Eric Lonning
Owner
School of Rock Chesapeake is owned by Eric and Jennifer Lonning. Before opening the Chesapeake school, the Lonnings opened School of Rock Virginia Beach in 2015. Throughout his childhood, Eric took guitar and drum lessons, played in bands, and had success touring and recording with a great group of friends and bandmates. Later, Eric pursued a career in marketing before returning to music at School of Rock. Eric's mission is to create a music school where students will become outstanding musicians, but more importantly inspiring and amazing individuals. Eric attended Wake Forest University where he studied Communication and Religion.
Jennifer Lonning
Owner
Jennifer and Eric Lonning own School of Rock Virginia Beach and School of Rock Chesapeake. After graduating from Virginia Tech, Jennifer pursued a career in orthopedic sales. She loved working with doctors and patients throughout Hampton Roads, but she jumped at the chance to join School of Rock full-time in 2017. Jennifer focuses on community outreach, early childhood music programs, camps and overall school operations. When she's not at School of Rock, Jenn keeps busy with the Lonnings' three children, Max, Emily and Izzy.
Kyle Folsom
Music Director
Kyle Folsom has been a fixture in the Virginia music scene for years. Kyle performs as a vocalist and lead guitar player with several projects, including his original band, Woodwork, and a Grateful Dead cover band, Last Fair Deal. Kyle is an experienced show director, guitar teacher, vocal teacher and former drummer. Kyle worked for several years at School of Rock Virginia Beach, where he became known for his hard work, positive attitude, attention to detail and inspirational teaching style. Kyle's mission is to cultivate and maintain an inspirational music program where students are inspired and challenged to reach their full musical potential. Kyle enjoys being able to share his love of music to inspire his students to grow as musicians. He is the Music Director at School of Rock Chesapeake.
Joe Graves
Guitar Teacher
Joe is a local legend and popular guitar teacher at School of Rock Virginia Beach. Joe has been playing guitar for as long as he can remember and recorded and toured throughout the east coast with his band, TRUCK. A mainstay at School of Rock, you will find Joe teaching guitar lessons, coaching bands, and fixing whatever is broken.
Alex Juda
Guitar Teacher
Alex is a former School of Rock student who loves giving back to the next generation of School of Rock kids. A terrific vocalist and guitar player, Alex loves teaching private lessons and coaching bands in our Rock 101 and Performance Program. Alex is working on his degree and hopes to pursue a career in music therapy.
Igor Kuzmin
Drum Teacher
Igor Kuzmin loves to drum! Born in Russia, Igor moved to the US at age 9. Igor's love of rhythm began when he heard someone making beats on the table in elementary school. The rest is history! Igor's formal music instruction began with middle and high school band courses which ultimately led him to study music at Old Dominion University. Prior to teaching at School of Rock, Igor assisted the drumlines at Indian River and Granby High School. Since 2006, Igor has performed in ten bands ranging from grunge to jazz and everything in between. Igor joined School of Rock in 2017 and has yet to have a bad day.
Roo O'Donnell
Drum Teacher
Andrew "Roo" O'Donnell started drumming at 9 years old and was touring by the time he was 17 years old. Roo has been giving lessons since he was in his early 20s. After moving to New York in 2016, Roo found himself in dozens of bands and projects, thrust into the competitive but exhilarating session music scene. Roo has since relocated to Virginia and he loves teaching the future rockers at School of Rock Chesapeake.
Koren Okpodu
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Koren is a vocal and keyboard + piano teacher at School of Rock Chesapeake. She loves teaching students of all ages and also teaches our Rock 101 program. You can catch Koren performing around Hampton Roads and putting out new, original music regularly.
John Orengo
Guitar Teacher
John relocated to southeast Virginia after living in New York City for many years. John has over 15 years of experience giving guitar lessons, playing in bands, and working in a variety of companies. John loves to teach and help School of Rock students conquer the stage!
