Nick Dees
General Manager
Nick Dees has been around music his whole life. His passion for music started early when he picked up his dad's guitars around the house from as early as four or five years old and learned songs he loved. Nick learned to play bass and drums as well and toured around the country with his father in his early teen years experiencing the business side of being in a band, working merchandise and roadie gigs. Seeing the bands night after night playing to huge crowds and having the times of their lives, Nick knew this was what he wanted to do most. He formed his own band at the age of 15 with his brother and best friends and never looked back.
By the time he was 20, Nick's first band had had run its course and within a year he started Hold On Hollywood. HOH went on to have songs on major radio stations like Houston’s own 94.5 the Buzz and played legendary Houston venues like Toyota Center, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, White Oak Music Hall, and so many more across the country touring alongside acts like Candlebox. Hold On Hollywood has opened for other legendary acts such as Bon Jovi, Chevelle, A Perfect Circle, Blue October, Mike Shinoda, Puddle of Mudd, and countless other household names.
Nick has also worked as a hired gun for the last decade doing work for cover bands and other original artists around Houston and the Texas area. He has played hundreds of other shows as a result, from 20-minute sets to multi-hour nights, encompassing songs spanning the last seven decades and many different genres of music.
With years of experience in running professional bands and working as a gigging musician in between, Nick is a valuable member of the team and has brought all of his experience to the table to run School of Rock The Heights!
Angel Garza
Music Director
Angel is the first of his family to engage in music. He started playing at four, and grew up listening to bands such as Slipknot, Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, and many more! From there, Angel began teaching himself and practicing every day, always looking to improve on something. His idol and primary source of inspiration is Joey Jordison.
Because of his love for music, he picked up guitar and bass around age 12 and vocals at age 15. From middle school through high school, Angel was a top student, earning multiple achievements such as soloist awards, and leadership positions, and was a three-time All-Stater, which is a representation of the best musicians in the entire state.
When not at School of Rock The Heights, Angel likes to watch sports, which mainly consists of watching the Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees beat Houston teams. He loves working and talking about cars, especially JDM, and enjoys going to local and big-name shows occasionally.
Amanda De Leon
Studio Coordinator
Amanda grew up surrounded by all things music. At a young age, she had a love for singing, dancing, and acting. Her teachers used to call her “Triple Threat” because of that. After pursuing all three of these for three years, she discovered her real passion was dance. During her time as captain on her high school dance team, she focused on developing her peers and future team leaders, teaching dance technique, and choreographing multiple award-winning dances.
When Amanda started at School of Rock The Heights, she began to learn bass and even performed with the instructor band! Her time on her dance team combined with her time at School of Rock has led to Amanda going back to school to become a teacher. Amanda hopes to teach second grade or fourth grade. She also LOVES cats.
Zach Hernandez
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drums Teacher
Zach is a seasoned music instructor with over ten years of experience, specializing in vocals. A classically trained singer, Zach has developed a versatile vocal style that spans multiple genres, offering a rich and diverse approach to vocal technique. In addition to teaching, Zach is an active performer in the Houston local music scene and a two-time School of Rock All-Star vocalist, bringing passion, energy, and professionalism to every stage performance. Zach's commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians is evident in their teaching approach, combining technical expertise with real-world performance experience. Their goal is to inspire and empower students, guiding them on their unique musical journeys. Beyond vocals, Zach is also an accomplished guitarist, bassist, and drummer, bringing a well-rounded understanding of music to his instruction.
Kimya Fotovat
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocals Teacher
Kimya is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist with years of experience performing, writing, and teaching music. Self-taught for most of her musical journey, Kimya got her start learning classic rock, punk, and blues, and has since grown into a passionate artist and songwriter. Her teaching philosophy centers on creativity, self-expression, and personal connection to music - building a practice that helps every student feel that their instrument is an extension of their own unique voice, and that they are free to be exactly who they are. She creates a safe, encouraging space that empowers students at School of Rock The Heights to explore and make mistakes that will help them grow and learn.
Luis Carlos
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Luis Carlos is a seasoned guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, boasting over 30 years of musical experience. With a degree in Music and Video Business from the Art Institute of Houston, Luis has honed his craft both on stage and in the studio. From rhythm to lead guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, he is a versatile musician with a knack for reading and writing tablature.
Luis is inspired by legends like Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, and Jimmy Page, and seamlessly navigates through various rock styles, from the late '60s classics to modern hits. As the driving force behind his band since the early '90s, Luis has recorded and toured extensively across Texas, the US, and Mexico, leaving a lasting mark on the music scene.
