Eric
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Eric is a fantastic example of what School of Rock can do for a budding musician. He is a former School of Rock student, was part of his school's House Band, and successfully auditioned for the School of Rock AllStars in 2006. Some of the memorable places Eric has played include B.B. King's Blues Club, World Cafe Live, and Royal Oak Theatre.
Eric truly understands the School of Rock Method. Today, he is part of several touring groups including an Allman Brothers Tribute Band called A Brother's Revival. You should see him play the pedal steel guitar! When not at School of Rock Waldwick, he also plays with several Grateful Dead tribute bands.
Check out Eric's latest project with Ed Sheerhan, One Shot, on Netflix.
Charlie
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Charlie’s musical knowledge and devotion are deeply rooted in his early childhood when he was exposed to tons of the greatest classic rock hits and artists through listening to his father’s collection of CDs. Cutting his teeth on over a decade of meticulous classical piano training and many performances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Charlie got more involved with rock and roll music during high school when he co-founded his first band with a close friend. He transferred his musical knowledge from the piano to the electric guitar and even began to forge his abilities as a vocalist.
Since then, Charlie has relentlessly pursued greater knowledge and experience in the art of music through countless hours of practice and study, as well as involvement in an abundance of projects, studio work, and live performances across the Greater New York area. He sings and plays rhythm guitar, bass, and keyboards for studio tracking sessions with his rock band, The Vespids.
Wayne
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Wayne is a New York-based drummer who has enjoyed a diverse career as a professional musician for almost 30 years. During that time Wayne has kept busy playing for numerous Broadway shows including Cats, Lion King, Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun, Hairspray, and Billy Elliot, among others.
Wayne also played for the National Tours of 101 Dalmatians and Hair. In the jazz genre, Wayne has performed and recorded with alto sax great Richie Cole’s Alto Madness Orchestra, appearing at such venues as The Jazz Standard in New York City, The Cape May Jazz Festival in New Jersey, and the Kristianstad Jazz Festival in Sweden.
Wayne can be seen performing with the New York ska band Mephiskapheles and is heard on their self-titled EP. A particular career highlight for Wayne was a 2014 performance at Carnegie Hall with Ladysmith Black Mambazo featuring bassist Bakithi Kumalo, and special guest Dave Mathews, in a celebration of South African music. Wayne hopes to continue on this musical journey by playing the many different styles of music that he’s fortunate enough to encounter.
Paul
Drum Teacher
Paul is a versatile drum set player and percussionist, adept in a wide array of musical genres, including jazz, hip-hop, Afro-Caribbean, rock, funk, and classical.
Throughout his career, Paul has collaborated with renowned jazz artist Ed Schlosser, who is also the pianist for Rita Moreno and has shared the stage with prominent musicians such as Calvin Hill of McCoy Tyner and guitarist Bruce Radtke. Paul's experience spans various musical styles; he has performed with the Brazilian rock band Blue Sour, progressive rock group NoView, and is currently a member of the metal band Mallek. As a Gio Cymbal Endorsed Artist, he showcases his skills with top-quality equipment.
In addition to his performance work, Paul serves as an A&R Executive at Manickat Records, where he focuses on identifying, developing, and managing a roster of Pop Punk bands. His experience at ACM Records involved overseeing logistics for a large-scale regional event with significant corporate sponsorships, including Guitar Center, School of Rock, VH1, IHOP, and Sonicbids.
Paul holds an MBA in Music Management, Copyright, and Marketing from William Paterson University. He is also dedicated to education, working with special needs students in the Public School Arts/Technology program.
Aurora
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Show Director
Aurora is a New Jersey native who grew up in Jacksonville, FL, where she started her musical journey by taking piano lessons at the young age of six. Being a multi-faceted artist since childhood, she also took an interest in dancing and performance theatre. It wasn't until eighth grade that she decided to take her musical practice more seriously, focusing on piano, singing in her school choir, and playing clarinet in the school's band. She went on to study classical piano in Jacksonville at the prestigious high school Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.
She underwent four years of rigorous college-level training; performing in masterclasses with world-renowned artists, playing in concerts at local venues, and traveling abroad to study at music conservatories in Paris, France, and Brussels, Belgium. In her graduating year, she joined the school's jazz band which went on to win a Grammy signature award. Following high school, Aurora attended college at the University of Central Florida and continued her piano practice by teaching lessons at a music school. She continued gaining performance experience through volunteer work, putting on curated concerts for patients at local hospitals and nursing homes.
