Erik
Music Director
Erik has a long history with School of Rock, serving as the Regional Music Director of the Las Vegas West & Green Valley locations in Nevada since 2015 before joining the Portland team as Music Director in 2025.
He earned his Bachelors of Music in Theory & Composition from San Francisco State University. The guitar is his primary instrument, which he's been playing since high school in the early 1990's. After moving from Northern California back to Southern California, Erik joined a band in 2000 called 3rd Strike that was lucky enough to sign a record deal with Hollywood Records. He had the pleasure of touring the world, and playing on radio festivals & tours like the Vans Warped Tour and Ozzfest.
Erik spends much of his time working on musical projects in his home studio. These could consist of anything from rock/metal type tracks, to film score style arrangements, or electronic music productions in the various subgenres of house.
Erik brings a deep understanding of our programs, culture, and mission. Portland is incredibly lucky to have someone with Erik’s experience, passion, and commitment to music education leading our music program.
Ezra
Assistant Music Director
Ezra is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, and sound designer from Chicago who came to Portland to study at Reed College and has a BA in Comparative Race and Ethnicity Studies with a concentration in Sociology. During college, Ezra expanded his musical endeavors and gained experience as a sound technician and theatrical sound designer. Following college, he used his skills as a guitarist, performer, and stage manager in Fuse Theatre Ensemble’s Shroom Show, and sound designed the Portland Trans Voices Cabaret.
As a musician and teacher, Ezra likes to combine the study of blues and jazz techniques with pop, rock, and folk songwriting structures. As a former School of Rock student and House Band member at School of Rock Naperville for many years, he is excited to pass on his knowledge to the next generation of rockers at School of Rock Portland!
In his free time, Ezra likes to cook, read, draw, and play Guitar Hero. Some of his musical influences include Talking Heads, Janis Joplin, My Chemical Romance, and Led Zeppelin.
Amanda
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Amanda has been teaching and directing shows at School of Rock since 2017. She started playing piano and singing at age eleven and has a BA from Haverford College. Amanda is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, both as a soloist and with her current music project Sloane Bayley. Amanda completed a year-long apprenticeship and is a Transformational Voice-trained vocal instructor that teaches students to bring their voice, body, and mind into singing. Amanda offers personalized instruction, creativity, and warmth to both in-person and online lessons. Amanda enjoys spending time with her teenage son, who is also a musician at SOR, and their two kittens.
Ash
Drum Teacher
Asher is a multi-instrumentalist who graduated from Portland Community College with a degree in Music and Sonic Arts. An alumni and former House Band member at School of Rock Portland, he has continued with a passion for drumming that was originally sparked there as a humble novice. He’s inspired by music like The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle, and Aphex Twin. In addition to live music he goes crazy for anything electronic. His favorite way to spend time is playing drums in his screamo band and making bizarre sounds on a computer and synthesizers. He’s always excited to share his love of music with students at School of Rock Portland and will never turn down opportunities to learn more. For fans of music and all types of art, he’s your guy!
Cameron
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Cameron is a former student turned instructor for School of Rock Portland. He first got into playing music by learning Green Day songs with his dad as a young kid. His interest in playing grew when he found School of Rock back in 2013 and was involved in numerous Performance Groups and the House Band before graduating.
Cameron is influenced by bands like blink-182, Against Me, State Champs, Descendents, NOFX, and many others! Outside of music, he enjoys playing hockey and being obsessed with the Legend of Zelda. If you like punk music and nerdy things come chat with him!
Charlie
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Charlie grew up in a suburb of Washington, D.C., and he moved to Portland in 2019 to pursue an undergraduate degree at Lewis & Clark College. He has been playing drums for over 15 years and has studied music with some of Portland’s finest jazz musicians including Charlie Doggett, Alan Jones, and Dan Balmer.
Charlie currently drums with many different musical acts throughout the city and in many different genres including jazz, funk, metal, and folk. Some of the artists and projects Charlie plays with include Johnny Franco, Canary Room, Jakki and The Pink Smudge, and Mr. Beautiful.
His biggest musical influences include Fela Kuti, Meshuggah, Bob Marley, and The Talking Heads. When he’s not playing music, Charlie is biking, exploring the local hiking trails, or trying out cool new restaurants. He is excited to share his joy and passion for drumming with others!
