Nicole
General Manager
Prior to taking over as general manager in September of 2019, Nicole was a vocal and keys instructor at School of Rock Katy. She’s been a student of music since a young age and loves watching young musicians find confidence in rehearsal and on stage while learning to work together to produce great music. She’s recorded two albums, 2007’s “Miscellaneous” and 2014’s “Black Coffee and Key Lime Pie.” Nicole believes that you should never stop learning, currently playing bass and drums in the School of Rock Katy Adult Band.
Mason
Music Director
An artist from a very young age, Mason didn’t take an interest in music until at 13 he heard Randy Rhoads slaying the guitar on the radio in his dad’s car. He immediately wanted that same energy and began taking lessons soon after. He can be found around the Houston area playing as a solo artist and has become an integral part of the School of Rock Katy staff band. With inspirations like Ritchie Balckmore, Freddie Mercury and Kate Bush, Mason brings solid musical knowledge and a dry sense of humor to the lesson and rehearsal room. His individualistic approach to teaching reaches each student where they’re at: “Each of us learns a bit different from one another. I do my best to work with my students to determine their best approaches for each of them individually.”
Justine
Studio Coordinator
Justine is ecstatic to return to School of Rock Katy as a studio coordinator after being a founding member of both the school and House Band (and later the adult band) in 2012 as a guitarist, bassist, and vocalist, as well as an accomplished guitar and vocal instructor. Playing in gigs all over southeast Texas and at Summerfest in Milwaukee further influenced her eclectic music tastes, which go from Paramore and Sleater Kinney to Siouxsie Sioux and The Pretenders.
Justine's vocal inspirations are Hayley Williams and Florence Welch, whose powerful and unforgiving voices drove her passion for singing. She wants to bring out that same passion and individuality in others. She finished her BA in media production at the University of Houston and you'll see her influence on our marketing and social media!
Calvin
Studio Coordinator
Although Calvin works as our school’s studio coordinator, he is also a skilled guitarist, starting his School of Rock career as an instructor. He now uses his love of our program to welcome more students into the band.
Calvin has been playing since he was 11 years old, using his birthday money to buy the cheapest guitar he could find. His love for music expanded in high school playing trombone in the school band and becoming a Solo & Ensemble Award Winner. His influences can often be heard in the lobby: The Avett Brothers, Billy Strings, B.B. King, and Molly Tuttle. Calvin believes learning anything should be fun and rewarding and that keeping students’ passion ignited is crucial to their success.
Larry
Drum Teacher
Born in Baytown, TX, Larry has been playing drums for over 40 years. Immersed in music from an early age, Larry was hooked on the drums after seeing Ringo Starr and The Beatles on television. Since then, Larry has performed in numerous bands, honing his skills behind the kit. Some of his bands have opened for such famous groups as The Drifters, The Platters, The Temptations, Muddy Waters, and Jimmy Vaughan.
Currently, Larry is actively working the blues circuit with his nephew, 2017 Blues Award winner John Del Toro Richardson. In addition to the drums, Larry also plays guitar, keyboards, and harmonica and enjoys his time in his own studio making music.
Michael
Drum Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Michael is a multi-talented instrumentalist with skills in kit, percussion, piano, bass, and guitar. He has performed with Percussion One under the instruction of Lamar Burkhalter and tracked drums for several bands including the Primaries, Forget-Me-Nots, Sabela bee, Guamskyy, and The Alex French Revolution.
With a strong base in theory and fundamentals mixed with a solid love for all things rock, Michael finds influence in artists that range from Chopin to Periphery to drum great Dave Grohl. He marched in The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a trumpet player, placed first in high school’s Battle of the Bands, and more recently performed in Lone Star University Park’s Jazz Quartet.
Michael believes that music theory is necessary when learning the fundamentals, but, like any true rock musician, says that the better you understand the rules, the easier they are to break.
Juan
Drum Teacher
Juan wanted to play drums since he was 10 years old against his parents' wishes, but after insisting for several years, got his first drum set at 14 and has never stopped. Like most School of Rock teachers, he plays a little guitar and bass as well, but you’ll never see him without his sticks.
