Patrick Denney
Music Director
Patrick Denney is our fearless leader for all things musical. If you see live music around Louisville, then you're sure to see Patrick performing with such bands as Funkasaurus, Dr. Dundiff, The Sexy Tones, Wilder Stallions and others. He's a local musician in demand. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Patrick plays bass, guitar, keyboard and sings. When he's not performing, he can often be found recording in his home studio. Patrick holds a degree in Jazz Studies and Music Technology from Bellarmine University. He has several years of teaching experience, and he also worked in JCFS public schools directing an after-school program on digital mastering and recording, taking the kids to second place in a statewide original music competition. We are excited to introduce Patrick, and thankful for all the playing and performance skills he will be passing on to our students at School of Rock.
Cade Howard
Guitar Teacher, Ukulele Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Cade Howard has been playing the guitar for over a decade, with a background in traditional classical music, as well as performance experience with numerous regional bands, including White Knight, Ted Tyro, Jack Holiday and the Westerners, and Hounds and Horns. Cade also has extensive recording experience, having recorded four full-length albums and four EPs, plus two instrumental solo albums in 2016 and 2017. Cade has a deep knowledge of music theory and guitar technique in a variety of musical styles, from classic rock to jazz and classical guitar. He began playing the viola in high school orchestra and guitar in jazz band at age 10. In 2011, he attended Three of a Perfect Pair music camp with members of the band King Crimson.
Melanie Scofield
Owner, General Manager
Melanie Scofield has been involved in the arts from an early age, starting with piano lessons, school band, high school and college theater and, later in life, as an arts advocate. Her professional career has been in marketing and public relations, which she combined with her love of creative arts by providing public relations consulting to several arts and culture clients, including Arts Alliance Illinois, and regional Chicago theaters and museums. She also specialized in event management. A lifelong advocate of the arts and arts education, Melanie served as a long-time board member of the Arts Alliance of Illinois and the Pleasant Home Historic House Museum.
Melanie and her husband Doug have two sons, one an actor in Chicago, and Carter Scofield, who grew up with School of Rock and has been a three-time School of Rock AllStar. As a long-time School of Rock parent, Melanie is a strong believer in the transformative power of the program and the impact it has on youth, parents and the broader community. She loves to talk with parents about their children’s potential and how School of Rock can help them realize their goals musically, academically and personally.
Wyndell Williams
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Wyndell Williams, guitar teacher at School of Rock Louisville, is a seasoned guitarist with 35 years of experience who has played thousands of shows throughout the region. He can play and teach rock, pop, country, blues and more and has a vast understanding of music theory and its applications in the real world of music. He is a singer/songwriter and recording artist has played in and founded many bands, including Jefferson Tarc Bus and Slinky Jenkins. He has a successful solo act and currently fronts his own called Wyn and the Riots. Wyndell sang for many years in the church and did a few church tours in his youth. He is committed to teaching students in a positive, fun and informative way that will have them looking forward to not only learning but playing music.
Ethan Evans
Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Brass Teacher
Ethan Evans is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer, and arranger. He teaches drums, keys, guitar, bass, and brass at Louisville School of Rock. With a Master’s Degree in jazz performance and a BA degree in music education, he also is the drummer and a vocalist in the Louisville-based indie rock band, Owoso, as well as the guitarist, vocalist, and drummer in his own experimental rock project, Storm Wood. He performs across Louisville's jazz scene. Ethan can be seen regularly performing original music and classic repertoire in a variety of genres throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Louisville for undergrad studies.
Nicolas Epstein
Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Nicolas Epstein, Keyboard and Guitar Instructor, has over a decade of professional experience on both instruments. Having started his career in a contemporary church choir, he has gone on to perform locally and nationally with several Kentucky-based electronic and rock acts such as Bird Dog & His Coyote Gospel Choir, Internet Boyfriend, and fronting his own musical performance project Extra Bros. Along with his time on the stage, Nico has been busy in the studio: recording, producing, and releasing 4 solo albums since 2018 to positive critic reviews. Combined with his extensive stage and studio expertise is a strong grasp of musical theory and its relation to improvisation and songwriting. Nico also has classical experience in marching band as a part of the front ensemble (pit), and orchestral experience as part of a percussion ensemble.
Andy Burns
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Andrew “Andy'' Burns is an experienced vocalist and pianist, and consummate performer. Andy’s professional resume includes working as a performer with Holland America Cruise Line through Billboard Onboard, as well as musicals for Bigfork Summer Playhouse in Montana and a Rock Country Show “Totally Live” in Sandusky OH. Andy has also performed dozens of gigs as a solo entertainer and as part of “dueling” piano combos, represented by the national talent agency “Felix and Fingers.” Andy also has experience teaching, both privately and as a vocal captain and instructor of children’s workshops and musicals for Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio. He gained his musical “chops” early performing in church choirs and in high school choir and musicals. Andy holds a degree in Musical Theatre from Northern Kentucky University and is originally from Lexington.
Natalie Minton
Vocal Teacher
Natalie Minton holds a BA in Vocal Music from the University of Kentucky and is currently pursuing a second degree in Music Therapy from the University of Louisville. She is an experienced performer with a background in opera and musical theater, having performed in productions with the UK Opera Theatre, The Schmidt Opera Outreach Program and multiple community theaters around Louisville, including TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana and Acting Against Cancer. Natalie also has professional experience working with preschool children. Natalie’s teaching philosophy focuses on healthy vocal production that is founded in proper technique, self-awareness; fostering creativity in daily life; and recognizing & celebrating the individuality of your own voice.
Brehnan Miller
Assistant Music Director, Drum Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Brehnan Miller, Assistant Music Director, Drum and Keys Instructor, has been a percussionist for more than 20 years, with experience in a variety of music styles and ensembles. His well-rounded music career has included performance, recording, composition and teaching. Brehnan holds a degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Louisville. Over the years, he has worked with many different groups from Americana to fusion jazz, to prog rock to top 40. Today, he’s working on a variety of collaborative projects, as well as composing his own work. In addition to teaching at the School of Rock.
Jeremy Rochman
Drum Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Jeremy is a guitarist and drummer from Louisville, Ky. and teaches both instruments here at the School of Rock. Since his childhood he has been immersed in music through early childhood music programs, family jam sessions, and tons of shows. At the age of 13, Jeremy formed the band Anemic Royalty with his friends and the band has been going strong since. Anemic Royalty has played shows at all sorts of venues, whether they are basements to massive music festivals. Jeremy also studies jazz percussion at the University of Louisville. Jeremy always brings positive energy to his lessons (and lots of it!) and he is committed to providing a fun, easygoing, and informative learning environment to all of his students.
Carter Scofield
Guitar Teacher
Carter Scofield, Guitar Instructor, brings 13 years of playing and performance experience to School of Rock, including extensive training in the jazz and rock genres, as well as music theory. Currently studying Jazz Performance Guitar at the University of Louisville, Carter is a 4-time School of Rock National All-Star and ranked among the top 1% of School of Rock’s 50,000 students worldwide. While with the All Stars, Carter went on 4 national tours, performing live at Red Rocks, Austin City Limits, Riotfest, Lollapalooza, MoPop, Summerfest and dozens of professional venues throughout the country. He also played lead guitar in a Chicago rock band for 3 years, recording EPs and headlining the House of Blues. He also has experience playing in orchestra pits and show choir bands. He currently performs professionally as a solo artist, songwriter and with local Louisville jazz ensembles.