School of Rock Elmhurst’s music teachers are experienced musicians devoted to helping students attain musical proficiency. From singing to drums to guitar, our Elmhurst music instructors inspire and teach students to perform live.
Emanating from the windy city of Chicago, IL, Tommy Evans has been immersing himself in rock and roll culture and technique for 10 years, striving to conquer any instrument in front of him. In 2009, he conceptualized the rock band Secret Colours. Since then he has led them around the US landscape performing at notable venues such as 1st Ave in Minneapolis, Lincoln Hall in Chicago and Pianos on the lower east side of Manhattan. He has gigged in the festivals Austin Psych Fest and SXSW. Some of his songs have been featured in the TV shows "Graceland," "Royal Pains" and "Californication." Concurrently, he has worked with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Gomez, Sage Francis, Iron & Wine) to sharpen the edges of Secret Colours' sophomore album, "Peach."
He graduated from Colombia College with a BA in Audio Design and Production. There he worked in real studio environments, becoming efficient in a range of analog and digital recording platforms.
Collin A. Bullock was born in Champaign, IL back in the dark, synth-laden days of the 1980s. He started playing guitar at the age of fifteen in an attempt to impress girls. The results have been mixed. He played in rock and roll bands through high school and college, toured the Midwest in a van that smelled terrible and played more power chords than you can shake a stick at. He once knew how to play the entirety of "Angel Of Death" by Slayer, but he has since forgotten it. His favorite guitarists are Billy Corgan, David Gilmour and Johnny Greenwood. Collin likes effects pedals and teaching kids how to rock! Collin currently plays bass in the band bloodmoney who actively gigs and records in Chicago.
Jake Anderson is a multi-instrumentalist that is active in the Chicago music scene. He started playing guitar when he was eight years old and since then has picked up various other instruments to add to his repertoire. His list of instruments include guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, ukulele, banjo, various percussion instruments and vocals.
At 12 years old he started his first band. He has played around the country and has toured Europe with his former band Future Monarchs. This same band has recorded an EP and LP that was produced by Pat Sansone, a member of Wilco.
Currently, he is working on recording a solo album at his studio in Logan Square. Some of his favorite artists are The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Kinks, The Zombies, Curtis Mayfield, Tame Impala, UMO, Human League, Talking Heads, OMD, Radiohead, The Impressions, The Ramones, Agent Orange, The Pixies, Simon and Garfunkel, Curt Boettcher and Al Green.
Maddy Marsan is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter and oboist who just finished studying music from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. With the use of a two-channel loop pedal Maddy turns into a vocalist, guitarist, oboist and drummer. In her songs she strives for the oboe to be used in the limelight to experiment with the sound of mixing classical and folk genres. She also performs the same solo music with a full band along with a double reed quintet. Aside from her solo music Maddy is the co-leader and singer of the funk Champaign-Urbana based band Square Donuts and steps in on backup vocals/oboe with Chicago punk band Engine Summer. Maddy is now moved back to Elmhurst, her hometown, excited for performances, collaborations and more recordings in Chicago while teaching and inspiring young rockers.
Martin Stonikas first got into music by playing percussion in the school band starting at age eight. Quickly moving to drumset, Martin was inspired by the sounds of Led Zeppelin, The Who and Yes. He later discovered a passion for the bass, idolizing John Entwhistle, Les Claypool and Chris Squire. He then attended The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, graduating in 2009 with a degree in Jazz Bass Performance. Since then he has been playing all around the Midwest, and had opportunities to play on the east coast and in Italy. Besides playing in several rock/pop original and cover bands, Martin has experience in many types of music including Afro-beat, funk, classical and jazz.
Andy Wilmoth is a dedicated drummer and percussionist. He relocated to Chicago in 2016 to play drums for musical theatre after spending the former eight years in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from West Virginia, Andy began playing at age 10. Since then he has formed, rehearsed and booked bands of all styles. Andy developed a strong passion for music at a young age, and credits this to amazing teachers in his hometown and also at West Virginia University where he studied music. Through college Andy worked with local high school drum lines and percussion ensembles in addition to teaching private lessons. In Nashville he gigged and recorded with local artists of every style. Whether it was a soul jazz group, a 10-piece funk band or a tasteful singer-songwriter situation, he has always enjoyed learning new material, collaborating with other musicians and challenging himself. Music education and sharing his experiences is very important to Andy, and he is thrilled to be joining the School of Rock team.