Jordan King
Drum Teacher
Jordan has grown up around music, having a pianist as a father. It wasn’t until middle school though when he took to playing trumpet in the school band and discovered drums outside of school.
Completely self-taught, he spent 8 years playing in whatever free room was available to make noise in until he finally was ready to find a band. In 2017 he joined his first band, and it was all uphill from there.
Now Jordan has performed with Houston bands such as "Apothica", "Messengrs," "Fromjoy," and has filled in for many more.
Kye Loh
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
With 11 years of experience playing guitar, Kye Loh has made the instrument an extension of himself. Known for his versatility, Kye Loh fluidly navigates a wide range of genres, though blues, soul, rock, and funk are always closest to his heart.
Kye Loh possesses pitch-perfect ability, which further enhances his teaching and performance. His philosophy centers on helping students find their unique voice and express themselves through their instrument, while also focusing on developing a strong ear and a solid foundation in music theory.
Kye Loh offers lessons for beginner to advanced guitar students, as well as beginner to intermediate bass players, tailoring his approach to each student’s individual needs and musical goals.
Sierra Butterwick
Vocal Teacher
Sierra has been singing for as long as she can remember. She has a background in musical theatre, playing in shows like "Xanadu" and "In The Heights. She's a former House Band member at School of Rock Katy. Sierra has been teaching vocals for five years and has loved every second of it. Outside of teaching at School of Rock, Sierra teaches preschool music and theatre camps.
Camille McCloskey
Vocals Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Camille McCloskey teaches vocals and keyboard + piano at School of Rock The Heights! Some of her musical inspirations are Taylor Swift, The Beach Boys, and Slow Pulp, and she is a huge fan of indie rock and pop music. Camille has 20 years of performance experience and is a classically trained singer.
In her free time, she fronts her own indie-pop band around town, writes songs, and enjoys video gaming. She has been in music all her life and is so excited to guide her students musical journeys!
Isaac Burch
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Isaac has a wide history of music throughout his childhood. At 14, he played drums and bass guitar for his church's worship band, and Isaac’s hobby quickly evolved into a passion and love for all things music. Being the second in the family after his mother to pick up an instrument, he became inspired to join a band with his friends.
Since then, Isaac has performed with a lot of notable local acts. After many years of practice, shows, writing and performing, he is more than proud to share all he has learned to help others along their own musical journeys. These days, when not at School of Rock The Heights, Isaac spends his free time practicing and playing with his band Colette Marcello, an indie-alternative band that he's been with for four years. He is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist with a wide range of influences, iconic bassist Les Claypool, 90's rock and alternative music, along with various soundtracks from TV shows and video games, including Cowboy Bebop and Legend of Zelda!
Eric Mora
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Music has always been a core part of Eric’s life. He started playing bass when he was 12, and from there became deeply involved in orchestral music throughout middle school, high school, and college. During college, he also studied music education, which helped him understand not just how to play music, but how to share it and communicate through it.
Eric loves the way music connects people - it’s a language everyone can feel. Whether he is performing, collaborating, or teaching at School of Rock The Heights, he enjoys creating spaces where people can experience that connection. Eric currently plays bass guitar and electric guitar with local bands around Houston, and is always exploring new styles and opportunities to grow as a musician. Music is truly Eric’s passion, his community, and the way he expresses who he is.
Steffon Jones
Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Steffon (hailing from Chicago and raised in Champaign, IL) is a drummer, singer and music producer. Since the age of eight, he has performed in his family band, The Player J’s, as a drummer and lead singer. The band supported professionals such as Alexander O'Neil, Tony Terry, the gold-selling group Champaign, and many more. The family band is even credited with a feature on “Mardi Gras” by Champaign.
Steffon played drums for church choir from nine until he was 20 years old, and has been the drummer and lead singer in various bands. In 1991, Steffon recieved a full music scholarship, and started producing music in ‘92 and featured on several albums. Steffon drummed for seven years with Hall of Fame quarterback Randall Cunningham’s mega church in Las Vegas. He is currently a professional mentor with Friends of the Children, which features Simone Biles as their Ambassador. He is a tenured teacher as the former drum teacher for The Music Academy and School of Rock Sugar Land. He now brings his decades of talent and knowledge to School of Rock The Heights, and for Crossing Point Church in Rosharon, TX.