Juan has played in multiple bands ranging from cover bands to alternative rock to punk and indie. He is strongly influenced by The Cure, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, and Jane’s Addiction. He believes that drumming is all about coordination and free flow. Feeling the music and playing from the heart.
Connor
Drum Teacher
Born in Kingwood, TX, Connor spent his youth moving with his family across the country and overseas. He began focusing on drumming at 13 years old when given the opportunity to drum in his school’s Rock Band. Previously providing the foundation for the band with his bass playing, he realized he was uniquely talented on the drums.
Connor later joined School of Rock Katy as a student. He performed for three years in a row at Summerfest in Milwaukee as a drummer for the school's selective House Band while also supplying the foundation on both drums and bass during numerous School of Rock shows. During his final years as a student at School of Rock, Connor joined with his brother and three other School of Rock students to form a band that gigged at many of Houston's popular music venues. Their debut album allowed Connor and his fellow band members the opportunity to showcase their ability to create, perform, and record their own music.
Connor continues to develop his creative skills in audio, video, and digital media in college. He has also returned to School of Rock as a drum instructor and is now leading the next line of musicians on their exciting musical journey.
Jake
Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Drum instructor Jake has been a part of the School of Rock Katy team since he was in high school, but he’s been around music his entire life. Born into a musical family, he is a skilled drummer, keyboardist, and vocalist.
Jake wears many hats at the Katy school, instructing Little Wing and Rock 101, directing shows, and teaching drums and keys. Teaching drives him to be a better player and with love for bands like Tool, Polyphia, and Rush, he’s a hardworking player who passes his love for music onto his students.
Callum
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Keyboard and singing teacher, Callum was first fascinated by the dynamic range of an acoustic piano after seeing a stranger simply walk up to a public piano at an airport and play for the waiting crowd. He started lessons at 7 years old and, at 14, bought his first Yamaha keyboard which he still plays on daily.
A former member of the Fort Bend Boys Choir, All-State Choir 2012, and Merriam School of Music, Callum is influenced by a wide range of musicians including Billie Holiday, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Thelonious Monk, The Beatles, and BADBADNOTGOOD. He believes that learning is far easier if the experience is enjoyable.
Steve
Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Steve has been involved with music his whole life. His dad was a drummer and also played clarinet in a Dixieland band, so there was always music in the house. When he was 5 years old, Steve's dad bought him a marching drum and Steve would march around the neighborhood playing marching cadences with all his friends following behind.
Steve took piano lessons at age 7 and stopped when he was 14, then taught himself to play the guitar. He had a band in high school and college. After two years as a journalist in the Navy, he joined Channel Two News as a photojournalist. A few years later Steve got together with some of his neighbors and started Easy Money, a local band that has been playing all over Houston for over 27 years. Steve retired from Channel Two after 40 years and now enjoys teaching a new generation how to rock and roll.
Joseph
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Joseph is a vocals and keys instructor at School of Rock Katy and has been a musician since a very young age. He is currently studying music at university and has spent many years as a professional musician; he is a composer and performer by trade.
Joseph's writing is heavily influenced by pop, soul/R&B, jazz, and classical and he can’t wait to stretch his skills into the realm of rock. He wraps up his teaching philosophy with this quote by Ludwig Van Beethoven: “Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.”
Clare
Vocal Teacher
Clare started her musical journey way back in kinder-music which led her to a love for musical theater, eventually graduating with a bachelor of fine arts in theater. She never lost her love for music, however, and maintained her passion through songwriting and self-taught instrumentation on guitar and piano. After collaborating with several friends in high school, Clare wrote and produced her music and has been featured on several independent albums.
When the staff band performs, it’s easy to recognize the influence that Adele, Amy Winehouse, Aurora, Lianne La Havas, and so many others have had on Clare’s performance style. She believes that anyone has the potential to sing, it just takes some people longer to figure out what they need to do in order to sing to their best potential. Clare wants to encourage anyone learning from her to find their voice and to take their time while on their individual journeys.
Sierra
Vocal Teacher
A former School of Rock student and House Band member, Sierra started as a student at School of Rock in her junior year and progressed quickly through theory and technique before her graduation. After performing at the Alumni Show in 2022, Sierra joined the team as a vocal instructor ready to share her love for music with our students.
