Chad Fondren
Owner, General Manager
Chad and Tracy Fondren have been running the School of Rock in Issaquah since 2016, and are very excited to open the School of Rock in Seattle Downtown with their new partner, Cole (long-time instructor and Music Director at School of Rock Issaquah). Chad is a father of two (both School of Rock students), and a local music industry veteran, having recently retired from his position as Director of Sales for Disc Makers, the nation's largest CD/DVD/vinyl manufacturer.
Also prior to his career at School of Rock, Chad ran a successful record label focusing on punk music, was Director of Operations for the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, ran a booking agency, and managed a studio teaching private trumpet lessons. Chad earned his bachelor's degree in Music Business from Central Washington University, with a minor in Trumpet Performance. He is especially excited to be dedicating himself to School of Rock full-time.
Tracy Fondren
Co-Owner
Tracy Fondren is a lifelong Pacific Northwest native and experienced musician (drums, voice, and piano/keyboards) with heavy ties to the Seattle music community and scene. Prior to becoming the co-owner and GM of School of Rock Issaquah, she spent ten years working in Music and Image Licensing at Getty Images.
Tracy met her husband, Chad, when previously working in Project Management for indie artists and labels at a CD manufacturer. Her passion for music and kids drove her to pitch the opening of a music school to Chad in 2014, and two years later, School of Rock Issaquah was born. Her love of sharing music with kids continues with the opening of School of Rock Seattle Downtown.
Cole Paramore
Music Director, Co-Owner
Cole was the first instructor at School of Rock Issaquah and has taught thousands of lessons and led hundreds of rehearsals.
Primarily a drummer, Cole has been playing and teaching for over 15 years and has studied under acclaimed drummers such as Mike Johnston, Mark Guiliana, and Robert Searight.
Cole enjoys all music with a particular love for indie and alternative rock. You can catch Cole playing in the Pacific Northwest with Harrison B and Little Rumor. Shows Cole has directed include Nirvana, The Beatles, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, The Strokes, and many more.
Milo M.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Milo has been a touring bassist for over a decade with PNW bands that range from metal to alternative rock to country music. With thousands of hours of stage time under his belt, Milo knows life on the road. His experience in both the performing and technical sides of music has fueled his ability to write in all the styles he plays.
Milo has a degree in Music Composition from Evergreen State College and uses his knowledge of music theory and arrangement to compose, record, and perform his own music live. Milo believes above all else, music should be fun—it should be a way to explore one’s own creative ability and find oneself through it.
Evan H.
Drum Teacher
Evan has been playing and performing on the drums for over seven years. He first developed fundamentals on his own, then took lessons with Phil Bowden, and later performed for his high school band program.
After high school, Evan has been committed to a variety of local bands, with his current and most prominent being Alex Vile. Evan specializes in all forms of rock drumming, including proficiencies in punk, jazz, and traditional forms.
Jane W
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jane Walker is a former School of Rock student from Oak Park, Illinois, and a current student at the University of Washington. They have been involved in music since they were four years old, starting with violin and expanding to piano, flute, mandolin, cello, bass, and guitar. In the summer of 2024, they toured Europe with the School of Rock Oak Park show team, playing in venues such as Shoko Madrid and the Rock in Rio Lisboa festival.
Jane teaches guitar, bass, and keys at the School of Rock in Seattle Downtown. They have been classically trained in violin, flute, piano, and guitar, and have extensive theory training that they incorporate into their teaching. They love all things classic rock, folk, grunge, and classical, and they are so excited to share their love of music and learning with the students in Seattle. Some of their favorite artists are Van Halen, the Flaming Lips, Stevie Wonder, and Fleetwood Mac.
Bethany M.
Vocal Teacher
Bethany began singing in front of crowds when she was 12 years old. After graduating with her AFA in vocal performance, she has since performed and written music with her husband in their latest project, Saint Jane.
Bethany believes in the power of performance as a moment of art; singing is no exception.
Tate N.
