Gabby
General Manager
Gabriella Garcia is a native Texan, born and raised in East Dallas. At an early age, she started competitive cheerleading and was a Varsity cheerleader throughout her time at Woodrow Wilson High School in Old East Dallas. Her favorite memories of high school are football games, hanging out with her friends, and going to shows!
After high school, Gabby attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She enjoyed school and chose to major in Retail Management. In Gabby’s senior year, she landed an internship with the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She lived in Santa Fe for a semester working with the market, where her work included marketing, social media, finance, and sales. Gabby has now worked with the Folk Art Market locally at Dallas Market Hall during the Home and Garden Market and the Market in Santa Fe. The Folk Art Market is very close to her heart, and she stays involved with the organization as much as possible.
Gabby adores a good sunset accompanied by a sandwich or hotdog. George Harrison is her sunshine, along with David Crosby and John Prine and she will forever dance until the lights turn on.
Milo
Music Director
Milo is a Dallas-raised guitarist. His passion for music began at an early age behind the keyboard. By the age of 9, he had turned his focus to guitar and was playing live at local restaurants and bars. Milo's musical influences have spanned all genres of music, from rock to classical, and even country-western. A well-written song will always get his attention.
Milo attended the W.E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy and played in his middle school Mariachi band for three years and then in his high school jazz band for four years. However, throughout that time Milo’s focus was on developing his own band and writing original music.
Since the age of 12, Milo has played in many local DFW bands and has written original music for guitar, bass, and keys for each. Milo was raised in a musical family, with both his father and grandfather being professional musicians. Under much of their guidance and influence, Milo was raised in full exposure to the music industry. He has played as a studio musician for many local artists, worked as a recording engineer and producer at Sessionworks, and helped write and co-write music for many artists.
Ewan
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Music has always been at the forefront of Ewan's life. Born in Dallas, Texas his earliest musical influences include Eddie Van Halen, Metallica, and Chevelle. When he was 11, Ewan watched a YouTube video of EVH playing "Eruption" live. Shortly thereafter, he picked up the guitar and never put it down.
While his musical roots are in hard rock, Ewan loves all types of music from thrasher metal like Metallica and Megadeth to instrumental prog-rock like Polyphia; there is even some rap and R&B in his mix. Ewan's goal is to help students unlock the meaning and message of any piece of music. For Ewan, teaching and learning are both about exploration, inquiry, and experimentation and he approaches each lesson fully committed to sparking a student's imagination and musical understanding through these principles.
Ewan is passionate about his craft and finds joy in seeing students' ideas develop and being there as they find their own artistic voices. Ewan works to equip his students with practical skills so they can take their creativity and love of music in many directions.
Ewan is currently a member of Cinema for the Blind, a Dallas-based alternative pop band, playing lead guitar. Ewan is a former School of Rock student and an Early High School College graduate. He obtained both his high school diploma from WT High School and his associate's degree from Brookhaven College, simultaneously in 2021.
Sarah
Assistant Music Director
Sarah is an experienced vocalist and performer. Her musical journey began when she started piano lessons at age 6, before expanding into voice and theater. While in high school, Sarah was accepted into the Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts where she studied voice and gained performance experience. Having received her master of music from the Eastman School of Music, Sarah performed significant roles in several main-stage productions during her time there.
Sarah has also performed with Tidewater Opera Initiative, Prague Summer Nights, Symphonicity of Virginia Beach, and OSSIA New Music Ensemble. She has been a featured chanteuse for several noted cabaret troupes and festivals in the northeastern United States. She has also competed and placed in several vocal competitions: the Jesse Kneisel Lieder Competition, the Friends of Eastman Opera Competition, and the Prague Summer Nights Vocal Competition.
Always a travel enthusiast and language lover, Sarah has performed on stages in England, Ireland, Tábor, and Prague. She has used those experiences to study new languages and different styles of music. Sarah loves teaching and performing all kinds of music. She uses her classical background to instill excitement and passion for singing as well as sustainable techniques to develop a well-rounded performer.