Holly Milner
Studio Manager
Holly Milner was born and raised in Norfolk and was instilled with a love for music at a very early age. She began playing the piano at age three and the violin at 10, and is a passionate collector of vinyl. Holly has over ten years of experience at School of Rock, beginning her career at the School of Rock Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Holly serves as the Studio Manager in Chesapeake. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school, including scheduling, billing, student safety, and new member orientation. She feels lucky every day to have found an environment combining her two favorite things: helping kids and rock music.
Romanze Willoughby
Bass Guitar Teacher
Romanze Willoughby has been playing professionally on electric bass for 25 years and also has many years of performing classical upright bass. He is a graduate of the Armed Forces School of Music and he spent 11 years traveling and performing with the prestigious Navy band. After living internationally, he recently returned to Hampton Roads and jumped at the chance to work with the young performers at School of Rock. When he's not teaching, Romanze stays active performing, writing, and recording covers and his own original music. Romanze is a member of the American Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) and the Black Rock Coalition (BRC). He is a bass guitar teacher and show director at School of Rock Chesapeake.
Maria Ramirez
Vocal Teacher
Maria Ramirez is a bilingual performer, producer, vocalist, and keyboardist who owns her own mixed media production company. Maria jumped into the world of musical theater and chorus as a high school student, before moving into music production and mentoring vocalists in the recording studio environment. She also has experience with music production including music engineering, mixing, and mastering. She has also toured with the American Electric Light Orchestra and has many years of building client relationships.
Maria is excited to be a part of School of Rock Chesapeake while she continues to pursue her dreams of recording original music and working on various creative projects.
Mike Morgan
Drum Teacher
Mike Morgan is a multi-instrumentalist with over 20 years of experience playing the drum set and other percussion including congas, bongos, and timbales. Mike also has significant experience with keyboard, bass, and guitar. Before joining School of Rock Chesapeake, Mike worked at the Norfolk location for over two years.
Mike officially began playing drums when he was around 10 years old on popcorn tubs covered with towels and large pots. He still uses the same white CB percussion drum set he got when he was 16 for recording and gigs. Mike drums for several local bands in the Hampton Roads area, including Mosquito Cabaret, Janks, Saving Daylight, and Ghost Town Union. He also records his own instruments and vocals for his one-man band project, Sundef.
Mike's drumming influences include Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, jazz great Elvin Jones, Abe Cunningham of Deftones, Chico Hamilton, Poncho Sanchez, and Santana just to name a few.
Ross Ellis
Guitar Teacher
Ross is a dedicated and experienced instructor with over three years of teaching expertise. With a passion for the performing arts, Ross boasts more than seven years of performance experience, including an impressive three-year stint entertaining audiences at Busch Gardens. His extensive background in theater spans over eight years, and he brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to his teaching.
In addition to his work on stage, Ross has showcased his talents on cruise ships, contributing to his well-rounded and diverse performance background. Not only is Ross a skilled performer and instructor, but he is also fluent in Japanese, adding a unique cultural perspective to his teaching approach. With a commitment to fostering creativity and skill development, Ross is a valued teacher who brings a rich blend of performance and instructional experience to every class!
Morgan Hopkins
Vocal Teacher
Morgan is a highly accomplished singer/songwriter with a proven track record in the music industry. As the lead vocalist and band manager of the popular local band, Soft Plan, she has captivated audiences with her exceptional talent. Before her involvement with Soft Plan, Morgan showcased her skills as the singer/front woman for the band Candi and as a singer for The Michael Goldberg Band.
In addition to her musical achievements, Morgan has also demonstrated her versatility as a performer, both as a singer and actor. She showcased her talents in the production "Deja The Wall" at the prestigious Sandler Center.
Morgan's expertise extends beyond her own performances. She has received training from renowned institutions such as Starling Voice Studio and the William Esper Studio in New York. With a passion for exploring different vocal techniques, Morgan is dedicated to finding what works best for each vocalist. She believes in creating a comfortable and enjoyable environment that allows artists to grow and thrive. Morgan's love for her craft shines through in her commitment to providing a nurturing space for aspiring artists. She finds joy in guiding and supporting others on their artistic journey.