Kenzie began playing the piano when she was five and hasn't stopped playing since. She was involved in rock, jazz and religious ensembles throughout high school, as well as in the pit orchestra for theatre productions. She has experience competing as a performer and an accompanist, ranging in genres from classical to rock to musical theatre. Her most recent gigs have been at the DuPage County Fair in Wheaton, Dead Poet's Society in Rock Island, Wheaton's Got Talent and Fusion in Kenosha, WI. Currently, she is studying Psychology as a junior at Elmhurst College, and is looking forward to influencing new musicians.
David Hubbell is a guitarist, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Elmhurst, IL. David cut his teeth performing in experimental punk rock bands at DIY venues around the Midwest in his early teenage years. Along the way, he has performed and studied many forms of rock, jazz, blues, country and classical guitar as well as adopted the trade of repairing, modifying, restoring and setting up guitars, basses and other stringed instruments. Currently he performs music solo as well as with fellow School of Rock instructor and singer/songwriter Maddy Marsan. In his never-ending quest to expand his musical vocabulary, David hopes to help inspire students to expand theirs as well.
Wally Pochron started playing the drums when he was nine years old when he decided to join his school's band program. Since then Wally has been continuously playing music both as a classical artist and as a commercial artist. In the spring of 2017, Wally received his Bachelors in Music Performance from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. During his time at Millikin Wally enjoyed playing in jazz combos, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, pit orchestras, wind ensembles and symphonic orchestras. One of his favorite groups to play with was the Millikin University Latin Jazz Project. As part of the Millikin University Latin Jazz Project, Wally recorded two CDs, toured the Midwest and performed at the 2016 Havana International Jazz Festival. A passionate teacher, Wally is committed to his students’ success and happiness in both music and in life.
Born in Memphis, TN, Christopher Grandberry (CJ) was raised in Naperville, IL. CJ began his musical journey on the trombone/tuba but eventually redirected his passion towards the drums at the age of 14. With the backbone influences of jazz, rock, hip-hop and African music, CJ garners inspiration from many genres and currently plays all over the Chicagoland area with his band, Fall Classic. CJ loves sharing his musical passion with his students and watching them progress throughout their musical development until they’re playing onstage with the masters.
Adam is an Elmhurst local breaking into the rock scene. He can be seen regularly at venues in the city, as well as at Fitz’s here in Chicago with his band Washbucket. His goal as a teacher is to inspire students to practice as much as possible by showing and teaching them that practice can be fun and exciting instead of work. Adam loves to play and can’t wait to inspire the performers of the future.
Luke Harvey's music career began shortly after forming his first band (Tonight the Prom) at the age of 15 with three friends from music camp. Their first EP garnered support and radio play on 101.1 (formerly know as Q101). This resulted in a pretty large local fanbase, especially for a band so young. After playing hundreds of shows throughout the Midwest and winning several Battle of the Bands, they earned the opportunity to play much larger venues such as the Vans Warped Tour Chicago in '07 and '08, The Metro Chicago, Logan Square Auditorium and the Chicago House of Blues. Their first and only full-length album, "Our Greatest Mistakes," was recorded at Chicago Recording Company in 2008 and released that same year. The band agreed to go their separate ways in 2009 after deciding to continue their educations. The next five years of Luke's career consisted of teaching guitar, work and education until his friend's band needed a lead guitarist for a tour of the west coast. Afterward, Luke returned home to start up his own band. Jolly Lama and the Noble Truth continue to perform to this day.
A native millennial to Elmhurst, IL, Joachim Cañete was, like many others, raised alongside the enchanting sound of "Fantasia 2000" and Led Zeppelin with some Pink Floyd sprinkled in between. Trained early on with the trumpet and, later, baritone, Joachim transitioned towards the humble harmonica, entranced by its unique sound. On his own time, he exercises his vocal and movement skills by taking the time to sing in the shower and dancing in empty rooms because nobody's watching.
Lauren currently plays bass and sings background vocals in the Chicago power pop band The Punch. With the band she has played venues such as House of Blues Chicago, METRO, Joe's Live in Rosemont and more. She is also one half of the acoustic jazz/pop singer/songwriter duo Fonder Estates. She believes wholeheartedly that music has the ability to change lives and hopes to continue to educate kids about the positive power that music holds. She is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher, piano teacher and vocal instructor at School of Rock Elmhurst.