Cory
Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Cory graduated from Berklee College of Music. He teaches drums, guitar and bass, along with some vocals and keys. If you wanna shred on guitar, Cory is your guy! He loves kale and eating at Riyadh's. He plays in a rad band now called Liquid Light. His influences are Genesis, Husker Du and Guided by Voices. He love puns and random stuff on Facebook. They put a smile on his co-workers' faces or maybe even a frown! We love it!
Denyse
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
From Portland, OR, Denyse is a vocal and keyboard instructor, a former student of the School of Rock performance program and House Band member! She is a classically trained vocalist and pianist (since the ages of 9 and 6 respectively), and brings extensive experience in performance-based education, drawing from her involvement in theatrical arts as a singer, actress, dancer, and music director. Denyse is also pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Vocal Performance from the University of Portland. If you need audition advice, vocal/piano techniques, album recommendations from a variety of artists, or her favorite restaurants in the Portland metro area, ask Denyse! When she isn't playing music herself, you can find her at a dance class, at the gym, shopping extensively for the newest piece to add to her closet, or watching other people play music.
Hadley
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocals Teacher
School of Rock Portland substitute teacher Hadley is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, performer, and music lover from Jacksonville, Florida. They began playing violin in kindergarten and moved on to guitar in the fourth grade. Classically trained in guitar and voice at Lavilla School of the Arts and Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, they started playing gigs in Jacksonville at age 13. Since moving to Portland to attend Reed College, Hadley started the band Pepper Jelly, wrote a collaborative song cycle called The Last to Go: Reprise, and performed as June Carter in Stumptown Stages' production of The Ring of Fire. They have played in bands ranging in genre from ska-punk to bluegrass, making appearances at the Florida Folk Festival and Jacksonville Porchfest, often performing with their dad and his band, The Uncanny Valley Boys.
When not making music or teaching at School of Rock Portland, Hadley can often be found taking long walks with their dog, Leeloo Dallas, crafting, or watching Star Trek. Some of their favorite musicians include Bob Schneider, Tom Waits, Pup the Band, Crucial Eddy Cotton (their dad), and Tigers Jaw. Hadley is a self-proclaimed music nerd and is always learning and hoping to grow as a musician.
Hayden
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Born and raised in Portland, Hayden has been playing in bands since 2006 and brings a deep, well-rounded musical background to every lesson. Over the years, he’s played drums, bass, guitar, and keys in a wide range of groups spanning genres like indie, jazz, punk, alternative and funk.
Hayden draws inspiration from artists like Gorillaz, Pixies, and The Beatles, and his teaching style focuses on encouraging each student’s unique strengths and creativity. Whether you're picking up an instrument for the first time or looking to grow as a songwriter or performer, Hayden’s goal is to help you find your voice and have fun doing it. Outside of teaching at School of Rock Portland, Hayden enjoys traveling, watching anime and horror movies and diving into video games.
Ivy
Bass Guitar Teacher
Ivy is an electric and upright bassist from Colorado. Currently working to get her degree in Jazz Performance from Lewis and Clark College here in town, she's been playing the instrument for over a decade. During her somewhat brief time in town, Ivy has already fallen in love with Portland, and is looking forward to playing in all the many music scenes the city offers. As a kid, Ivy attended many School of Rock summer camps, and season shows back in Colorado, so she is excited to help teach the next round of kiddos looking to play music at School of Rock Portland!
Jules
Vocal Teacher
Jules is a songwriter, vocalist, bassist, and a synthesizer & auxiliary percussion enthusiast. They have played in bands from Eugene to Portland over the last 10 years. They have played in a range of projects from indie rock, singer-songwriter, jazz, post punk, and psychedelic surf rock. They are currently pursuing a degree in Music Education at Portland State University. They are passionate about sharing the joy of being loud with friends, they hope to encourage as many people as possible to find their voices, their community, and themselves through the power of musical collaboration.
When they are not studying, teaching at School of Rock Portland, or making music, you can find them jogging, jumping rope, journaling, dancing, and crocheting. Not all at once. Usually.
Kameko
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Kameko began her lifelong musical venture taking classical piano lessons at seven years old, leaning into choir later in grade school on through college, and teaching herself guitar in her early teens. Today she is a multi-instrumentalist, performer, producer, songwriter, and perennial learner. She has spent the last three years performing, writing, recording, and touring with her psych-rock outfit Femme Cell, occasionally performing as a solo project with a live looper. She is also pursuing a BS in Sonic Arts and Music Production, with a minor in Community Development, from Portland State University. She spends her rare bouts of downtime reading, designing, sewing outfits, screenprinting, and tinkering with old analog gear. She hails from Olympia, WA.
