Greg Moore
Owner
Greg Moore is the owner of School of Rock West Des Moines. After seeing a School of Rock student season show in the Chicagoland area years ago, his first thought was, "...WOW - THIS IS AWESOME...Iowa needs a program like this!" From there, he started his mission to bring School of Rock to Iowa. A big music enthusiast especially appreciating classic rock and 90s alternative, he played clarinet and saxophone through his school years. He now enjoys playing bass with the adult student performance group at School of Rock Cedar Rapids/Marion and School of Rock West Des Moines. His son is an alumni of the School of Rock program, and now teaches guitar, bass, and drums in the Cedar Rapids/Marion school. Both Greg and his wife, Amy, are thankful for all the families that have chosen to become part of the school community. There is nothing more exciting to them than watching the students advance themselves both on and off the stage through our programs.
Austin Corrick
General Manager
Austin Corrick is the general manager at School of Rock West Des Moines. He began taking piano lessons at age eight and guitar lessons at age 11, and soon after joined the school band on upright and electric bass and trumpet through high school. Currently, he plays guitar, bass, drums, vocals, piano, trumpet, and tuba, and is a member of the Des Moines-based Latin music group Son Peruchos. Austin enjoys all types of rock music and loves being a part of a program that sees so much musical talent at such a young age.
Allegra Hernandez
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Allegra Hernandez is the music director and guitar and bass teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. Their first experience with playing music was taking classical piano lessons at age nine, and at age 12, they gained an interest in guitar and bass after listening to rock music. By age 19, they were touring with their Twin Cities-based band and very involved with the DIY music scene. They began their music education studying under renowned instructors at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN, before finishing their degree at Berklee College of Music with summa cum laude honors. Allegra writes and performs music under their own name with fellow School of Rock teachers Aaron Larimer and Vimka Nochvay, and plays with a number of other local Des Moines artists such as Lani, Abbie Sawyer, and more. They also work with Girls Rock! Des Moines, and enjoys sharing their passion and knowledge for music with their students!
Rachel Allen
Assistant General Manager
Rachel Allen is the assistant general manager at School of Rock West Des Moines. She started learning piano from her Nana, who would babysit her and show her how to play. She went on to graduate from Central College with a degree in Vocal Music. Besides vocals and keyboard, she also plays ukulele, trumpet, and French horn, and has a special fondness for jazz music. She is currently a member of 52nd Street and Exit 113. Rachel loves working with incredible people in the School of Rock community!
Grace Umbarger
Studio Coordinator
Grace Umbarger is the studio coordinator at School of Rock West Des Moines. Growing up, she has always loved singing and was a member of the choir, show choir, and band at her school. A fan of rock, alternative, and indie music, she is currently learning how to play the drums. Grace loves being surrounded by people at School of Rock who love to teach and learn music. She looks forward to being able to play and learn something new every day!
Corinne Sailor
Studio Coordinator
Sailor is the studio coordinator and graphic design artist for School of Rock West Des Moines. She learned cello and flute in elementary and middle school band after her parents, who met in marching band, encouraged her to try an instrument. She currently plays guitar, bass, and vocals, and enjoys playing and listening to any music, especially rock and heavy metal. Corinne loves working with fellow musicians and feels inspired to write her own music one day with their help.
Andrew Gjersvik
Drums teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Andrew Gjersvik is a drums and keyboard teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. He began taking drum lessons at 10 years old with the guidance and encouragement of his musical family, and continued formal training throughout his school career. He was a member of the Des Moines Symphony Academy from ages 11-18 and a percussionist in the Southeast Polk School District’s band program from fifth to twelfth grade. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Drake University and plays a wide variety of percussion instruments, such as drums set, vibraphone, timpani, marimba, and piano. An avid funk, R&B, and jazz music fan, Andrew currently plays with The Travelers, a local R&B/soul band. He loves seeing his students grow musically and looks forward to seeing them develop into artists of their own right.
Vimka Nochvay
Guitar Teacher, Bass guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drums Teacher
Vimka Nochvay is a guitar, bass, keyboard, vocals, and beginning drums teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. She first became interested in flamenco and classical guitar as a teenager, and since then has learned a variety of other instruments. Although she has taken classes on guitar, piano, and vocals at Simpson College, the majority of her education is self-taught. Currently, she is a part of Allegra Hernadez’s project, as well as her own solo project, Vimka. Her favorite parts of working at School of Rock are making connections with her students and fellow staff and watching her students grow into talented musicians.
Aaron Larimer
Drums Teacher
Aaron Larimer is a drums teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. Growing up in a music-filled home, he was exposed to a wide variety of styles, genres, and artists at a young age. He began learning drums at 10 years old and participated in concert band, marching band, jazz band, and back-up band for show choir throughout school and multiple jazz groups in college. Since then, he has spent a decade playing at a dueling piano bar and gotten to play with over 60 musicians from around the world, strengthening his improvisation skills and versatility. Aaron currently plays drums with his fellow School of Rock West Des Moines teachers Allegra Hernandez and Vimka Nochvay. He loves not only teaching his students music but also being a positive influence in their lives, and encourages the philosophy that anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly; even a small step forward is still progress!
Madison Green
Vocals Teacher, Piano Teacher
Madison Green is a vocals and keyboard teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. She started singing in choir at a young age and then entered the school talent show in second grade to sing “Crush” by David Archuleta. It was then that she discovered that music helped her come out of her shell! Madison graduated high school from the Idaho Fine Arts Academy, where she studied voice, jazz and contemporary vocals, and musical theater. She then went to Drake University, majoring in Musical Theater. She loves listening to indie folk, funk, hyperpop, jazz, and blues, and singing indie pop, musical theater, and rock. Recently, she won “Best Performance in a Lead Role in a Musical” for her part in a rock musical! Madison loves making connections with her students at School of Rock and loves being a part of their process realizing their artistic voice.
Michael Nesbit
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Vocals Teacher
Mike Nesbit is a guitar, bass, keyboard, and vocal teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. He grew up in a musical family and began taking lessons at a young age, and since went on to attend Berklee College of Music. As a singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer, he has gotten to work with platinum record-selling and Grammy-winning artists, as well as share the stage with acts such as Vanilla Ice, House of Pain, and Nappy Roots, among others! He currently plays guitar with local group Leradee & The Positives. Mike loves working with students at School of Rock West Des Moines because it reminds him of his own musical journey growing up.
Everett Bartels
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher
Everett Bartels is a guitar, bass, and keyboard teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. Starting with piano lessons as a child, his interest in music grew when he joined the school band. He spent many years playing orchestral and marching percussion and went on to study jazz theory and bass performance at Creative Music Studio in Des Moines, as well as music theory at Des Moines Area Community College. He enjoys listening to a variety of music genres, such as jazz, alternative rock, funk, alternative hip-hop, folk, and pop. When it comes to teaching, Everett loves providing kids the joy of playing music!
Colin Kompelian
Drums Teacher
Colin Kompelian is a drums teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. The son of a drummer, he has been surrounded by rock, punk, and metal music since he was born and began interested in learning drums at 10 years old. At age 14, he started formal lessons at School of Rock and even spent a summer training at Berklee College of Music. He is currently a member of local rock band Steal the Sky and enjoys listening to hip-hop, grunge, rap, and punk, in addition to heavier artists. Colin loves being immersed in the welcoming and kind environment of School of Rock and teaching what he loves!