Freddy Epstein General Manager
Born in London and raised in Philadelphia, Freddy found his calling in music at a young age studying under Assistant Principal Bassist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Neil Courtney. Jazz soon became his focus and he began performing professionally at the age of 14. After graduating from Manhattan School of Music for Jazz Performance, Freddy’s love of music grew beyond any single genre. From singing at Showtime at the Apollo, to performing on Warped Tour for 3 years with his band IONIA, to traveling through Europe with Brooklyn-based Americana band, The Defibulators - the art is in the adventure! Freddy has spent the last 20 years in New York City as a musician, producer (Blood + Sand, ANML) and theater artist in NYC’s downtown experimental scene where he performed in numerous critically acclaimed productions including FUTURITY (Ars Nova/Soho Rep), The Infinite Hotel (Prototype Festival) and Animal Wisdom (Bushwick Starr). He believes music is medicine for the soul and is grateful to be at School of Rock Watertown as General Manager (and occasional show director)!
Wilbur Fisher Assistant General Manager
Wilbur has always had a love for guitar-focused music. When he was young, he gravitated towards hard rock from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. In his early teens, he was fascinated with pop punk and metal, and decided to pick up the guitar as a result. Immersed in music theory, he sought out more challenging theoretical and technical music, ultimately leading him to metal songwriting. By the age of 16, he had become a core songwriter for his first Metalcore band, and was playing in various towns across his home state of Alaska. After high school, he pursued higher education at Willamette University, where he studied jazz and classical guitar. He went on to graduate with honors from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor's degree in Composition. Wilbur has led metal bands in the Boston scene and is always working on new music. He believes that music is the purest form of self-expression and that talent can always be taught, as long as you practice!
Paz Docmanov Music Director
For as long as he can remember, music has been an integral part of Paz's life. By age 7 he was playing piano and studying classical voice and by age 14 he was performing all across Romania as a bassist in rock bands and classical ensembles. Music wasn't just a hobby for him, it was a refuge. At 18, he was awarded a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Music Composition, under the tutelage of bassist and Grammy nominated artist Victor Bailey. Paz has toured both nationally and internationally and is actively involved in the Boston local music scene. He also collaborates with multidisciplinary artists across the country as a session musician, multi-instrumentalist and Music Director. Paz specializes in bass, as well as guitar, keyboards, music theory and composition.
Chris Narainen Drum Teacher
Chris Narainen was born and raised in the Republic of Mauritius in East Africa. A self-taught drummer, Chris started playing drums at the age of 11 and has never looked back. After moving to the US in 2004, he attended UMass Boston for Finance before becoming a drum instructor and performance director at the School of Rock Watertown for the last 6 years. Chris plays with multiple bands, touring both nationally and internationally. Current groups he performs with include JazzFirst, Proplydz (EDM), JD-MadMartian (Hip Hop), Lord Almighty (Metal), Vinal (Jam Band). Chris is a true music love who’s passionate about the drums and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Business at Berklee School of Music.
Matt Sullivan Guitar Teacher and Bass Guitar Teacher
Matt Sullivan started playing guitar at the age of 12 and quickly made a name for himself by receiving the Louis Armstrong Award for Jazz Improvisation. After high school he attended Musicians Institute, a private college of contemporary music in Los Angeles. He's had the pleasure of studying with instructors like Danny Gill, Scott Henderson and Joe Diorio, and has attended seminars with Joe Diorio, Al DiMeola, Paul Gilbert and Steve Vai. Since graduating, he's taught music in Massachusetts for 25 years. He's done session work, international touring and plenty of local gigs, including the Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra. Matt has taught at School of Rock Watertown for the last 5 years and specializes in Rock, Blues, Funk and Jazz.
Justin Schaefers Guitar Teacher
After watching A Hard Days Night at age ten, Justin Schaefers began his lifelong passion for music. Soon after starting guitar lessons, Justin began writing songs and fronting bands in California’s Bay Area. This is where he learned the value of communication and musicianship through an ensemble setting. This interest in composition and guitar eventually led him to Berklee College of Music where he graduated with a BA in songwriting and emphasis on guitar. Throughout college, he worked as a music director of the Beatles Ensemble while leading his current band, Winkler. Teaching guitar, bass, and songwriting, Justin has developed his musicianship in multiple genres and has guided aspiring musicians as well as directed bands for the past seven years.
Shelby Guffey Singing Teacher
Shelby Guffey is a music maker from the midwest, and a lover of all things melodic. She has an extraordinarily large family, sitting at the second oldest of 32 children. As such she is a natural caretaker. Shelby has been singing since she was a kindergartener, in honors choirs, and contemporary groups. She attended Berklee College of Music, where she studied vocal performance and cultivated her love of teaching. She has a speciality in Folk, Pop, Jazz, and Rock. Shelby believes in empathy and patience above all else, and cherishes creativity and fun.
