Shannon Jabczynski-Allen
General Manager
Shannon Jabczynski-Allen was born into a rock n' roll family. Both of her parents were in a band together, Mid City Rock, where her mom was the lead singer and her dad was the lead guitarist. Needless to say, rock n' roll is in her blood. At a young age she developed her love for Aerosmith and Heart, which are still two of her favorite bands.
A born entertainer, Shannon discovered her passion for dance when she was just a tot. Although her parents would've loved for her to pick up an instrument, they realized that dancing was her way of expression and let her pursue it. She attempted to learn guitar but it just did not compute in her brain so she stuck with movement though never walked away from rock n' roll.
When she was 16 years old, she got her first job in sales. This was something that came very easy to her and in a few years Shannon stepped into a management role. After 15 years with that company, they decided to sell the business and Shannon came to School of Rock. She is now the General Manager at School of Rock Rockwall.
Richie Rodriguez
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Richie began playing guitar at age 8 and fell in love with music. At first, he was plucking his way through 90s rock songs that came on the radio and tapes that his parents had. Before he knew it, he was able to play along with more difficult songs and became inspired by classic Rock groups like Led Zeppelin.
Guitar continued to be Richie’s first love, but since there was no place for him to play with others at that time, he joined the school orchestra in 6th grade and learned to play violin. Richie continued to play violin in school until 11th grade when he decided to try and pursue other musical interests, such as drum-line and Jazz band. He then started a Rock band with some classmates before the group eventually went their separate ways after graduation.
Richie began working for School of Rock in 2017 as a substitute instructor for the Dallas and Plano schools. He continued to work at School of Rock for over four years as the Assistant Music Director, until making the move to Rockwall as Music Director. School of Rock is the most fulfilling and fun job that he has ever had since day one, and you won’t find anyone who believes in it more!
Sasha Hammer
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Drum Teacher
Sasha is a classically trained bass player from Houston, Texas. An accomplished string musician, she started on the double bass when she was 10 years old, and picked up electric guitar and bass a year or two after that.
In high school, Sasha performed locally in rock and metal bands all the while keeping up participation in the school orchestra. During her tenure in orchestra Sasha and her fellow musicians earned the right to travel to New York City and compete in the National Orchestra competition where they were awarded First Place!
Sasha’s journey with School of Rock started in her sophomore year when she joined School of Rock Champion Forest playing guitar and bass. After half a year of being in the performance program, she picked up the drums, and in another half year she picked up the keyboard. She is currently an instructor in both the School of Rock Mansfield and School of Rock Rockwall.
An avid D&D player, Sasha slays dragons in her spare time and writes songs about her adventures in the realms! She’s currently attending college at University of Texas Arlington seeking a Bachelors in Music Media, and is a part of their orchestra there.
Glenn Austin
Drum Teacher
Glenn started playing drums when he was nine years old after seeing a performance at his elementary school talent show. A student played a blue drum set along to a KISS song and he was hooked. Glenn played on everything that he could get tone out of with a pair of sticks his dad made for him out of wooden dowels.
After a few years of books, pots and pans, Glenn got his first real drums at the age of 14. He started playing along to every song on the radio, learning all he could about every style of music he listened to. After playing house parties with different garage bands he and his friends put together, Glenn got a call from a real working band in the club scene. They spent the next couple of years playing every club and venue in north Texas and southern Oklahoma that would let them play. Eventually that led to Glenn’s first tour with a “road” band.
After touring the Midwest for a while he got an audition with Vince Vance and the Valiants. They toured most of the southeastern U.S. After leaving the Valiants, Glenn freelanced with many artists, including two-time Grammy nominee and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Janie Fricke, finally getting a gig with former Head East lead guitarist and solo recording artist Ricky Lynn Gregg. Glenn is currently the touring drummer for Texas recording artist Tom McKelvain and the Dirty Pesos.
Brandi McComb
Singing Teacher
Brandi's vocal talents range from Country to R&B, Pop to Alternative Rock. Brandi began her musical career at the age of 10 singing and dancing at numerous opries throughout North Texas. During her years in the opries, she had the privilege of sharing the stage, and even singing a duet, with the now famous Leann Rimes. In 1991, while continuing to perform at opries, Ms. McComb gained notoriety when she became one of the top 12 finalists in the Garland Music Association Scholarship contest.
In 1992, Brandi joined the nationally-renowned show band, Vince Vance & the Valiants, where she toured extensively across the US and internationally as the group's lead Valianette, Victoria. This popular, high-energy musical revue allowed Brandi to shine as a professional singer, dancer and actress. Not only has she shared the stage with well-known celebrities (Huey Lewis, James Brown. Harry Connick, The Four Tops, Chubby Checker, and many more), she's performed from the Superdome to the Superbowl and the Waldorf Historia to the White House. Brandi can also be heard singing the opening theme song to the cartoon, Blue Gender, as seen on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim.
In 2001, Brandi joined forces with ex-members of Vince Vance & the Valiants to start one of the hottest variety dance bands in Dallas, TX: ZuZu Peddals. She retired the band 18 years later to focus on wedding photography and her girls. Now she's excited to teach all she knows to students at School of Rock!
Jeff Hennen
Drums Teacher
Jeff Hennen is a native Texan that started his musical journey like most others, taking piano lessons. He switched to percussion in the fourth grade. After taking private drum lessons and playing in the school band, Jeff finally got his first drum set in seventh grade. Continuing private lessons throughout high school, along with marching band and stage band, Jeff was compelled to pursue a career in music upon graduation. Within one year of graduating, he was working as a professional musician. Two years later he got his first road gig with a top 40 band that toured not only nationally, but internationally as well.
