David Curry
Owner, General Manager, Show Director, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
David is an owner and show director at School of Rock Rochester NY. He is an active member of the Rochester music scene, either music directing or pit directing youth musicals at various public and private schools, or playing Americana, alternative country, and rock with the Genesee Revelers.
David is a multi-instrumentalist and plays the keyboard, bass, and guitar, and sings. He is thrilled to provide young musicians the opportunity to perform and learn about music.
Alexis Weber
Music Director, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Alexis Weber is the Rookies and Little Wing program director, keyboard + piano teacher, and vocal instructor at the School of Rock in Rochester NY. She has played the piano for 17 years and studied privately under her instructor Deborah Williams for about 8 years. Alexis has been involved both casually and professionally in Rochester community theatre since she was 14 years old, and still performs in her free time. Alexis has a great love for classical music and opera, but listens to a variety of music from classic rock to show tunes. When she’s not teaching, Alexis spends her evenings with her 4 cats and partner.
Paul Cucinella
Drum Teacher, Show Director
New York/Philadelphia drummer Paulie Cucinella's funky, hip style of drumming drives the groove of acid jazz quartet FlashBamPow, a WNY-based group known for blending complex jazz fusion, soul-drenched psychedelic jamming, eastern ragas, and old top 40 tunes.
From Broadway to the Bronx, Philly to Rochester, Paul has worked with some incredible musicians and mentors. Now he shares his skills as a drum teacher at School of Rock Rochester NY.
Nathan Davenport
Guitar Teacher, Show Director, Rock 101 Director
Nathan is a motivated and passionate teacher who loves sharing his skills to help students achieve their musical goals. Nate has been playing guitar for over two decades. Largely self-taught, he also holds a degree in performance. In addition to helping School of Rock students learn to shred, Nate teaches music at a day program for adults with disabilities. He has worked with all different types of people from all different backgrounds, skill sets, and abilities.
Nate's unique skill set developed through self-guided training, formal training, and military experience have informed his well-rounded perspective that self-motivation and discipline pave the way for success in music. Success on guitar is not for the "naturally gifted" but for the person who perseveres and challenges adversity head-on.
Nate can be found performing in classical and jazz guitar contexts, in addition to rock & roll, throughout the Rochester region.
Paul Ogunsalu
Bass Guitar Teacher
Paul Ogunsalu is an award-winning graduate of Berklee College of Music and a bass teacher at School of Rock in Rochester, NY. He has spent many years touring as a bassist and producer both nationally and internationally, working with a wide variety of music styles and artists. His productions have received national and international airplay, premiering on networks such as MTV, BET, VH1, BBC Radio, BBC Television, and NBC. He also enjoys working with local Rochester artists!
Rozlyn Menachof
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Rozlyn delivers a clear sense of her innermost thoughts using raw vocals with nothing held back. The effortless power of her voice combined with honest and unapologetic lyrical content leaves listeners feeling a genuine emotional connection.
Back in Rochester, after studying vocal performance, songwriting, and music business at Berklee College of Music, she cultivates a timeless soul feel that blends R&B, jazz, pop, and rock. Her biggest influences include Amy Winehouse, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Erykah Badu, Moonchild, H.E.R., Grace Potter, Carole King, Joss Stone, and Pj Morton.
Braden Jones
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Braden Jones is a Tennessee-based musician with a passion for drums and a fire to share his songs with the world. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Braden has received a bachelor’s degree in studio music and jazz along with two minor concentrations in music composition and music business from the University of Tennessee, where he was awarded a wide variety of musical scholarships. He is currently earning his Master’s degree in Music from the Eastman School of Music, concentrating on the jazz and contemporary media performance track. He currently serves as the graduate teaching assistant for the Jazz Percussion Studio. Furthermore, Braden has continued his personal private instruction since he was 17 years old and has acquired students of all backgrounds throughout his teaching career, including those he has instructed at the School of Rock Knoxville, Knox Music Studios, and the Percussive Arts Academy. He has played with a myriad of talented artists and an assortment of genres ranging from jazz, indie, classic rock and roll, to contemporary avant-garde music, funk, country, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and electronic music. Braden welcomes students of all backgrounds to study with him, as he provides a strong technical foundation while enhancing their musical prowess to achieve and play anything they desire behind the drum set.