Michael Couch Guitar Teacher and Bass Guitar Teacher
In attending School of Rock himself, Michael discovered a passion for music and art that helped him find his path in life. Writing and performing around Chicago led him to attending Berklee College of Music in 2017 and graduating magna cum laude with a degree in contemporary writing and production, with guitar as his primary instrument. Though fundamentally a Rock musician, Michael has experience playing, writing, and producing in multiple styles including Punk, Ska, Electronic, Funk, Orchestral, and Progressive Rock. He has a strong understanding of music theory and an exceptional ear for production, and he deeply values experimentation, independence, and the power of art to make a positive impact in the world. He shares these things with his students through a belief in practical application and helping others find themselves through music the way School of Rock helped him.
Dylan Walsh Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Ever since Dylan began playing piano at age five, he's always pushed himself to be the best musician he could be. By the time he was 18, Dylan was proficient playing not just piano, but guitar, bass, and drums as well. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he majored in songwriting and minored in music production. Throughout his schooling, he played with many bands and toured, mostly playing synths and guitar. Comfortable in the Boston and Rhode Island scenes, he occasionally plays in Los Angeles and Seattle. Trained in various genres and a multi-instrumentalist, Dylan is a well-rounded musician who knows that with hard work and practice, the sky's the limit. Dylan specializes in keyboards and guitar, as well as songwriting and music production.
Ian Ridenhour Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Ian Ridenhour fell in love with music in the womb. Starting on drums and percussion at age 4,
Ian gradually added formal music theory and songwriting to his studies, alongside the piano.
Graduating high school early, he spent time building a music career in his hometown, Asheville,
NC, before pursuing his education further. In 2018, Ian received a scholarship to the Berklee
College of Music, studying songwriting and piano. Ian has shared the stage with The Accidentals, BJ Leiderman, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Third Eye Blind and has presented at TEDx twice. While primarily performing on piano, drums remain Ian’s true love, and rhythm guides his every note. Ian's focus is on helping kids find joy through music and their creative pursuits.
Pedro Paez Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Pedro V. Paez is a Venezuelan musician who started learning piano at the age of 8, but later changed to drums at the age of 11. During high school, he realized that music was the path that he wanted to pursue, as he had been performing as a drummer with several artists in genres like Hip-hop and Latin Rock. After graduating, he moved to the US and earned a bachelor of music degree in music technology. With a never-ending interest in music making, he picked up the piano once again and became proficient at composing. This, coupled with his music production skills, has led him to create original tracks that have been used for podcast intros, fashion shows and promotional videos. Pedro is fascinated by rhythm in all its forms. The rhythmic language found in the Caribbean, as in Salsa, Merengue and Afro-Venezuelan music, has a strong presence in his musical persona. Jazz is also a core part of his musicianship, as he started studying it during high school before coming to the US. Pedro specializes in drumset, latin percussion, piano, music production and composition.
Alianora Reilly Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Music has been the focal point of Alianora Reilly’s life since childhood. Growing up in a musical family, Alia started playing piano at 4 years old and continued with violin, guitar, and ukulele, finally finding a passion for singing when making it to round two of X Factor in 2013. After winning the Berklee High School Jazz Fest in 2016, Alianora was awarded a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music. In 2020, Alianora won the Outstanding Soloist Award from Downbeat Jazz Magazine. Her influences extend beyond just jazz, including indie rock, folk, and pop.
Alianora has extensive experience in teaching voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele, having worked in music education since she was 16. She currently is the music therapy intern at Massachusetts General Hospital, focusing on pediatrics and psychiatry. Alianora’s hope is to cultivate an enjoyable, successful environment for her students, combining the fun of creating music with the knowledge of the elements behind it.
Rowan Cookman Bass Teacher, Singing Teacher, Piano Teacher
Rowan Cookman is a multi-instrumentalist producer/engineer from small town Collinsville, CT. He has been performing in orchestras, choirs, rock bands, and by his lonesome since he was 10. Now a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music’s rigorous Music Production and Engineering program, Rowan strives to continue sharing his love for music, playing with local Boston bands: Dov Beck-Levine’s Scrambled Jazz Eggs and Champagne Charlie & the Wah Wah’s. Growing up in an extraordinarily musical community, teaching music has always been a joy of Rowan’s life. Attending Montessori school through 8th grade has also led Rowan down the path of student-led learning. All of Rowan's lessons are centered around the students aspirations, abilities, and mutual love for music.
