Corry Coppin Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher
Cory first started his musical journey in high school when he decided to start a band with his friends. Once he realized how much fun he was having, he immediately joined every band and choir he could at school and was hooked. He majored in Music Theory and Musical Theater at College of the Siskiyous, where he sang in the jazz choir, played guitar and bass in the jazz band, and discovered a passion for songwriting. After his first experience teaching as the choir director at a local charter school, he realized there was no better way to share his love of music.
Since college, he has worked as both a private and public music teacher and as the musical director at multiple theatre companies. He has written the score for seven full-length musicals, the songs for an in-production movie rock opera, and has co-written several albums. He currently works at WestRoc Studios in midtown helping write and produce music for local artists and gigs around the area in his Irish Folk band, Lions of the North. In his free time, Cory enjoys watching and playing basketball, watching and playing fantasy football, and battling in Pokémon Go.
Joel Case Singing Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Joel is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, well-versed in the foundational instruments of rock: guitar, piano, bass, and drums. His education began at four years old, when his parents noticed how much he loved the feel and sound of the family piano. He would often daydream while lying on the piano bench, with his head next to the walnut soundboard, while he tinkered with the keys overhead. His parents hired an instructor who showed Joel how to close his eyes and identify harmonic elements by listening. From there, the teacher showed Joel how to immediately perform what he heard on piano, without using trial-and-error. Using this knowledge, Joel became obsessed with the Beatles and quickly learned how to play their songs. Later, he learned to vocally harmonize by analyzing those same songs. After high school, he learned guitar, bass, and drums, and performed in bands for many years. His knowledge of vocal/piano technique and music theory comes from a combination of classical private instruction, textbooks, and coursework as a music major at Sacramento City College. Joel is very passionate and enthusiastic about music and the role it plays in confidence, inspiration, and personal artistic expression.
Alonso Hernandez Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Alonso has been a music teacher since 2014, specializing in bass, guitar and group ensembles. He studied Jazz at West Valley College and is adept at many musical stylings including Rock, Jazz, Metal, Funk, Classical, Country and Gospel. As a bassist, Alonso has performed on the Vans Warped Tour with Pop Punk band Pounders, as well as multiple tours of Japan with nu-metal pioneers Insolence. He has also shared the stage with bands Alien Ant Farm, Exodus, Fishbone, Alkaline Trio, Reel Big Fish, Filter and DMX. As a teacher, he loves to focus on individual journeys. Every student/musician is different, and his approach adapts to each student’s need.
Ian McDonald Drum Teacher
Enamored with the bombastic energy of punk rock from an early age, Ian started tapping along with Green Day’s “Dookie” and “Smash” by The Offspring on whatever he could. Over time, the tapping snowballed into a practice pad and a pair of sticks, to lessons with an industry veteran, to the drum kit and four years in the high school drum line.
Two decades later, that punk rock energy, ethos and enthusiasm has influenced his playing in a number of groups across genres, ranging from a little bit of time on the road with a hardcore band to the more introspective, indie rock feel of his current project - Vinnie Guidera & the Dead Birds.
Alexa Irvin Singing Teacher
Alexa has been singing and looking for any reason to perform since she was a small child who loved to watch musicals and sing "opera" around the house. Originally a self taught singer, she didn't receive any formal vocal training until her freshman year of college when she joined the Sac City College Choir. Through Sacramento City College she has performed in several concerts, musicals, recitals, and even had the opportunity to perform with the Sacramento Ballet. After finishing her time at SCC she transferred to Sacramento State and officially became a music major.
While pursuing her B.A. in music and ultimately music education, Alexa has done her best to immerse herself in the Sacramento music/live performance scene. She often attends events to support local musicians and bands, performs in a group with other SOR instructors, and even dabbles in the beloved Sacramento theater community that she grew up watching. Alexa's truest passion is to share music with others, to teach the value of arts and humanities, and to make music accessible to anyone with a song in their heart and a little sparkle in their spirit.
Yacine Ofoe Drum Teacher
Yacine has been playing drums for 23 years. He started learning at 8 years old and took lessons for 3 years. His enthusiasm for drums led him to learn so quickly that his teacher told him there wasn’t much left to teach him. So he continued to build up his drum skills on his own while listening and playing along to all of his favorite bands. Starting with pop punk and moving on to hardcore, screamo, and metal. He started his first band at 12 years old with middle school friends covering The Misfits songs and playing house shows. After high school, he started a melodic hardcore band with his brother and closest friends. They were signed to a small label after their 2nd show, toured California, and recorded an album. Yacine has played in dozens of bands and played hundreds of shows/concerts throughout his career. He has been teaching for School of Rock Elk Grove since 2017 and is excited to be teaching at the new Sacramento location as well!
Jared Casstevens General Manager / Music Director
Jared grew up in the Bay Area, where he began his musical journey by taking piano lessons at his elementary school. At age 12 he picked up a guitar and it was love at first sight. His first teacher gave him the tools to learn and play his favorite songs by ear, a skill he would continue to hone over the next 25 years. His next teacher brought Jared back to the fundamentals, teaching him the scales and techniques that would further develop his style and dramatically enhance his playing. He formed a short lived Ska band as a freshman in high school and then moved on to start a pop-punk quartet with his brother Ryan on Drums. He played his first live shows and recorded his first EP with this group, and developed a passion for songwriting and performance.