Leslie
Guitar Teacher
Leslie has been playing and writing music since elementary school, graduating with an undergraduate degree in Music Theory in 2023. She plays and teaches guitar and bass guitar. She fell in love with Portland’s thriving DIY all ages scene and started her own band, Sorrows, as a teenager and has been performing around the city ever since! Her influences include Deftones, Nirvana, Elliott Smith, Converge, and many more! When she isn’t playing music or teaching at School of Rock Portland, she enjoys working with electronics, writing poetry, and going for walks around the city.
Max
Bass Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Max discovered his passion for music during middle school through School of Rock summer camps. Immersed in the energy of rock, he moved on to perform with bands such as Grandfather, Open Floor Plan, and Radler. Max’s dedication to music has led him to participate in countless recording sessions, as well as tour with well-known bands like Like Roses, Awakebutstillinbed, and Mom Jeans. His time on the road and in the studio has shaped him into a versatile musician, and he’s currently the lead singer and songwriter for the local band Dog Cult, where he channels his love for music.
Max became an instructor at the School of Rock in Portland in 2023, bringing his passion for teaching and performance to new musicians. Whether working with beginners or seasoned players, Max enjoys helping others find their voice and place in the ever-evolving world of music. His teaching approach is rooted in his deep love for rock history, and he’s always eager to explore the many subgenres and influences that have shaped modern music.
Outside of teaching and performing, Max remains a huge fan of rock’s rich legacy, from its pioneers to the underground movements that keep the genre alive. Whether it’s discussing the finer points of punk or diving into the history of classic albums, Max loves to share his enthusiasm with fellow music lovers. He also enjoys connecting with his students over their own musical tastes and helping them discover new sounds and styles.
Rachel
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Rachel is a multi instrumentalist, singer songwriter, and audio engineer best known for her work with bands Black Mountain, Sleepy Sun, and UNKLE. In between tours she has accumulated over a decade of experience working as a musical instructor to all ages in the Los Angeles area and is excited to now call Portland home. Rachel is currently drumming for a feminist punk group and her favorite singers are David Bowie, Robert Plant, Billie Holiday, and Freddie Mercury.
Ragon
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Ragon is a music professional working as a solo performer and recording artist, music teacher, recording engineer, radio DJ, and supporting musician. Originally from Oklahoma, Ragon has called Portland home since 2006. Their background includes working as a multi-instrumentalist in many genres of music, teaching, internet radio, and on the board of directors for a music education non-profit.
You can find Ragon’s solo work on all major streaming services and they currently play in three Portland bands: Doödrr, Bug Complex, and a Pink Floyd tribute band, Comfortably Numb. Ragon loves all music genres and they are especially a big fan of Prog Rock. You can catch their weekly Prog Rock radio show on Tuesdays on Shady Pines Radio.
Ragon holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.
Ryan
Drum Teacher
Ryan is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies. After studying with drummers Jim White and Chris Smith in Colorado, Ryan moved to Los Angeles where he played in numerous bands and studied with Dave Elitch and Thomas Pridgen. Throughout his musical career Ryan has become proficient in many different styles on many different instruments.
With a background in rock, jazz, metal, indie/folk rock, and freely improvised music, Ryan can adapt to the needs of any student, and most importantly, make it fun! Ryan is a recent transplant to Portland, and after teaching at the School of Rock Santa Clarita while touring and playing with bands in LA, he is looking forward to continuing the musical journey in Oregon! Favorite bands include Dillinger Escape Plan, John Coltrane, Nirvana, Alexisonfire, Led Zeppelin, and Tom Waits. When not at School of Rock Portland, Ryan's favorite hobbies include running around with his dogs and jumping into rivers.
Spencer
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Spencer is a music production student at Portland State University and a member of the world-renowned Portland State Chamber Choir. He has over 12 years experience in both guitar and singing, and has been a featured singer with Josh Groban and Thomas Lauderdale. He's very passionate about music theory and helping his students play songs that challenge them and inspire them to improve. Spencer teaches guitar, voice, bass guitar and beginner drums.
Spencer's a huge fan of Weezer and Soundgarden, and he also likes progressive metal acts like Dream Theater. His wide taste in music helps him connect with any song choice his students might bring to him.
When Spencer isn't working, he's singing with his choir, writing/recording his own music or nerding out over the newest Marvel movie or TV show.