You can hear Sierra's vocal influences through the likes of Dio, Janis Joplin, Robert Plant, Geddy Lee, and Jeff Tate. She also works with our Little Wing and Rock 101 classes and directs shows. Sierra believes that as a universal language, music is one of the most important things a child can learn and she finds her job educating in this field an incredible privilege.
Stan
Guitar Teacher
Stan is a seasoned performer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and teacher with over 30 years of experience working with students of all ages and all genres. He is an expert in playing various styles of both guitar and bass and also sings. He is also an accomplished session player and recording artist.
Stan has a wide knowledge of and teaches various musical styles such as rock, metal, pop, acoustic, classical, jazz, funk, fusion, world and blues. He has recorded guitar tracks on numerous commercials, has recorded multiple albums with numerous bands, and has traveled the world on tour with numerous bands. He has taught all levels of instruction and skill sets (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) and has provided instruction on sight-reading, ear training, musical and chord theory, speed picking, pick techniques, rhythm guitar techniques, lead guitar techniques, and explaining modal concepts.
Stan is an expert in performance and has led many workshops on different types of methodology, as well as demonstrations of various types of pickups, strings, picks, and pedals. He has prepared students for performances, auditions, and festivals by also leading band performance workshops.
Shane
Guitar Teacher
Shane brings his love for music to School of Rock Katy with over 14 years of guitar experience, but don’t strap him to one instrument! Shane also plays some mean licks on the saxophone. His approach to teaching is to meet each student exactly where they’re at, introducing them to the vast universe of music to be discovered.
As one of our Rock 101 instructors, Shane brings humor and fun to the rehearsal room while also encouraging kids to move to the next level—getting on stage! That diverse approach to music is evident in his influences that range from Eric Johnson to Kanye West, John Mayer to Allan Holdsworth.
Justin
Guitar Teacher
Born into a musical family that had a deep appreciation for the blues, guitar instructor Justin includes Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayer, Led Zeppelin, and Metallica as a few of his many influences. As a former House Band member and instructor of the School of Rock in Cypress, TX, he brings several years of teaching experience to the Katy school.
Justin is accomplished outside of the classroom as well as a former lead guitarist for Laci Kay Boothe, Hannah Kay, and Sierra Bernal. He has also opened for various big-name country artists including Aaron Watson, Cody Johnson, Josh Ward, and others. Justin’s philosophy is one of determination and writing his own story. Music has always been the passion that Justin has built his life upon.
Rachel
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Rachel started playing keys at 5 years old but really found her love for music when she picked up a guitar at 17. Her love for classic rock was born through her influences Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jimi Hendrix, and The Police. Six months later, she started her first band. \
Rachel is the lead singer and guitarist for her band Pretty Vacant, plays bass for Quinn the Brain, and joined Shot Gun Sally as guitarist for a time. Rachel’s teaching philosophy allows students to be themselves: “This is YOUR musical journey - I’m just here to guide you.”
Kyle
Bass Guitar Teacher
A native of Tomball, Texas, Kyle started his music career as a self-proclaimed “band nerd” playing trumpet in middle school and the high school marching band. After seeing KISS in 2004 and Black Sabbath at 2005’s Ozzfest, he found his love for rock and metal music, quickly taking up the bass guitar.
Kyle not only excels on bass and trumpet, but also plays drums, keys, and guitar. He graduated from SHSU with a Bachelor of Music Education and played trumpet with the SHSU Trumpet Ensemble, Marching Band, and Concert Band. Heavy into the Houston and Dallas local music scene, he has performed with bands LIVIC, Framing Grey, And Then Suddenly, Rogues Among Us, and Trench Coat.
Currently, Kyle performs with his band Razo Rodriguez. His roots have always been in rock and metal with a special love for Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Pantera, KISS, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Queens of the Stone Age. Like many bass players, he also loves funk and R&B, like James Brown, Bootsy Collins, Al Green, and Silk Sonic. His bass heroes are Victor Wooten, Tal Wilkenfeld, Thundercat, Roger Waters, and Sting.
As a teacher, Kyle believes it is important to find out how his students learn best and encourage creativity with a focus on teaching music theory, technique, fundamental skills, and musicianship. He has also done some studio work, recording bass guitar on albums for Razo Rodriguez, LIVIC, Framing Grey, and Rogues Among Us.