Chad Fondren
Owner, General Manager
Chad and Tracy Fondren have been running the School of Rock in Issaquah since 2016, and are very excited to open School of Rock Seattle Downtown with their new partner, Cole (long-time instructor and Music Director at School of Rock Issaquah). Chad is a father of two (both School of Rock students), and a local music industry veteran, having recently retired from his position as Director of Sales for Disc Makers, the nation's largest CD/DVD/vinyl manufacturer.
Also prior to his career at School of Rock, Chad ran a successful record label focusing on punk music, was Director of Operations for the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra, ran a booking agency, and managed a studio teaching private trumpet lessons. Chad earned his bachelor's degree in Music Business from Central Washington University, with a minor in Trumpet Performance. He is especially excited to be dedicating himself to School of Rock full-time.
Tracy Fondren
Co-Owner
Tracy Fondren is a lifelong Pacific Northwest native and experienced musician (drums, voice, and piano/keyboards) with heavy ties to the Seattle music community and scene. Prior to becoming the co-owner and GM of School of Rock Issaquah, she spent ten years working in Music and Image Licensing at Getty Images.
Tracy met her husband, Chad, when previously working in Project Management for indie artists and labels at a CD manufacturer. Her passion for music and kids drove her to pitch the opening of a music school to Chad in 2014, and two years later, School of Rock Issaquah was born. Her love of sharing music with kids continues with the opening of School of Rock Seattle Downtown.
Cole Paramore
Music Director, Co-Owner
Cole was the first instructor at School of Rock Issaquah and has taught thousands of lessons and led hundreds of rehearsals.
Primarily a drummer, Cole has been playing and teaching for over 15 years and has studied under acclaimed drummers such as Mike Johnston, Mark Guiliana, and Robert Searight.
Cole enjoys all music with a particular love for indie and alternative rock. You can catch Cole playing in the Pacific Northwest with Harrison B and Little Rumor. Shows Cole has directed include Nirvana, The Beatles, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse, The Strokes, and many more.
Milo M.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Milo has been a touring bassist for over a decade with PNW bands that range from metal to alternative rock to country music. With thousands of hours of stage time under his belt, Milo knows life on the road. His experience in both the performing and technical sides of music has fueled his ability to write in all the styles he plays.
Milo has a degree in Music Composition from Evergreen State College and uses his knowledge of music theory and arrangement to compose, record, and perform his own music live. Milo believes above all else, music should be fun—it should be a way to explore one’s own creative ability and find oneself through it.
Evan H.
Drum Teacher
Evan has been playing and performing on the drums for over seven years. He first developed fundamentals on his own, then took lessons with Phil Bowden, and later performed for his high school band program.
After high school, Evan has been committed to a variety of local bands, with his current and most prominent being Alex Vile. Evan specializes in all forms of rock drumming, including proficiencies in punk, jazz, and traditional forms.
Dom A.
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Dom (they/them) is originally from the Empire State, where they grew up heavily influenced by the vocal powerhouses of Broadway and their parents’ rock CDs. Dom was fortunate to have many performance and education opportunities throughout their pre-adult life that built a strong technical foundation, an overall balanced education of music, a passion for performing live, and a love of vocal pedagogy.
Dom attended Baldwin Wallace University in Cleveland, Ohio where they minored in Biology and earned their bachelor's degree in Sustainability Sciences. Through Dom's love of science came a love of vocal pedagogy. In their spare time, Dom often would practice new techniques in the Conservatory lesson rooms, taught themself basic keys, and from there was able to find their own sound. Dom performed various gigs throughout their college career, both solo and with bands, often singing and accompanying themself on guitar or keys, covering the likes of Paramore, Heart, Alanis Morisette, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, and Stevie Nicks.
Dom has worked with youth of all ages in the performing arts for many years and is passionate about building the confidence in young performers by teaching them the healthy tools and technical basics they need to find their own sound!
Nick M.
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Nick is a multi-instrumentalist based out of Seattle. He began his musical journey by learning piano at age 6 and now specializes in drums, guitar, bass, and keys. His experience ranges from formal orchestral percussion to leading rock bands on drums and guitar. He loves music across many different genres, spanning jazz and classical to country and pop punk.
Nick is a huge advocate of School of Rock’s SongFirst™ teaching approach, the same method that fueled his own motivation to learn. He is excited to bring that philosophy to inspire the next generation of musicians!
Mia W.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Mia is originally from Chicago and started playing guitar at the age of 12. She played in a Green Day cover band throughout high school and took “rock band” classes at a small local music school in her neighborhood.
Mia went to college for Audio Engineering and Sound Production at the Jacobs School of Music. Throughout college, she played guitar and bass in several rock bands and took up playing keyboard and drums as well. She now teaches bass and guitar at School of Rock Seattle Downtown and is excited to meet the new generation of rock n' roll stars.
Colin B.
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
From an early age, Colin immersed himself in the world of music, picking up the guitar and delving into punk and alternative bands by the age of 15. Concurrently, he embarked on a journey into classical guitar, studying privately with esteemed guitarists and instructors. This early exposure to diverse musical genres laid the foundation for Colin's multifaceted approach to teaching and performing.
Building on this rich musical background, Colin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Columbia College Chicago, specializing in Classical Guitar. Throughout his studies, he delved into MIDI composition, harmony, music theory, and ear training. He then pursued a Master of Arts in Media Scoring, Sound Editing, and Music Supervision at Brooklyn College, further expanding his musical repertoire.
With his diverse background in different guitar styles and techniques, coupled with strong communication skills, Colin excels in interacting with students of all ages and proficiency levels. His adept understanding of music theory, including chords, scales, and rhythm, enables him to offer comprehensive lessons tailored to each student's needs.
Jordan F.
Drum Teacher
Jordan is a multi-instrumentalist (drums, guitar, bass) from Boston with a professional drumming career spanning over a decade. After graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he continued to drum in his two college bands alongside his budding project engineering career. In 2020, Jordan put his bands on hiatus and moved to Seattle for a fresh start with new music projects. Since then, he has played drums for multiple bands with genres ranging from acoustic singer-songwriter to metal-tinged rock.
Having completed 3 U.S. tours, playing hundreds of shows, and the release of dozens of songs, Jordan is now focusing on teaching music at the School of Rock locations in Issaquah and Seattle. He is currently playing in two local bands, Silver Pattern and Bandski. Jordan loves to share his enthusiasm for playing music and give back to Seattle’s historically rich music community which inspired him to pick up an instrument in the first place.
Michael E
Guitar Teacher, Bass Teacher
Michael is originally from Minnesota and developed a love for playing shows through the School of Rock in St. Paul. He loves all types of music with a strong emphasis in alternative rock. Right now he’s attending the University of Washington with an intended major in creative writing and potentially history as well, but nothing makes him more happy than playing guitar and bass with awesome people!