Zach
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Zach has been a devoted musician since he was a teenager when he began playing rock guitar. Those early years consisted of everything from learning, practicing, and rehearsing to performing, writing, and recording music with various groups. Holden is a graduate of School of Rock. He then attended Portland State University, earning a Bachelor of Music degree and further developing his musical ability and identity through his education in jazz and classical styles. During his education and thereafter, Zach has continued to write music, perform in bands and in the “pit” for staged musical productions in Portland, and has begun educating others about music as well. Zach is also an avid cook, a history and geography nerd, and a burgeoning language enthusiast who is currently studying Italian.
Amanda
Studio Coordinator
Amanda is a writer, music enthusiast, and adventure advocate with a passion for all things creative. She has been singing since childhood, picked up guitar and photography in high school, and immersed herself in the world of music history, film scores, and composition in college. After college, she launched her career in writing and digital marketing, driven by a lifelong love of storytelling.
Originally from New Jersey, Amanda moved to Portland in 2023, which brought out an outdoorsy side of her that was hiding in the tri-state urban sprawl (NY/NJ/CT). Inspired by travel, new experiences, and a good soundtrack, she prioritizes approaching everything with curiosity and an open mind. At School of Rock Portland, she combines her marketing and organizational skills for a business model she fully believes in, because really, she can’t imagine anything more fun than being in a band.
Clare
Studio Coordinator
A Seattle native, Clare attended WWU in Bellingham, relocating to Portland with her spouse after a post-college stint in Seattle. After three years working from home (and for "the man" for much longer than that), she switched gears to pursue a career in music. When Clare saw the Studio Coordinator role at School of Rock, she knew she wanted to be a part of such a unique community as her launchpad into the world of music. Although she doesn't play any instruments, she considers herself a "music enthusiast" and is content (for now) singing along and dancing to her favorite tunes.
She has a cockapoo named Zuzu and a tuxedo cat, Chef, enjoys going to concerts (preferably outdoors), reading sci-fi and fantasy, and buying/selling her clothes on Depop to keep it fresh. At School of Rock Portland, you can count on Clare to know your name.
Nathan
Studio Coordinator
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon by a Neil-Young-Bob-Dylan-Joni-Mitchell-Bob-Marley-listening-botanist-Mom and a classical-guitar-playing-Jethro-Tull-Yes-Genesis-Paul-Simon-listening-ceramicist-Dad, Nathan never stood a chance.
Before his feet could reach the sustain pedal, Nathan was writing sad songs on his grandparents' baby grand piano, strumming his woes on his dad's guitars, and absorbing the power of rock music through his mother's vast CD collection in the backseat of her car on their bi-weekly Fred Meyer grocery runs.
When not Coordinating the Studio at School of Rock Portland, Nathan spends most of his time gigging and making records with his band Pileup, throwing DIY shows, writing poetry, and nerding out over photography, fueled almost exclusively by hummus and/or 1-3 quesadillas per day.
Annie
Assistant General Manager
Annie is the Assistant General Manager at School of Rock Portland. She started her SoR journey in 2019 as a part-time Studio Coordinator after 11 years in marketing, design, and event coordination for an insurance company, trading spreadsheets for soundchecks to pursue her love of local music!
Annie oversees daily operations and loves supporting students, families, and her talented team of musician coworkers. Her favorite part of the job? Watching students crush it at their end-of-season shows (and getting to design the end-of-season show posters you’ve probably seen around!).
When she’s not at the school, Annie’s usually playing bass in some capacity (her bass journey started with a Weezer cover band in 2017), hanging with her poodle Albert, or exploring Portland’s amazing music and food scene.
Joanne
NW Regional General Manager
Joanne is the Northwest Regional Manager for School of Rock's company-owned locations - Portland, Bellevue, and Seattle. She brings passion, energy, and a deep love for music to everything she does. She began her School of Rock career in Portland, where she served as General Manager for 10 incredibly rewarding years. Her leadership helped shape a thriving musical community, and she continues to build on that foundation across the region.
Joanne oversees operations to ensure every student receives an exceptional experience—whether they’re picking up an instrument for the first time or hitting the stage for a performance. She thrives on supporting teams, empowering young musicians, and being part of a community that lives and breathes music. Like we often hear, she wishes School of Rock was around when she was a kid! Joanne loves being surrounded by the creativity, collaboration, and contagious energy of our students and staff.