Studio Coordinator
Tate is a guitarist and producer from Spokane, WA. She first gained experience playing jazz guitar throughout school, as well as forming an alternative rock band, Late for the Parade.
Tate now specializes in indie and jazz music but loves to play almost anything.
Michael E.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Michael is originally from Minnesota and developed a love for playing shows through the School of Rock in St. Paul. He loves all types of music with a strong emphasis on alternative rock.
Michael attends the University of Washington and nothing makes him happier than playing guitar and bass with awesome people!
Leo Q
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Leo has been playing the guitar for over 10 years and performing in bands for the last 8. Through a mix of self and formal teachings of rock and jazz guitar under Stanley Williams and Sam Blumenthal respectively, Leo has honed his skills in blues rock, R&B, and classic rock.
Since graduating high school and continuing education at the University of Washington, Leo joined and currently performs with the local band Alex Vile. Leo’s favorite genres to listen to are punk, indie, and grunge. Outside of his academic and gigging life, he enjoys teaching and working on guitars.
Nick M.
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Nick is a multi-instrumentalist based out of Seattle. He began his musical journey by learning piano at age 6 and now specializes in drums, guitar, bass, and keys. His experience ranges from formal orchestral percussion to leading rock bands on drums and guitar. He loves music across many different genres, spanning jazz and classical to country and pop punk.
Nick is a huge advocate of School of Rock’s SongFirst™ teaching approach, the same method that fueled his own motivation to learn. He is excited to bring that philosophy to inspire the next generation of musicians!
Colin B.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
From an early age, Colin immersed himself in the world of music, picking up the guitar and delving into punk and alternative bands by the age of 15. Concurrently, he embarked on a journey into classical guitar, studying privately with esteemed guitarists and instructors. This early exposure to diverse musical genres laid the foundation for Colin's multifaceted approach to teaching and performing.
Building on this rich musical background, Colin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Columbia College Chicago, specializing in Classical Guitar. Throughout his studies, he delved into MIDI composition, harmony, music theory, and ear training. He then pursued a Master of Arts in Media Scoring, Sound Editing, and Music Supervision at Brooklyn College, further expanding his musical repertoire.
With his diverse background in different guitar styles and techniques, coupled with strong communication skills, Colin excels in interacting with students of all ages and proficiency levels. His adept understanding of music theory, including chords, scales, and rhythm, enables him to offer comprehensive lessons tailored to each student's needs.
Tosca R.
Drum Teacher
Tosca (she/they) has been a drummer for over 16 years. Starting in a program focused solely on jazz drumming, Tosca has since honed their skills to expand into funk, rock, metal, experimental, and rock drumming. They have experience teaching students of all ages, ranging from as young as six years old to folks in their late fifties.
Tosca loves to discover new passions and challenges with her students and looks forward to watching her students' love and appreciation for music grow. Whether you are just starting your journey as a musician or you've played for years, Tosca would love the opportunity to meet and guide you along this exciting path. In Tosca's free time, she is an artist, a roller skater, and a movie buff!
Drew H.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Drew has over two decades of musical experience and teaches guitar, piano, bass, and ukulele at School of Rock Downtown Seattle. He strives to not only teach his students to play an instrument but to love music. He believes this is done through fostering curiosity and creativity, encouraging each student to have the freedom and confidence to explore what makes them excited.
Colbi C
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Colbi Childs is a multi-instrumentalist recording artist who plays and teaches the rhythm section: guitar, drums, bass, MIDI, and vocals. Colbi has formal experience spanning from school symphonic/jazz band to training with Michael Derosier (former drummer of Heart) at Donn Bennett's drum studio. He also studied audio engineering at the Art Institute of Seattle and has been playing in local bands since 2004. Colbi enjoys rocking the greater Seattle area with his grunge-funk band Sun Mother.
Dejha C.
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Dejha was born in NYC to jazz musicians and raised in the vibrant downtown Manhattan art scene. She is a skilled songwriter, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist with a powerful, dynamic voice.