Aurora is excited to be back in New Jersey with School of Rock Waldwick, and is elated to share the passion she finds in teaching music to others!
Jack
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jack DeSalvo, born in New York City, developed his extraordinary guitar style from a deep immersion into modern jazz, classical guitar and his own prolific compositional output. He has studied guitar with Bill Connors and Leonid Bolotine, composition with Ariada Mikéshina (herself a student of Richard Strauss) and at Berklee College of Music as well as with composer and theorist George Russell. DeSalvo performs mainly with his own trio and quartet and the group Quintrepid. All About Jazz calls Quintrepid “ a swinging collective with a fresh sound”.
Hailed in The Wire magazine as “masterful”, Jack DeSalvo has performed on over 100 albums with over 30 under his name. He has performed worldwide, including at jazz festivals and clubs in Europe.
“When you listen to Jack DeSalvo, it’s immediately apparent that he has an enormous musical vocabulary. Renaissance classical, garage rock, straight-ahead jazz, downtown skronk and traditional mandolin melodies are all part of his musical DNA. But when you hear DeSalvo improvise on classical guitar, you’re hearing the music of that precise moment. He has many influences (and there are as many poets, philosophers, and thinkers as there are musicians)…” – Mitch Goldman, WKCR
Jack DeSalvo is a founder of, and producer for Unseen Rain Records and also a multi-instrumentalist playing (besides classical, steel-string, 12-string and electric guitars) cello, mandolin, banjo, keyboards, etc.
With over 14 years of experience as a college music professor, Jack has mentored students who excel across all facets of music study. He has also taught individual lessons for over 30 years. He eagerly looks forward to returning to teaching one-on-one lessons, inspiring new generations of musicians eager to learn and grow. Jack has been a long time friend of School of Rock Waldwick and we are thrilled to have him on our staff.
Phil
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Meet Phil, a passionate guitar teacher & dedicated music professional based in New Jersey. With more than a decade of teaching experience, he specializes in blues, jazz, rock, and R&B. His teaching philosophy centers on building a solid technical foundation while aligning lessons with each student’s goals and musical tastes. He emphasizes ear training, improvisation, and active listening to help students play what they hear and enjoy the process of learning.
As a guitar teacher at School of Rock Waldwick, Phil works with students to understand their objectives and to tailor a progressive curriculum that covers techniques like bending, hammer-ons, legato, sweep picking, scales, chords, and harmony. He integrates live performance and style-specific elements to keep lessons engaging and relevant, encouraging students to explore favorite genres and tracks.
Beyond the classroom, Phil has developed programs for summer music programs focused on live performance, improvisation, harmony, and ear training. He also coordinated client showcases. Notably, he performed guitar for Bill and Hillary Clinton at a NYC fundraiser, showcasing his versatility and stage presence.
Phil embraces the patented School of Rock curriculum and uses the app to enhance every lesson.
Ginny
Vocal Teacher, Show Director
Get ready to be inspired by Ginny’s incredible musical journey! She’s been singing her heart out since she was just seven years old, starting with private vocal lessons that set her on a path of pure musical magic. When her teacher suggested the School of Rock, Ginny found her true home—where she rocked out with countless groups, each time leveling up her skills and stealing the spotlight. Her talent skyrocketed, earning her a spot in the House Band in record time!
After School of Rock Waldwick, Ginny headed to William Paterson University, where she earned a BA in Popular Music, with a cool focus on classical voice, plus a minor in Music Business—talk about a well-rounded superstar! And the excitement doesn’t stop there: she made her international opera debut in the summer of 2025 in beautiful Trentino, Italy, culminating in a big performance at the Trentino Music Festival. She’s also shared the stage with legendary artists like Kenny Rogers and Norah Jones, adding some serious star power to her resume.
Today, Ginny brings her experience back to School of Rock Waldwick, now as a vocal teacher and Show Director. She keeps the music alive right here in our community, performing regularly with her band, "Ginny Lackey and the HiFi Band". Catch her live and experience the fun, talent, and pure joy she brings to every show!
Fun Fact: She loves spending time with her three dogs, and when not doing music she likes to paint.
Nicole
Vocal Teacher, Rookies Teacher
Meet Nicole — a musical superstar with a passion that’s as big as her smile! She’s a classical voice major at William Paterson University and has been rocking the music education world for over 20 years. Whether it’s singing, strumming, drumming, or tickling the ivories, Nicole loves teaching it all — voice, guitar, drums, piano, ukulele, bass, and childhood music! Her musical journey kicked off at age eight when she joined her church’s children’s choir, and from that moment, she knew she was destined to share her love of music with others.