Joey
Vocal Teacher, Guitar Teacher
Joey is a musician and teacher with a BS from the University of North Texas. He currently interns at a recording studio and plays at jams at open mics around the DFW area. His favorite artists include Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Robert Johnson, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z.
Joey discovered his passion for music in middle school, when he started taking saxophone lessons, and was introduced to hip-hop and dubstep. He had some knowledge of rock and roll through his dad's iPod and the video game, Rock Band, but his first musical obsession was hip-hop. Artists like Eminem, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne started an obsession that would drive most of his music consumption and creation until college.
Joey began learning how to play guitar through YouTube in 2019. He was influenced by Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance; Kurt Cobain and that performance was the reason Joey began playing guitar. From there influences began to include other relevant '90s alternative rock bands like Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots, Metallica, Pearl Jam, etc. Joey looked into other members of the mysterious 27 Club, Jimi Hendrix, and Robert Johnson, and found that their music also captured something timeless and inexplicable. Joey began exploring the history of rock and roll, received several years of vocal lessons, and traveled to learn music theory as well as foundational piano and drums.
Sammi
Drum Teacher
Sammi Jo Bishop was born near Fort Worth, TX, and started her musical journey in middle school. She cut her teeth as a teen after moving to Jacksonville, FL, drumming and touring the States with popular national acts such as Big Engine. Not long after this period, Sammi Jo was discovered by Tito Larriva of Tito & Tarantula, who is well-known internationally for his songs and musical contributions to such classic films as From Dusk Till Dawn, Desperado, and Machete. Tito mentored and took Sammi all over the world in his touring band.
Now back in her home state of Texas, Sammi is known as one of the go-to musicians in the network of most in-demand musicians/performers in the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. She has played in a number of the most successful tribute, country, and rock acts in Texas and surrounding states.
In 2021, international Southern rock pioneers Jim Dandy and Black Oak Arkansas recruited Sammi into the band which she is still actively a member of. In 2022, she was tapped to fill the vacant drum throne as a full-time member of the long-standing alternative nu-metal band Saliva with whom she is actively touring today.
Sammi has toured the world throughout her career thus far, playing everything from outlaw country, Chicano rock, hip-hop, Southern rock, hard rock, and metal. She is currently endorsed as a brand ambassador for Trick Drums, Scorpion Percussion, Sweet Spots Drum Dampeners, and No Nuts Cymbal Sleeves. Sammi continues to further her career, thrilling audiences all over the world with her entertaining, high-energy live performances and grooving, tasteful playing.
Thomas
Drum Teacher
Thomas began his journey playing drums at age 13. Growing up in the church allowed Thomas early stage time and helped form a love for performing. His signature style was shaped by years of personal drum instruction in various styles from funk to jazz to rock, and playing with different types of musicians allowed him to make his mark on the scene.
Thomas is inspired by John Theodore, Dave Eltitch, and Animal from The Muppets. From teaching swim lessons and coaching gymnastics, Thomas looks to bring his coaching expertise to forming the future of rock.
Vinnie
Drum Teacher
Vinnie is an accomplished and devoted musician with over two decades of musical experience, specializing in the performance of drums and percussion. Having studied music formally throughout his life, Vinnie has studied under many pioneers of drumming such as Mike Portnoy, Thomas Lang, Dave Weckl, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Mike Mangini, and many others. Since 2010, Vinnie has been a music educator teaching theory, application, and performance to all ages and experiences. He joined School of Rock in 2017.
Throughout his life, Vinnie’s dedication to music has afforded him many opportunities to travel and perform overseas and throughout the world. Known for his flashy tricks, aerobatic drumming, silly facial expressions, aggressive attitude onstage, and humble attitude offstage, Vinnie has an adept, yet varying playing style that shifts depending on genre. Having performed with various musical talents throughout his career, Vinnie currently drums in BANSHEE, MYSTERY, HILLBILLY ORCHESTRA and performs locally with DALLAS COOPER and others.