Patrick McCafferty Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Patrick is a bassist and multi-instrumentalist from Cleveland, OH. Starting to play bass at the age of 9, Patrick has played with many groups of all styles ranging from RnB, jazz, and Latin to rock, folk, and pop. Through his experiences, Patrick has shared the stage with the likes of Turkuaz , Dumpstaphunk, and Cory Henry. After high school, Patrick was offered a scholarship to Berklee College Of Music where he is currently studying. Beyond being a bass player, Patrick spends much of his time writing and recording his own songs as well as songs of others. He believes that each artist has their own unique voice and with the help of peers and teachers, it can be found and shared with the world.
David Rubin Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Born right here in Boston Massachusetts, David played music from a very early age but was called to pursue music seriously in high school after seeing bands like Dead and Company and Phish in concert. Pursuing this interest in live music, David started and joined multiple bands which got him recognition in the Boston music scene. He now regularly plays over 100 gigs a year in Boston and in neighboring states in the Northeast and New york. With some of these bands, David has taken on the role of producer and engineer. This, along with an interest in expanding his general knowledge of music, led him to pursue a bachelor's degree in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music which he is expected to finish in December 2022. During his time at Berklee, David has studied guitar with Nir Felder (Esperanza Spalding, Blood Sweat and Tears), Lyle Brewer (Neighbor, Ryan Montbleu Band), and Marty Walsh (SuperTramp, Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond). With his multi-faceted education and open-minded approach, David's interested in helping students live up to their full potential whatever that means to them.
Jay Lamba Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Jay Lamba began playing guitar at age 14, playing mostly metal. As he grew older, Jay began to explore all facets of the guitar in all genres and strives to understand where the instrument lies in a much greater musical and band context. Jay currently specializes in Metal, Rock, Blues, Funk, Classical and Jazz. Jay has completed both IGCSE and IB qualifications in Music, along with a music theory qualification from London College of Music. Most recently Jay graduated Magna Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Performance. He has an extensive history of performing as a side man, is an avid songwriter and understands that there is more to musicianship than may appear at first. Jay believes in diligent practice, interest that is full of passion and a healthy curiosity about understanding stylistic playing within a genre but also how to bring new and different ideas to evolve that genre.
Ava Panza Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Ava Panza is a pop/rock vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from Marlboro, New Jersey. She is currently a student at Berklee College of Music studying Professional Music with concentrations in Performance and Stage Management.
She grew up learning soul music including artists like Aretha Franklin, James Brown, and Gladys Knight. She later discovered her love for classic rock and progressive rock music. She has been a part of several bands of her own writing and performing music with those genres. With these bands, she has been able to open for artists such as Gaten Materazzo, Living Colour, and Primus. In 2019, she began writing music under her own name, and has music released on all platforms.
Being a part of the SOR program herself for 12 years, she was able to play at venues all around the country as well as music festivals including MoPop, and Lollapalooza in 2015, 2017, and 2018. She also has experience as an MD for School of Rock East Brunswick NJ.
Her goal is to make sure her students have a good time while learning technique and stage presence, as well as gain confidence in themselves.
Shai Rodriguez Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher, Drum Teacher
Shai has been exposed to music since the womb. It’s been the focal point of his life for as long as he can remember. Shai is a 21 year old musician born and raised in Northern New Jersey. Being raised by broadway dancers, he was naturally exposed to great genres of music like classic rock, blues, R&B/Funk, gospel, and jazz. At age 5 his parents gifted him a Beatles 1 complication disc. He fell in love with the band and by age 6, he started learning drums. He studied classical percussion, and the art of jazz drums at institutions like the “Special Music School” and “Jazz at Lincoln Center”. At age 12, he watched the movie “School of Rock” for the first time. Seeing those kids his age playing rock inspired him to start learning guitar. Fast forward to 2019, he auditioned and got accepted to Berklee College of Music, where he now studies Guitar Performance.
Jake Gardam Drums Teacher
Jake is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, cross-disciplinary musician, and audio engineer specializing in drumset. He's been featured on the BBC World Service, NME Magazine, and both live and in the studio for a myriad of artists. Most proficient in Rock/Heavy Metal, he has also played Jazz, Fusion, Hip-Hop, Pop-Punk, Classical, and Progressive Rock on a professional level and his passion for creating has only increased. During his time at Berklee he started a recording studio called Sawmill Recordings and has successfully helped a number of artists realize their dream of getting their music out to the world. When not playing, performing, or recording, Jake entertains a number of hobbies including Bushcraft, Martial Arts, Cooking, and the study of Naval History.