairo Smooth Jazz Festival, the Scout Hall Underground Jazz Series and KRCU’s Music on the River.
Bennett brings a supportive, rhythm-centered approach to every lesson. With a background in sound recording, content creation and years of experience performing in university ensembles and professional groups, Bennett helps students discover their musical voice and build the confidence to play in any genre.
Grady Westling
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Grady Westling is a Minnesota-based drummer and multi-instrumentalist active in the local music scene since 2018. He brings a strong background in theory, ensemble performance and instrumental versatility- performing on drums, guitar, bass and vocals across a variety of projects. Known for his reliability, creativity and collaborative spirit, Grady thrives in group settings and brings steady musicianship to every rehearsal, show and recording session.
As a teacher at School of Rock Plymouth, Grady focuses on fundamentals, musicality and helping students develop confidence through hands-on, creative learning. Drawing from his years of performing, studying and growing up immersed in music, he aims to guide students toward finding their own voice while building the skills they need to succeed in any band or ensemble.