Years later, Jared became a founding member of the Sacramento Rock band Smirker, a band whose influences include The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana, Ween and many others. Jared began as the band's bassist and quickly developed a fondness for the instrument. Smirker, whose shows were composed of both cover songs and originals, played frequent gigs in the greater Sacramento area and went on to record their own EP. Jared brings over 25 years of guitar playing and over 15 years of performance experience to School of Rock Sacramento, and looks forward to continuing his musical journey there for years to come.
Nic Black Drum Teacher
Nic Black has been playing drums and percussion for almost 30 years. He began his musical journey with lessons and performance groups, before moving on to form his own bands and gigging regularly. Playing in these bands introduced Nic to many different genres of music and helped forge him into the versatile drummer and passionate music lover that he is today. His goal as a School of Rock instructor is to inspire love of instrument and love of community, as our music is informed by the people we love and stand by.
Monique Horyza Keyboard Teacher
Monique Horyza was born a natural keyboardist and music lover. Before she could read, she could play piano. She began Classical piano lessons with a private instructor at the age of 4. By age 16 she joined a local pop rock band and was introduced to the culture of playing live music. It only took one show for her to know that playing keys live on stage was her calling! Studying at Musicians Institute was the next step for Monique to hone her skills. Graduating top of her class in 2011 with an Associate’s Degree in Keyboard Technology, she is now a professional-level keyboardist with the ability to play keys and piano in any genre or style of music. At advanced levels she understands music theory, composition, live sound, digital music, music production and music directing.
Monique has played keys live and in studio recording sessions for multiple artists in Los Angeles. For two years she also wrote, produced, and released her own music while working with a drummer in a band they called Adequate. In December 2021, Monique was hired at School of Rock as a Keyboard Instructor and Music Director for Rock 101. She says: "The incredibly talented souls that come to our school never ceases to amaze me. Watching them achieve bliss from music from beyond their time is so pure, and is certainly something I am glad to be able to help share with the world."
Ciara Anguay Studio Coordinator
Ciara is a kindhearted polymath (Entrepreneur, Song Writer, Children's Book Author & More). Music is just one of the things that Ciara is extremely passionate about, especially because it has the ability to connect people in a very universal and whimsical manner. Ciara has an extensive background working with young children as a preschool teacher, youth instructor for a local church, and doing volunteer work with The United States Youth Volleyball League. Ciara has multiple early reader books available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. She is currently working on creating new material based on music fundamentals. Most importantly, Ciara is excited to be a member of The School of Rock Family!
Maddy Vine Singing Teacher
Maddy is a recent college graduate and current masters student. During her undergraduate studies, she majored in voice per her music scholarship requirement which she applied for on a whim. Participating in choir, jazz ensembles, and as a classical soloist, Maddy was introduced to a multitude of vocal new genres. Here she fell in love with the Estill vocal method of training which focuses on anatomy and physiology of the voice. This method has allowed her to have free stylistic range with her voice and performances throughout her time in college. This method also allowed her to protect her voice and left her with a knowledge of how to isolate certain vocal mechanisms to produce any sound desired. After graduation, Maddy was unsure of the next steps on her journey in life until she stumbled into School of Rock out of curiosity and found how gratifying it is to pass on the love of singing and making music for the world.
Zach Rockafellow Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Specializing in music theory and improvisation, Zach started his musical journey when he was around 8 years old, playing trumpet in his school band. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that he was able to find his musical ‘home’ with the electric guitar. Inspired by the sounds of classical, jazz and 80’s hair metal, Zach acquired a strong sense of musical theory and technique early on. After refining his ‘improv’ skills in the local high school jazz band, he continued to pursue music at Musician’s Institute. There, he was able to learn one-on-one from some of the most notable players in the music industry, eventually earning a degree in both guitar and performing arts. Upon graduating, Zach performed with several groups around California, founded the company ‘ZR Guitar Pickups’ and continued teaching and recording freelance around the Bay Area and Sacramento.
Angel Alvarez Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Angel Alvarez began his musical journey with the purchase of his first album in 1982 of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." He immediately begged his parents for piano lessons and, although short-lived, these lessons solidified his yearn to be a musician. High school choirs tuned his voice but it wasn't until he got his first guitar as a junior that he finally found his calling. During his 13-year stint as the lead singer and guitarist for the Bay Area band Mystic Rage, he worked to get his bachelor's degree in studio recording and sound design. Additionally, he played in countless venues in California and Nevada, opening for bands like Slayer, Slipknot, Blue Oyster Cult, etc. He became the guitarist and one of the main songwriters for the band A Million Exploding Suns. After this project ended Angel decided to finally form the band he has always wanted. Now in a new band, Zero Day Threat, he has 100% creative control. Angel brings over 20 years of combined experience in performing, writing, engineering and teaching to School of Rock and is passionate about imparting his knowledge and experience to the next generation.
Adam Allas Guitar Teacher
Adam began playing guitar at 17 and within a few years was writing songs and recording demos at his home in
San Diego, California. As his skills increased he began collaborating with other musicians and experimenting
with different musical styles. For several years he operated a home-based project studio, producing and
recording rock, indie, and underground hip-hop music with a number of local artists. During this time he also
learned live sound and technical theater while working at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Later
Adam began working with young children, teaching music fundamentals and performing in preschools and
classrooms. He rediscovered the thrill of performing and joined a few tribute and cover bands before finding his
home with local cover band The Deviant Strays as their sole guitarist.
Adam has experience in blues, funk, soul, country, folk, bluegrass, and Hawaiian slack-key music, but classic
rock is and always was his main inspiration. He hopes to pass on his love of music to the next generation of rockers!