Dominique Abita
Owner, Regional Music Director
Dominique is a trained rock, opera, and jazz vocalist with over 20 years of experience having sung on many stages and toured with a band. She has a master's degree in Music from Catholic University and loves to teach.
Dominique also plays guitar, bass guitar, and keyboard + piano. She encourages all students of every age to make music, and she is dedicated to developing the instructors and the programs at School of Rock Randolph. She is also an owner of the School of Rock location in Carlstadt. Fun music fact: Dominique has performed at Carnegie Hall!
Jimmi Kane
Assistant Music Director, Drum Teacher
When Jimmi Kane started bouncing on his rocking horse right on beat to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It," his dad thought quickly and put some drum sticks in the four-year-old’s hands. Without any formal training, Jimmi quickly taught himself to master the drums. By the time he was 15 years old, he was a regular on stage in and around his hometown of Saugerties, NY.
Jimmi's career as a professional drummer has allowed him to record and tour the country with artists such as Krista (RCA/Jive Records), Thieves and Villains (Victory Records) and The Morning Of (Tragic Hero Records). He currently leads the east coast cast of the award-winning punk rock drum troupe, Street Drum Corps, where you can catch him banging on oil drums and pounding on kegs in the electrifying spectacular Blood Drums every weekend in September and October at Dorney Park's The Haunt or Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest. Jimmi is the Assistant Music Director at School of Rock Randolph.
Matt Thompson
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher
Matt has helped to instruct and guide musicians at School of Rock in Randolph, NJ since September 2018. He has been a musical artist, composer and performer for over 33 years. Matt's primary instrument is his voice, although he is also well-versed in guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion and ukulele.
Matt is also an experienced studio musician and live performer and is knowledgeable in live sound and sonic engineering. He has a passion for sharing his love of music and inspiring future generations of composers and performers to attain their dreams and express themselves sonically.
Stu Ottenstien
Drum Teacher
Stu Ottenstein has been a musician since early childhood. Music runs deep in his blood. His father was a professional musician who played in a very well known NJ Wedding Band for over 30 years. From elementary school, all the way up through college, Stu studied both piano and drums. At the age of fifteen, he started performing on drums regularly with his father’s wedding band gaining a tremendous amount of experience playing all styles of music ranging from Big Band, Funk,Rock,Latin and everything in between. He has been featured in Modern Drummer magazine in a section called “On The Move” and his drumming skills have been utilized on recordings for independent films and television.
For nearly a decade, Stu was the Drum Department Manager at Sam Ash Music in Springfield,NJ. His knowledge on drumming, drumming gear, and what it takes to be a successful musician is extensive from all of his years in the business both as a player and as a salesman.
He continues to perform regularly with some the top bands in New Jersey, playing all types of venues and events. Some of the bands that Stu plays with are: Brian Kirk and the Jirks, Moroccan Sheepherders,The Jonzes, Joe Baracata Band, High In The Mid 80’s, Carnival Dogs, The Main Event Big Band, Guilty Pleasure, From Jersey With Love.
Stu’s passion, technique, positive energy, and love for what he does shines through every single time that he sits down behind his drums. He loves sharing his knowledge, skill, and passion with all who want to learn how to play.
Brian Wagner
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Brian was 8 years old when his older cousin dropped the needle of the Led Zeppelin IV record and in that moment Brian knew he would be a lifelong musician. Hearing the rolling guitar of Jimmy Page and the howl of Robert Plant influenced him at such an early age, he never looked back. For most of his youth, Brian played guitar and he began studying bass guitar as he approached his twenties.
Brian has studied with some of the best bass teachers he knows including John JD DeServio of Black Label Society and Dave LaRue of The Dixie Dregs. He has spent thousands of hours practicing his craft as a working bass and guitar player in multiple original projects and countless Northeast touring cover bands. Brian studied music at Monmouth University and County College of Morris. He also earned multiple certificate degrees in music and bass studies from Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Brian has been teaching and studying music for over 40 years and still actively performs as a bass player in rock cover bands and plays acoustic guitar in an acoustic duo. Brian is well-versed in all styles of music including rock, metal, blues, jazz, southern rock, and country.
Brian is excited to be part of the team at School of Rock Randolph!
Todd Phillippe
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Todd is a percussionist and guitar player with a passion for educating music students. Todd has been teaching music for nearly two decades. He attended Montclair State University and studied concert percussion, drum set, and world percussion focusing on Middle Eastern and South African hand drumming.
Todd also has an extensive background in marching percussion and marching ensemble directing. He was the Marching Band Director for a local high school for 15 years and used his skills in music composition to arrange and create award-winning field shows. Todd loves to play his acoustic guitar, hand drums, or drum set to jam band music tracks from bands like Phish or the Grateful Dead. When he isn’t teaching, you can find him spending time with his family or on his kayak fishing the local waterways.
Jade Delos Santos
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Jade Delos Santos is a certified voice teacher with a background in vocal performance, acting, theater, piano (and other various instruments), and songwriting. After graduating from Roxbury High School, Jade earned their certification at the New York Voice School under the teachings of Justin Stoney and is currently working in the theater industry as a performer.
Jade has had a passion for music for her entire life, taking voice lessons, acting classes, and taking part in community theater in both New Jersey and New York City. Jade is proud and thrilled to be a part of the School of Rock Randolph team and help every student hone their voice to the best it can be.