By 15, Dejha was performing in Seattle, quickly establishing herself as a force in the ‘90s rock scene, fronting bands like Monkey Business, 3-D S&M, The Pin-Ups, Rotten Apples, and Ragazza with a rotating cast of top PNW talent (including members of The Briefs, The Presidents of the United States of America, and Blind Melon). Known for her intense, emotionally resonant style, Dejha became one of Seattle’s standout talents.
Dejha has collaborated with leading producers like Adam Kasper, Martin Feveyear, Matt Bayles, and Jamie Siegel, and has performed at SXSW, toured Europe, and recorded with artists like Mark Lanegan and Candlebox. Currently, Dejha is working on a project with Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard and producer Josh Evans. She regularly performs with Blackie (A Tribute to Blondie), The Union Gospel, and as a solo artist. With a vocal jazz background from Cornish College and years as a yoga instructor, Dejha integrates mindfulness into her teaching, guiding students to discover their unique musical voices.
Shira Q
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Shira is a friendly and passionate vocalist, pianist, and former house band member of the Bellevue School of Rock. From singing around the house growing up to being selected to perform the music of their high school graduation at T-Mobile Park, Shira embraces their musicality in many aspects of life and enjoys adapting to a variety of environments. By demonstrating methods and working to meet students where they're at, Shira loves helping students bridge the gap between practice and play, rehearsal and performance, and musician to audience. They are grateful for the skills they have gained from School of Rock and their goal is to inspire that same confidence, creativity, and community in young musicians.
Shira is currently an Art and Dance major at the University of Washington, and they enjoy hiking, climbing, jazz shows, and hanging out with their plants and their cat. Some of their favorite musicians are Yussef Dayes, Hiatus Kaiyote, Mereba, and Radiohead.
Jordan F.
Drum Teacher
Jordan is a multi-instrumentalist (drums, guitar, bass) from Boston with a professional drumming career spanning over a decade. After graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he continued to drum in his two college bands alongside his budding project engineering career. In 2020, Jordan put his bands on hiatus and moved to Seattle for a fresh start with new music projects. Since then, he has played drums for multiple bands with genres ranging from acoustic singer-songwriter to metal-tinged rock.
Having completed 3 U.S. tours, playing hundreds of shows, and the release of dozens of songs, Jordan is now focusing on teaching music at the School of Rock locations in Issaquah and Seattle. He is currently playing in two local bands, Silver Pattern and Bandski. Jordan loves to share his enthusiasm for playing music and give back to Seattle’s historically rich music community which inspired him to pick up an instrument in the first place.
Ruby H.
Studio Coordinator
Ruby is a former dance teacher, and has been a dancer for over a decade. Her favorite styles include jazz and ballet and she was trained in many styles including tap, contemporary, hip-hop, pom, and acro dance.
Ruby is working towards her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts degree in Education Studies with a focus on Early Childhood Education at the University of Washington. She has worked with kids since high school and aspires to work in child development research.
Growing up in dance and going on to teach has given Ruby a great appreciation for music. Some of her favorite bands include The Strokes, Beach House, Peach Pit, and Boygenius.
David K.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
David is a former School of Rock student and experienced everything from Rock 101 to the AllStars program in his time! The whole experience was immensely fulfilling for him and he joined School of Rock Seattle Downtown to give back to the community that gave him so much!
David is an engineer most of the time, but music is what nurtures his soul. He hopes to inspire the same in his students!
Hunter S.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Hunter is a Seattle-based musician, with a primary focus on keys and piano. He is classically trained and started private lessons when he was 6 years old.
While he specializes in classical instruction, Hunter is knowledgeable in a variety of other musical genres as well. He has been teaching for over four years, including two years at the School of Rock in Issaquah, and still commutes to Tacoma weekly to teach his original students. Hunter has great energy and makes strong connections with his students! He has led students through performances like recitals, solo ensemble, and adjudication. Hunter is excited to be a part of the School of Rock in Seattle Downtown!