Hayden Donahoo Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Hayden Donahoo is a young and upcoming guitarist from Raleigh, North Carolina with over 11 years of playing experience in a wide variety of genres, in everything from jazz, neo-classical shred, blues, pop and classic rock, to more modern styles of rock and progressive metal. While residing in Raleigh, Hayden, was enthusiastically involved as the guitarist in the traveling jazz ensemble at Heritage High School. Being involved in such a fun, enriching experience only made his love and dream of playing music strengthen and grow to much greater heights. Early on as a middle school student he started taking interest in more guitar-centric music, taking to players that were renowned for their advanced technique with rhythm and lead playing. Some of these influences included Mark Tremonti of Creed/Alter Bridge, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Jason Richardson, Paul Gilbert and Rusty Cooley. Attempting to learn these styles of music sent him down a fun musical journey with its respective ups and downs. In the summers, he had a practice regimen that lasted up to six hours a day to gain proficiency in alternate picking, sweep picking, legato and tapping. These were among some of the advanced techniques he poured so much time into to further develop his playing. As music and guitar continued to play a prominent role in his life, he set off to Atlanta after graduating high school to attend The Atlanta Institute of Music and Media to further pursue his music dream. At AIMM he spent two years earning a degree studying music theory, guitar performance and audio engineering. Since then he has played in a touring corporate/formal event band throughout 2019, is active playing around the Atlanta area and is a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock West Cobb.
Rachel Johnson Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher
Rachel Johnson is an Atlanta singer/songwriter and independent recording artist who began her musical career in musical theatre when she was five. She began singing in choirs by the age of six, at the age of seven began piano lessons and began playing the guitar at the age of eight. She continued to perform in musical theatre, choirs and acapella groups. Rachel is classically trained in voice as well as in pop music. She also learned to play drums and ukulele. She is currently a student at Kennesaw State University majoring in Media Entertainment in the communication program, with a certificate in Music Entertainment Business. When she isn’t teaching music, Rachel spends her time writing music and performing. Rachel is also an independent recording artist, has toured in the US and England, and has some of her music on different streaming platforms. Some of the venues she has performed in include London’s legendary Troubadour Club. She recently completed US festival dates in Los Angeles, Indiana and Atlanta. Rachel was asked to join Skillet and Hollyn to play at the Rock the World Music Festival. She started writing songs at the age of 13, and her first single, "Undefeated," was released on iTunes in 2015. She has worked with Grammy-nominated producer Nick Chawala (Bravo Ocean Music), her mentor and artist Prisca, producer Rich Veltrop (Pink, Tom Petty, Rage Against the Machine), and with producer Glenn Sawyer who runs The Spot Studios in Denver, Colorado. She is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher, drum teacher, piano teacher and vocal teacher at School of Rock West Cobb.
Colby Kuzontkoski Drum Teacher
Colby is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance. At UMass he studied under professors Peter Tanner, Eduardo Leandro, Ayano Kataoka and Thomas Hannum. During his time at UMass he studied performance practice in all forms including contemporary chamber music, solo repertoire, new music and traditional percussion ensemble. He also extensively studied the art of arranging for percussion in the form of marimba ensembles, percussion ensembles, marching ensembles and marimba bands. He has published an article on the application of articulations in percussion called: “The Percussion Techniques Style Guide: Connecting the Arranger Coach and Performer.” Published in the Percussive Arts Society journal: Percussive Notes (2009). Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 38, 40-41. For the last fifteen years Colby has had the great opportunity to write for and teach competitive percussion ensembles around the country. He has also taught and given clinics at numerous schools throughout the country. Including Thom Hannum’s Mobile Percussion Seminar in Amherst MA, University of Alabama, University of Massachusetts, University of New Haven, Marcus High School, Harrison High School, King Philip High School among others. Each program achieved national awards such as the Subtler Flag, BOA Grand National championships and WGI percussion championships.
Colby is an experienced drum set player having studied with Boston favorite Bob Gullotti for three years, attended two Berklee 5 Week Summer Performance Programs in Boston and has performed extensively in jazz and GB bands throughout the Northeast. He has also recorded several albums and toured with bands including award winning metal band Under Falling Skies and Dave Matthews Band tribute Satellite.
James Lyon Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher
James has been performing guitar for twelve years and has honed the craft of live musicianship. He studied at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media where he graduated on the honor roll. James also works as a recording engineer across studios in Atlanta and knows the in’s and out’s of the local music industry. He has been teaching guitar and bass guitar for four years and beginner piano for two years.
Chelsea Carboni Singing Teacher
Chelsea is a singer-songwriter and musician out of Atlanta. She has been working for 5 years teaching young, aspiring musicians about vocal technique, basic music theory, and ear training.
Joi Richardson Singing Teacher, Piano Teacher
Joi is a classically trained young artist, singing professionally for over three years. She studied at Converse College In Rural Spartanburg, South Carolina. She has a BM in Vocal Performance. She is a 2019 winner of Converse College's annual Petrie School of Music Concerto Competition. Recently, She appeared in A production of Dean Anthony and Michael Ching’s Speed Dating Tonight! She has participated in honor choirs, opera productions, musical works, and solo performances. Joi has extensive training in music and truly values teaching the next generation of musicians.
Krysta Dunning Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Krysta Dunning is a musician with a passion for her craft and extensive musical training. From having been raised in a musical family, to taking group and private music lessons from the age of 9, she went on to graduate from the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media with honors.
She specializes in guitar and bass, as well as playing piano. Her love of music spans a wide variety of genres, from Blues, Jazz, R&B, Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative, Electronic, and even video game compositions. She has a special interest in Japanese Rock bands, from Sekai no Owari all the way to Ling Tosite Sigure.
Krysta also has years of experience teaching music spanning back over a decade, and loves sharing the gift of music with students of all ages!