Nicole’s musical adventures don’t stop there! She’s been a dedicated music minister for more than two decades, currently serving as the cantor, guitarist, and choir director at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Leonia, NJ. When she was just ten, she took center stage in musical theater shows all over Bergen County. From there she grew and eventually her talent took her overseas to perform in Italy, Belgium, and France — singing in some of the world’s most breathtaking cathedrals!
Outside of School of Rock Waldwick, Nicole is the lead guitarist of her band Lavender Roses, where she rocks out and spreads musical joy. She’s also a proud member of Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraternity, where she’s the Vice President of Ritual and Sergeant-At-Arms of her chapter, Theta Kappa.
And just for fun — did you know Nicole loves dill pickles and binge-watching the Golden Girls? Yep, she’s got a zest for life and a heart full of rhythm, ready to share her musical magic with the School of Rock Waldwick. Get ready to rock out and have a blast!
Tom
Drum Teacher
Meet the School of Rock Waldwick rhythm guide and groove guru! Tom is a seasoned percussionist and drum instructor based in New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Caldwell University, and has built a dynamic career blending performance, education, and collaboration.
As a percussionist, Tom performed across a wide range of venues and events, mastering diverse percussion instruments and collaborating with ensembles to create cohesive, captivating sounds. As a drum teacher, Tom has developed a comprehensive, style-diverse methods of delivering personalized lessons that boost student confidence and skill. He has also led group workshops, maintains safe, organized practice spaces, and manages scheduling to maximize studio time and student engagement.
Tom’s work reflects a commitment to artistic expression, technical versatility, and inspiring others to explore their musical passions, including through the School of Rock Waldwick curriculum, and is excited to use the School of Rock Method app to further students' education.
Marc
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Music lover and arts enthusiast hailing from Millburn, NJ! From jamming out as a Music Instructor & Assistant Music Director at School of Rock in Montclair to helping customers at other music schools, Tom has been all about spreading the joy of music. Whether it's tuning up guitars or coordinating epic live shows he is always finding the right note. He thrives on creativity and connection. Always ready to turn up the volume on fun and good vibes! Marc teaches guitar and bass guitar at School of Rock Waldwick and has over 2 decades of teaching experience. He is very hands on and passionate about amping up the fun while getting important concepts across while fully embracing the School of Rock curriculum and patented Method App.
Jennifer
Studio Coordinator
Meet Jennifer: Our Studio Coordinator
With a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Jennifer is skilled at managing multiple tasks. From overseeing the front desk to coordinating schedules, she keeps everything running smoothly.
Jennifer has earned a reputation for providing exceptional customer service, ensuring that every customer feels valued. Whether responding to inquiries or keeping students on time, she handles our operations with ease.
Fun Fact: Jennifer’s first concert was a mind-blowing Weezer show at the iconic Roseland Ballroom!
One of the coolest surprises for Jen at the School of Rock? The genuine camaraderie among our students! She’s amazed at the community we’ve built here, where kids willingly support each other.
Jennifer’s journey with SoR began at our very first school in South Hackensack, where she caught one of the early Paramore shows—talk about a killer introduction!
Jennifer is a Wyckoff native but now resides in Midland Park. We are happy to have her on our team.
Susan
Owner, General Manager
Susan started on flute in the fourth grade and by the seventh grade, she was using a special woodwind pick-up and guitar pedals for her flute. She was hooked.
Susan has a Fine Art, Art History, and Archaeological Anthropology degree from Parsons School of Design and the New School. So of course she does music! After running a successful nonprofit gallery in NYC, she launched a successful internet start-up.
However, Susan never forgot her roots in rock & roll and joined School of Rock Waldwick in 2010 as a voice and keys instructor. She was hooked on their innovative approach to teaching with her first show in September 2010. She teaches piano, vocals, and guitar. She has been a show director and Music Director. Susan became General Manager in 2017 and owner in 2020.
Kurt
COO, Owner
Kurt took on the role of owner and COO for the School of Rock Waldwick after leaving a position as Manager of Strategy & Business Transformation Practice at The Hackett Group. Previously, he was in procurement and logistics for Mercedes-Benz in Montvale.
Kurt is from Switzerland, where he earned several business degrees. He spent many years working for the Lucerne Blues Festival (Europe’s largest blues festival.) Kurt also has a passion for cars.