Throughout the years, Vinnie has done a multitude of studio and session work, working alongside reputable producers such as Chris Bell, Charles Godfrey, Dave Chavarri, and JT Longoria just to name a few.
Sophie
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Sophie is a School of Rock alumna and grew up through the program. She started her first rock band at age 12 and has toured across the country singing everything from Chaka Khan to Rage Against the Machine.
Sophie loves manatees and can recite every U.S. president in order. Her musical interests range from Dolly Parton to Bauhaus to Moondog. She is in a punk band called Boring Lauren with other School of Rock alumni including Dalton Rapattoni, Sydney Hefley, and Cat Yeoman.
“I think quotes are very dangerous things.” - Kate Bush
Jasper
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Born in Seattle to a musical family, Jasper Campbell has been surrounded by music and musicians his whole life. Growing up with classical musician parents, Jasper spent much of his youth traveling to music festivals, and attending concerts of all genres.
After trying a few instruments, Jasper began guitar lessons at age 11 after hearing music from Led Zeppelin and the Foo Fighters, and eventually became a School of Rock student at 13, where he found his passion for rock music. During his time as a School of Rock student, Jasper auditioned and made it into his school's House Band and participated in four seasons before graduating from the program. he then began gigging around town with various bands. He recently started an '80s band called The Joysticks, with other instructors from both the Rockwall and McKinney School of Rock locations.
Jasper joined School of Rock in North Dallas as a teacher in 2022 and enjoys teaching and sharing his love of music (especially The Strokes, The Killers, and Muse). When not teaching, he attends the University of Texas at Dallas in the Advanced Technologies and Emerging Communications department working towards an arts degree.
Heath
Vocal Teacher, Keyboard + Piano Teacher
Heath is a singer, songwriter, and teacher from Lubbock, Texas. He has a music education degree from Texas Tech University and an educational leadership degree from Lamar University. Singing was a large part of Heath's family life, school life, and church life. His early influences were DC Talk and Chevelle.
After graduating from Texas Tech, Heath taught in Texas public schools in Plano, Highland Park, and Carrollton. In a way, Heath has developed a school of rock at his current elementary school.
Heath joined School of Rock North Dallas in 2024. His favorite band is Nothing More. Heath releases music on all platforms under the artist name, Edgeface. He is the music teacher at Rosemeade Elementary School in Carrollton, TX. He writes and releases songs and music videos with his students under the artist name Rosemeade Rocks.
Max
Bass Guitar Teacher
Max is a Dallas-based bassist and performer, recognized for his dynamic live shows and unique musical style. Raised in a musical family in Presidio, TX—a vibrant town on the U.S.-Mexico border—Max was immersed in diverse musical influences from an early age, including sounds from across the border. Both of his parents were band directors, and Max joined their family band on bass as soon as he was old enough, also performing in a mariachi band alongside his sister, where he plays the guitarron.
Max's grandfather was a significant musical influence, introducing him to his first music festival and concerts during his teens. One of Max's favorite venues is Deep Ellum Art Company in Dallas, where he has seen and performed alongside some of his favorite bands and artists. Known for his passion for live music and his energetic stage presence, Max continues to connect with audiences and share his love of music across Texas and beyond.
William Dunnill
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
William is a guitarist, singer/songwriter, and educator born and raised in north Dallas. He initially became interested in guitar-based music at the age of 8 when he was introduced to the Guitar Hero video game. Soon thereafter, William became infatuated with guitar greats including Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, Angus Young, David Gilmour, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Carlos Santana, Mark Knopfler, Billy Gibbons, and the list goes on and on…
William received a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA in music business from the University of North Texas. He is just as passionate about teaching and education as he is about rock and roll music.
William currently leads a DFW-based southern rock band called Willy and the Wildcards that has been described by fans as equal parts psychedelic rock and outlaw country. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter of the group. William hopes to help anyone and everyone find their own liberating voice through musical expression and collaboration with others at the School of Rock.