Throughout his career he has played and toured with all kinds of bands and artists. Ranging from Jazz to Reggae, funk and R&B to top 40s and hip-hop, and of course, Blues to Rock n Roll. He has had the opportunity to play and perform with many great musicians over the years. Two of the most recognizable in the rock world are Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains and Dimebag Darrell of Pantera.
In 1997, Jeff was the regional winner of the Guitar Center drum off where he won a drum set and earned the right to go to LA to compete in the nationals at the House of Blues.
After getting married and having kids, his passion for teaching became greater than his desire to travel and play. Over the years he has become a full-time teacher and a part-time player as opposed to the first part of his career. “Looking back, it’s the best decision I ever made! I love my job! I am so blessed to help and inspire the next generation of musicians!”
Jon Rose
Drums Teacher
All it took was a single visit to the home studio of a church friend to cause Jon Rose to become infatuated with drumming. After roughly two years of banging on boxes and coffee cans to his favorite albums and radio songs, his parents took the hint, and he finally received his first bona fide set of drums as a surprise gift on Christmas shortly following his 13th birthday.
Primarily a self-taught drummer, Jon only took about three months of formal drum lessons before the music shop sadly closed its doors. He then spent his 8th and 9th grade years in school band, performing in talent shows, the pit ensemble and occasionally the marching field. Away from school, he bounced between a handful of garage bands with friends and played his first show at the age of 16. In his first year of college, Jon joined a metal band, Resigned to Fate, with whom he released an EP and an album on a small record label. Playing with this band also afforded him the opportunity to play dozens of shows and tour Texas, the Midwest, and West Coast. After that band dissolved, Jon would go on to self-release several EPs and singles, as well as play dozens of shows with a handful of local punk, indie and alt rock bands throughout the 2000s.
Highlights from this time include earning awards and nominations for “best punk band” and “best drummer” from such prominent local music blogs as The Dallas Observer and The Ghost of Blind Lemon. In 2019, Jon’s garage rock band The Delzells had the opportunity to open for legendary surf rock band, The Ventures at Amplified Live. Currently Jon performs and releases music with three bands: John Falvo & His Daggers (classic country), Ex-Regrets (alternative / punk) and The Duck Creeps (pop punk / hardcore). He also performs weekly in the worship group at his dad's congregation in Dallas. An avid collector, restorer and window shopper of musical equipment, Jon owns 8 drum kits, 20 cymbals and 50 snare drums! In his spare time, he enjoys recording drum tracks and creating drum loops and samples at his best friend’s home studio. Jon is happily married to his wife of 13 years, Heather, and they have an 8-year-old son, Will.
Sophie Rapattoni
Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Sophie Rapattoni is a singer/songwriter from Sunnyvale, TX. She started as a student at the Dallas School of Rock location at the age of 8, and participated in the School of Rock program until she aged-out as a highschool senior.
Sophie is a two-time national School of Rock AllStar, which is the highest honor bestowed on a School of Rock student. She has toured the country multiple times with some of the most advanced students in the School of Rock community. She started her first rock band at the age of 12 has performed at more than a hundred events, has won the Battle-of-the-Bands contests, and has played high-profile music festivals including The Wildflower Festival, Summerfest, and Lollapalooza. Sophie is a versatile vocalist who sings within many genres and is a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bass and keys.
She loves manatees and can recite every US president in order. Her musical interests range from Dolly Parton to Bauhaus to Moondog. She's in a punk band called Boring Lauren with other School of Rock alumni Dalton Rapattoni, Sydney Heffley and Cat Yeoman.
"I think quotes are very dangerous things." -Kate Bush
Sarah Yaden
Singing Teacher
Sarah is an experienced vocalist and performer. Her musical journey began when she started piano lessons at age 6, before expanding into voice and theater. During high school, Sarah was accepted into the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts where she studied voice and gained performance experience. Having received her master of music from the Eastman School of Music, Sarah performed significant roles in several main-stage productions during her time there.
She has also performed with Tidewater Opera Initiative, Prague Summer Nights, Symphonicity of Virginia Beach, OSSIA New Music Ensemble, and has been a featured chanteuse for several noted cabaret troupes and festivals in the northeastern United States. Sarah has also competed, and placed, in several vocal competitions: Jesse Kneisel Lieder Competition, Friends of Eastman Opera Competition, and the Prague Summer Nights Vocal Competition. Always a travel-enthusiast and language lover, Sarah has performed on stages in England, Ireland, Tábor, and Prague. She has used those experiences to study new languages and different styles of music. Sarah loves teaching and performing all kinds of music. She uses her classical background to instill not only an excitement and passion for singing, but also sustainable techniques to develop a well-rounded performer.
Ewan Minton
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Ewan is a School of Rock alumnus (Plano and Dallas). With the help of the instructors, he picked up the guitar when he was 13 and never put it down. Ewan loves all types of music from thrasher metal like Metallica and Megadeth to instrumental prog like Polyphia, and even some rap and R&B in his mix. Ewan is passionate about his craft and continues to play and write music every day.
Ewan’s main goal is to help his students cultivate their skills, as well as build their confidence and encourage them to enjoy music and be comfortable with themselves. Ewan is an Early High School College graduate. He obtained both his high school diploma from WT White High School and his associate's degree from Brookhaven College, simultaneously in 2021.