Riley Bean
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Drum Teacher
Riley has been playing drums since a young age, both in more formal school settings and with bands around the area. He began producing solo electronic music under the name Beanstalk in 2013 and has played drums set for Michigan funk group Liquid Thickness since 2017.
Riley's other main passion is growing organic/natural food, as he is the co-owner of Vibrant Acres farm in South Lyon. At School of Rock and privately, he teaches drums, keys, and vocals and loves working with kids of all ages.
Henry Beradelli
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Henry teaches guitar and bass for beginners, and drums for all levels. He is a former School of Rock student and is active in the South East Michigan music scene. Henry has played shows all around the area and is currently working on an album with his band.
Henry also graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia arts & technology. He hopes to make a career out of recording bands and artists. Henry loves listening, playing, and teaching all types of music and specializes in alternative/punk genres.
Bradley Birkle
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Bradley is a multi-instrumentalist from Lapeer, Michigan. He first picked up bass in 2012 and a year later he took to guitar seriously. Brad has played in a wide variety of settings such as rock, big band, orchestra bass, and solo classical guitar.
Bradley earned his bachelor's degree in Guitar Performance from Eastern Michigan University in 2021. Currently, he writes, performs, and records music with his band Social Meteor where he plays guitar and bass and sings. Additionally, Brad is experienced with drums, piano, and baroque lute.
Caden Cox
Guitar Teacher, Vocal Teacher
Caden is a vocal and guitar teacher at School of Rock Canton. He is a former student of School of Rock Canton and was a part of our House Band before graduating from the program.
As a child, Caden gained vocal experience through classical training and performing musicals on stage. In his teens, he took an interest in playing guitar and began learning to play. Caden listens to and enjoys just about everything, but especially loves alternative rock and grunge music.
Lorelei Gabriel
Vocal Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Lorelei Gabriel is a musician from Northville, Michigan. She has an Associate of Science degree in Sound Recording Technology from Schoolcraft Community College and is currently attending Eastern Michigan University.
Lorelei is currently the lead singer and guitarist in her band, as well as the guitarist for another. She taught dance to kids from 2011 to 2017 and has been teaching guitar for several years.
Gayelynn McKinney
Drum Teacher
Gayelynn McKinney began playing the drums at the age of two. Although she received much of her musical training in the Detroit Jazz scene, she also
obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Oakland University. Gayelynn has recorded projects with the group Straight Ahead, (of which she is a cofounder) Ralph Armstrong and Marcus Belgrave just to name a few. She has recently recorded solo projects called “It's About Time,” “McKinFolk The New Beginning,”and “Zoot Suit Funk.” Gayelynn McKinney's many awards include: 2014 Kresge Artist Fellows recipient, with the Group Straight Ahead and McKinFolk, a Grammy Nomination, Detroit Black Music Award recipient, and Detroit Music Awards for best jazz composer. Gayelynn McKinney has had the opportunity to travel extensively and play at many famous jazz festivals including Montreux-Jazz Fest, Lionel Hampton Jazz Fest, New Orleans Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, Olympics, and the Kennedy Center. She has also performed as a side musician with such notables as Benny Golson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Diane Shure, Jason Marsalis, Freda Payne, Roy Ayers, Geri Allen, Marcus Belgrave, Chaka Khan, Roy Hargrove, Randy Brecker, Rick Margitza, Larry Coryell, Ralphe Armstrong, Steve Turre, Kevin Mahogany, James Carter, Tim Ries, (The Rolling Stones Music director) and “Speech” of “Arrested Development.” Gayelynn is also the last drummer to tour with Aretha Franklin. While performing with Aretha Franklin, Gayelynn had the distinct honor to play for presidential hopeful, Hilary Clinton. She also performed at Tribeca Film Fest featuring a tribute to Clive Davis.
Jonathon Meyer
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Jonathon Meyer is a guitarist, bassist, synthesizer/keyboard player, and songwriter from Canton, Michigan. He got started playing music while attending Salem High School through forming bands by playing guitar and bass with peers and by playing bass for the schools jazz band. In 2018 he graduated from Salem and in the same year, formed a band called Read the Sun. The band has currently completed two projects with Jonathon playing guitar and synthesizer titled "Music for Birds" and "Living Thru" as well as one tour in summer 2019 at the time of Living Thru's release. Jonathon is versed in playing the styles of Classic Rock, Grunge, alternative rock, Punk/Pop-Punk, Blues, Jazz, as well as psychedelic, progressive, and experimental rock.
DeMarcus Sumter
Drum Teacher, Vocal Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
DeMarcus Sumpter comes to the School of Rock in Canton, Michigan after traveling the world as a drummer and musician for various styles of music. He has worked as a studio musician across the United States and has been teaching drums and vocals for over 20 years.
When DeMarcus is not teaching, he is performing with multiple bands, including his own, all over Michigan and at festivals on the East Coast.
Bri Minghine
Studio Coordinator
As soon as Bri could speak, she used her voice to sing! Before becoming our Studio Coordinator at the School of Rock in Canton, Michigan, Bri was a School of Rock vocal student. Since joining the team and being surrounded by our very talented instructors, she has been inspired to learn how to play guitar and other instruments as well.
Bri loves many different genres of music and some of her favorite artists include The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac. She is also a big Taylor Swift fan! She loves working at School of Rock, meeting new students, and watching each of them grow as a musician. Bri is currently a college student pursuing a business degree.
Scott Burek
General Manager
Scott Burek has spent his life working with kids and helping them develop their full potential. Over the years, Scott has worked as a coach, summer camp instructor, high school teacher, and middle school principal. After more than 25 years working in public education, he decided it was time for a change and has come to School of Rock Canton as the General Manager. A music fan since he was a kid, Scott has always had a large music collection. He enjoys traveling, attending concerts and listening to all types of music.
Chris Marek
Owner
Chris Marek is a former principal for both Plymouth-Canton and Wayne-Westland schools, but always dreamed of being in the music business. After more than 26 years in education, Chris retired and built School of Rock Canton in 2019 and bought School of Rock Farmington in 2021. A guitar player from Muskegon, MI, he has played since age 11. Chris quit guitar lessons early on after being forced to sight read "Hot Crossed Buns" when he wanted to play Led Zeppelin songs. He loves the School of Rock Song First approach, where students play songs they love and learn reading and theory along the way. Chris is the owner of School of Rock Canton and Farmington.