School of Rock continues its international growth with a newly signed master franchise agreement for Germany. The deal marks another major milestone in the brand’s European expansion strategy and will bring a minimum of 35 new School of Rock locations to communities across Germany over the next 12 years.
The agreement has been awarded to Dominik Ueblacker and Bill Cole, shareholders of Stein & Semmel GmbH – a name that fittingly translates to “Rock and Roll” in German. Their company plans to open the first school by the end of 2025 in Munich, with long-term plans to establish a presence in every major German market.
“Germany is a natural next step for our European growth, not only because of its deep cultural ties to music, including the Beatles’ early performances in Hamburg, but because we continue to see strong international demand for our transformative music education program,” said Stacey Ryan, President of School of Rock. “Dominik and Bill bring a powerful combination of entrepreneurial drive, local insight, and a genuine passion for our mission, and we are thrilled to partner with them to introduce School of Rock to students and families across Germany.”
Bill Cole, a native of Ontario, Canada, has spent his career launching start-ups and leading innovation teams across continents before settling in Munich. A lifelong musician, Bill grew up in a musical household, started playing guitar at a young age, and still performs in a band with his wife, Bea.
“I come from a very musical family,” said Cole. “By the time I was my son Phinn’s age, I was already an avid and passionate guitar player. I still play in a band with my amazing wife, Bea, and I have always been inspired by my sister, Joanne, who has made an incredible career in the music industry. With School of Rock Germany, I hope to give young musicians the same life-changing opportunities I had – building confidence, friendships, and creative expression through the magic of playing music together.”
School of Rock is actively seeking further expansion opportunities internationally.
Learn MoreBorn and raised in Munich, Dominik Ueblacker brings a strong background in business, technology, and community impact, as well as first-hand experience of the local market, to this venture. After studying political science and economics, he spent years leading digital product development teams for top international clients and co-founded a mobile app development company. Today, he continues to work with global organizations such as PwC and Accenture Song while also serving as the voluntary president of a local sports club in his hometown, south of Munich.
“School of Rock Germany allows me to combine my professional experience with my passion for youth development,” said Ueblacker. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to bring this inspiring concept to life in my home country and give more young people the opportunity to grow through music.”
The agreement was officially signed on March 25 at Youth Enrichment Brands’ (YEB) headquarters in San Rafael, California. Cole and his wife, Bea, joined YEB CEO Justin Hoeveler in person, while Ueblacker participated virtually from Munich.
This announcement follows the recent milestone of School of Rock opening its 400th franchise location in Reno, Nevada. The Germany master franchise agreement marks the latest step in the brand’s accelerating European expansion, which currently includes schools in Spain, Portugal, and Ireland, with a new location set to open in London later this year under a separate UK master agreement.
As School of Rock continues to scale globally, its commitment to delivering high-impact music education through performance-based learning remains at the core of its success. From guitar and bass to drums, piano, and vocals, students learn through iconic rock songs and are empowered to take the stage with confidence.
“Bill and Dominik are the partners we look for when we consider big new growth opportunities,” said Hoeveler. “They’re passionate about the mission and inspiring in their vision to transform music education in Germany. We are thrilled to be starting this journey with them!”