Yakira Coleman
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Yakira Capri Coleman (Jocasta) was born and raised in Rochester and is an actress, singer, songwriter, and poet. She has been in multiple shows including "Ragtime" at CenterStage Theatre at the JCC and "Once on This Island" at Blackfriars Theater. She has also performed at festivals including the 2022 Rochester Puerto Rican Fest.
Chloe Kunes
Studio Coordinator, Rock 101 Director, Rookies and Little Wing Teacher
Chloe Kunes originally hails from Chicago, but her true home has always been in studios and on stage. Her instruments of choice are bass and drums, but she'll dabble in anything she can get her hands on! Formerly a performing dancer and dance teacher, Chloe's multi-passionate artistic background gives her a unique perspective as a musician, performer, and educator.
Chloe studied dance under internationally recognized choreographer/instructor Joel Hall, and at The Chicago High School for the Arts, surrounded and inspired by her creative peers daily. She has had the pleasure of performing in major productions on stages all across Chicago, having danced with The Joel Hall Dancers' pre-professional company for five years. Among countless wonderful mentors, Chloe is grateful to have shared studios and stages working with and learning from many acclaimed performers and choreographers with credits in The Lion King and other Broadway productions, Cirque du Soleil, and some of the most renowned dance companies in the country.
Chloe is so excited to be sharing her passion for music and performance with the community! She is incredibly honored every day to be supporting young musicians as they build creative confidence, discover their identities and voices, and find expression and joy through playing music.
Celina Vargas
Studio Coordinator, Show Director
Celina Vargas is a Rookies and Little Wing instructor at the School of Rock in Rochester, New York. She has been performing from a young age and went on to study commercial music & jazz for a few years at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. She has also taken part in variety shows like High Steppin' Country where she displays the vocal skills she has developed over years of private practice.
Celina picked up teaching because she loves to help raise motivated leaders in the forever-growing music industry. She is a songwriter with a love for indie music outside of School of Rock and enjoys going to open mics and live music often.
Thad McCully
Drum Teacher, Group Ensemble Director
Mr. McCully attended Philadelphia's University of The Arts, where he landed the drum chair in the University of The Arts Big Band as a freshman. Here he also discovered his knack for teaching, after being sought out by fellow students, who wanted to learn his interesting grooves and fills. Realizing he was missing New York, Tad transferred to the Manhattan School of Music after his sophomore year. Tad left after a year to pursue his playing career, and to study with drummer Zach Danziger, who introduced him to guitarist Wayne Krantz and bass player Tim Lefebvre. Since then, Tad has been building an impressive performance resume, that includes gigs/performances with Randy Brecker, Wayne Krantz, Charles Blenzig, Sergio Brandao, Pete McCann, Rufus Philpot, Leni Stern, Rich Rowlinson Trio, Osmoses (with whom Tad toured Martinique, including a televised concert at L'Atrium), Eric Wollman Trio, Burr Johnson Band, Paul Socolow, Jim Pugh and many others.
Kate Piscani
Little Wing and Rookies Teacher
Kate Piscani brings her passion for the arts and education to our Little Wing and Rookies classes, as well as our summer camps. With a bachelor's degree in theater from Geneseo University and stage experience, Kate fosters creativity and confidence in her young students, making music and performance fun and engaging.
Strider O'Neill
Guitar Teacher
Strider O'Neill is a Rochester-based guitar player and teacher. A graduate from FLCC with about 9 years of guitar under his belt, He enjoys many different styles of music and guitar playing and has a passion for teaching. He is actively playing in a local rock cover band Plunger.