Greg Moore
Owner
Greg Moore is the owner of the School of Rock locations in Ankeny, Marion, and West Des Moines. After seeing School of Rock students perform 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, Greg 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 alumnus of the School of Rock program who now teaches guitar, bass, and drums at the Cedar Rapids/Marion school. Greg and his wife, Amy, are thankful for all the families in the school community. Nothing is more exciting to them than watching the students advance both on and off the stage through our programs.
Austin Corrick
Music Director, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Austin Corrick began taking piano lessons at the age of 8 and guitar lessons at age 11, and soon after joined the school band on upright and electric bass and trumpet through high school.
Currently, Austin plays guitar, bass, drums, vocals, piano, trumpet, and tuba, and is a member of the Des Moines-based Latin music group Son Peruchos. He 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
General Manager
Rachel Allen is the 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 Performance.
Besides vocals and keyboard, Rachel also plays ukulele, trumpet, and French horn, and has a special fondness for jazz music. 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!
Vimka Nochvay
Guitar Teacher, Bass guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Vocal 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
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Madison Green is a singing teacher and keyboard + piano 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 the 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, 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, Madison 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 of 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!
Michael Friedrickson
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Michael is a guitar and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. He got into guitar at the age of 7 because of bands like Green Day and All Time Low. He took guitar lessons at Professional Music Center and spent a lot of time during the pandemic playing Polyphia.
Along with guitar and bass, Michael also plays the saxophone and has a love for prog metal, indie, math rock, emo, rock, and pop punk music. Michael enjoys working at School of Rock because he likes watching the students progress in their musical journey.
Rylie Shettler
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Rylie is a singing teacher and keyboard + piano teacher at School of Rock in West Des Moines, Iowa. She has been singing for as long as she can remember. Her dad is a singer, and her grandma taught her beginner piano until her backyard neighbor took over. She furthered her love for music at Columbia College Chicago for two years, where she studied musical theater and then received her BA in Music from Central College.
Outside of voice and piano, Rylie also plays clarinet and a little bit of guitar. Rylie enjoys singing and playing show tunes, worship songs, and classical pieces, and she loves to listen to folk, alternative rock, indie, pop (mostly Taylor Swift), show tunes, oldies, and more!
Ayla Billick
Drum Teacher
For as long as Ayla can remember, music has always been her passion. Although Ayla is a drum teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines, she also plays guitar and sings. She loves all types of music, but high-energy rock will always have a special place in her heart.
Ayla's favorite part of working at School of Rock is being able to spend time and energy doing what she loves most, passing on what she’s learned, and seeing it help others grow. You can catch Ayla rocking out on the guitar with the Allegra Hernandez band.
Grady Stein
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Grady is a bass, guitar, and keyboard instructor at School of Rock in West Des Moines, Iowa. Although his main instrument is the bass, he began playing piano at the age of 8 and added guitar at the age of 12. His favorite genres to play and listen to include funk, blues, and jazz music.
Grady's favorite part of working at School of Rock is learning new material along with the students. Grady is the bassist for Stutterin’ Jimmy and the Goosebumps.
Conner Roark
Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Conner teaches guitar, bass, keyboard, voice, and drums at School of Rock West Des Moines. He was first introduced to music when he was 3 years old watching his dad play in his band. Conner started playing when he was 13 years old and was self-taught until he went to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA, and got his Associate of Arts in Guitar Performance and Audio Engineering.
After graduating, Conner moved to Des Moines and has since been involved in the music scene by recording, mixing, and mastering albums for bands needing a solid record. Aside from the instruments he teaches, he also plays the ocarina, recorder, triangle, and kazoo, and he can whistle! Conner mostly listens to and plays metal and hard rock, but he also enjoys dabbling in blues, jazz, funk, R&B, and pop.
Brett Buehneman
Guitar Teacher
Brett is a guitar teacher at School of Rock West Des Moines. He started playing guitar at the age of 5. His father taught him to tune it, and from there gave Brett the freedom to discover where it would take him. Outside of School of Rock, he is a certified music therapist and is employed with a private practice geriatric care agency using his guitar to ease Iowa’s senior citizens living with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, often in a memory care facility.
Brett enjoys listening and jamming to rock, funk, melodic improvisation, R&B, new wave, and original riffing. His favorite thing about working at School of Rock is getting to experience students’ “a ha” moment, and getting to be present when a student who loves music actually becomes part of the music. Brett would like to share the quote, “Knowledge not shared is knowledge wasted.”
Tanner Wright
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Tanner started getting into music around the age of 7. His parents are big music enthusiasts and encouraged him to learn drums and piano, then later guitar. Tanner enjoys listening to and playing rock, metal, alternative, and hip-hop music! Currently, when he’s not giving lessons, he’s the drummer in the Des Moines local bands On This Day and No Vacancy.
Some of Tanner’s favorite drummers include Neil Peart (Rush), Steward Copeland (The Police), Jeff Porcharo (Toto), and Joey Jordison (Slipknot). He enjoys working at School of Rock West Des Moines because it allows him to build a strong connection with his students, not only by teaching them to become great musicians but also by helping them develop life skills like hard work, responsibility, and good character.