Travis Thierrin
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Show Director, House Band Director
Music has been a part of Travis' life from a young age, starting with piano lessons when he was 5 years old. He also sang in school and community musicals and choirs and played violin and sousaphone in school band and orchestra. Travis picked up the electric bass at the age of 13 and took private lessons for several years before enrolling at the School of Rock in Chatham, NJ. At School of Rock, he felt a renewed inspiration and motivation to hone his musical craft.
After two shows at School of Rock Chatham, Travis' parents Ray and Sue opened up the Easton location, where Travis continued performing in shows, studied bass, vocals, drums, guitar, and keyboards, and was a member of School of Rock Easton's Bank Street Band. He also assisted with shows and the Rock 101 program and eventually worked his way up to his current position as co-owner, instructor, show director, and house band director.
Travis continued his musical education outside of School of Rock as well, with an AFA in Music from Raritan Valley Community College and a BPS in Music Business from Berklee College of Music. He has also been a member of several local original and cover bands.
Travis is excited to share his knowledge, insight, and experience with the students at School of Rock Easton and help them develop their musical skills and hopefully even some general life skills that will carry on into whatever their futures hold.
Jenny Founds
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Rock 101 Teacher, Show Director
Jenny has been a part of the School of Rock family since 2006. During her five years touring as a School of Rock AllStar in over 15 national and international tours, she had the pleasure of sharing the stage with music legends such as Jon Anderson (Yes), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Perry Farrell (Jane’s Addiction), John Wetton (King Crimson), Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers), Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys), Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers), Brendon Small (Dethklok), Denny Walley and Napoleon Murphy Brock (Frank Zappa), and Mike Keneally (Steve Vai, Frank Zappa).
Jenny took a gap year to apprentice in an artist-in-residence recording engineer program where she wrote, recorded, and produced her first solo record. She then attended Marymount Manhattan College and earned her bachelor’s degree in Musical Theatre. When not directing shows or teaching at School of Rock, Jenny tours nationally with Stark Making Sense: A Tribute To Talking Heads, as well as with her original rock band, Ruby Dear.
Jenny also serves on the Performing Arts Board for ArtsQuest in Bethlehem. At School of Rock Easton, Jenny teaches vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards, directs Rock 101 on Tuesdays, as well as directs shows for Performance Program. Her favorite part of teaching at School of Rock Easton is seeing her students transcend expectations and find their voices as musicians and people!
Jason Hedrington
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Jason E. Hedrington is four decades deep as a musician. Early classical piano lessons morphed into Boogie Woogie & Blues, and then Jazz studies in high school and college. The next twenty years were a whirlwind of touring and gigging around the Mid-Atlantic and beyond in various original projects while also freelancing as a keyboardist and Moog-slinger for hire. Jason has been nominated for both Pianist and Keyboardist of the Year and Musical Instructor of the Year at the Lehigh Valley Music Awards. His projects have won such awards as Live Band, Jam Band, and Rock Band of the Year.
The last several years have seen Jason re-focusing on studio recording of his original work while mostly gigging via webcasts. Jason also has extensive theater experience as an ensemble affiliate and Musical Director at Bethlehem's Touchstone Theater. He has toured internationally with them, and his own original musical will be presented showcased there in March 2024. He not only teaches theater performance techniques in his School of Rock shows, but his students often point out that he is a bit dramatic.
Jason says it is impossible to pick one best thing from the myriad of great things about teaching at School of Rock, but he definitely cherishes the chance to show students how they can learn from historic artists to find THEIR OWN inner musician and creative expression. He honors the opportunity to guide students through the possibilities of personal growth and unity that music offers.
Will Coccia
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Show Director
Will Coccia has a diverse musical background that includes training in classical, jazz, and rock genres. He received his base training at School of Rock, where he studied the many genres and sub-genres of rock. Will also studied classical and jazz music at LVPA for two years before attending Moravian University, where he focused on percussive fingerstyle. In addition to his training, Will has been involved in several musical projects, including his original band, Mystik Fool (previously ITO and the Moonlight Hippies), and his current cover band, Out Past Curfew.
The best part about teaching at School of Rock for Will is creating an environment where students can achieve higher levels of musicianship and confidence. He sees his role as not only teaching musical skills but also helping his students become more self-assured. Will is passionate about sharing knowledge and guidance to help his students become the most technically proficient musicians possible.
Tyler Robibero
Drum Teacher
Tyler Robibero, known to many as “Bibs,” began his music career back in 2015 and hasn’t stopped since. While enrolled in School of Rock, Tyler grew his love for drumming and performed in many shows as a student. Although drums will always be his first love, Tyler also is skilled in songwriting, music production, and music remixing.
Tyler is now proudly the drummer of two bands, Airspace and Mouth of Kala, both of which he writes original music for. He is also the host of a music podcast, Bib’s Music Room, where he explores the local music scene by speaking with a variety of different musicians. Bibs is thrilled to be back at School of Rock, now as a teacher, and hopes to share his knowledge and love of music with all his students.
Carson DeAngelis
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Carson DeAngelis, a former School of Rock Easton student, first played "Hot Cross Buns" when he was 7 years old. Thanks to years of private classical training and an extraordinary musical education from the School of Rock, Carson became an expert musician and short-film score composer and eventually found his true passion in teaching. Carson taught his first piano lesson in February 2022 and is now a proud member of School of Rock's team of teachers. Carson is proud to be sending the next generation of rockstars out into the world, ready to take over the scene!
Anna Dawson-Smith
Singing Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Anna Smith-Dawson has been performing since she was 8 years old. Starting her career singing back up in her father’s band called “Failure to Adapt”. From there, she has been in musical productions such as A Chorus Line, Little Shop of Horrors, Sister Act, Baby the Musical, and Holiday Inn. Other productions include, Arcadia, Romeo and Juliet, and Truth Be Told. She graduated from Schenectady Community College with a Associates degree in Liberal Arts with a Music Certificate in Vocal Concentration; and a Bachelors in Theatre from Kean University. After college, Anna was employed at a performing arts academy teaching voice and piano, and continuing to perform in the local Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas. She is very excited to be joining School of Rock.
Oscar Jimenez-Velarde
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Oscar Jimenez-Velarde has a heart for exploring various musical styles, including gospel, blues, and R&B. He serves as a musician at Greater Shiloh Church, where he contributes to the atmosphere of praise and worship. Additionally, Oscar shares his passion as an instructor at the School of Rock in Easton, PA, where his students continually inspire him.
With ambitions to continue growing and exploring new musical horizons, Oscar is grateful for every opportunity to connect through music, whether it be live or in a studio. He has also had the pleasure of playing alongside artists such as Geoffrey Golden, Cristabel Clack, Brandin Reed, Karen Jennings, and Purcy Robinson.