Cody Carr General Manager
Cody comes to School of Rock Columbia from a diverse musical and leadership background. He has studied the guitar, piano and voice for over 20 years. He studied Music Education at Towson University for three years and has performed with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and at Carnegie Hall. Cody believes that positivity is the key to success and that you can achieve your dreams if you dedicate yourself to them. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors, spending time with his wife, and being a fur-dad to his two dogs and four cats.
Arnold Gottlieb Music Director
Arnold S. Gottlieb is a bassist, guitarist, and actually plays the tuba. In New York City, he substituted in the Broadway Orchestra’s of ‘Wicked’, ‘Avenue Q’, ‘A Chorus Line’, ‘Chicago’, and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’. His tours have brought him to 49 US states and all through Europe.
In 2019, ‘Sufferin’ Moses’, of which he is a long term member, won ‘best blues act’ in Charleston SC.
He can be heard on recordings by; Sufferin’ Moses, Forty Mile Detour, Andy Germak, Ken Beasley and others. He’s been seen on ‘The Fox Morning Show’ in New York, and if you look closely, you might see him and his upright bass on ‘Southern Charm’.
Siobhan Beckett Singing Teacher
Siobhan Beckett is an actor, singer, makeup artist and arts educator living and working in the Baltimore area. Siobhan studied Theatre with a special concentration in Acting at Towson University and graduated with her Bachelors in 2011. Siobhan is a freelance performer and vocalist, with vocal experience ranging from opera and musical theater to pop, acoustic, rock and metal vocals. Siobhan is comfortable singing anything from Italian arias and show tunes, to Adele and Janis Joplin. Siobhan focuses on "Alexander Technique" with her students, proper posture, breathing and diaphragm work. She encourages energy, imagination, individuality and finding your own inner rock star. Siobhan specializes in hard rock and unclean vocal styling and stage presence techniques.
Randolph Gardner Drum Teacher
Mr. Randolph Gardner Sr. has been involved in music for twenty-eight years. After exploring music at the age of three he began playing on an advanced level and received his first music position playing drums for the youth and young adult choir of The Good Shepherd Baptist Church located in Baltimore City at the age of five. Randolph continued his music study throughout elementary, middle and high school playing for the various instrumental music and vocal choral ensembles. Randolph attended the historic Frederick Douglass Senior High School in Baltimore, MD as a music major in The Cab Calloway Music Careers Program under the Direction of David C. Burton Jr. As a student he embarked on many great opportunities such as playing for Baltimore's own jazz singer the late great Ethel Ennis, playing for the late great Whit Williams and his jazz band, playing for world renowned saxophonist Gary Bartz, playing for Chris Calloway grandson of Baltimore's own the late great Cab Calloway, and being awarded the first recipient of the Baltimore Jazz Alliance Scholarship in 2009.
Since high school Randolph entered the Baltimore City Public School System, where he returned to Frederick Douglass High School and obtained the position as the Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor for seven years, and one year as the Acting Band Director. Randolph has also established his own band "The RoseGold Experience" and had the privilege to play for the various Mayors and former President Barack Obama at the White House for the 2016 Mayors Conference. In the spring of 2019 Randolph crossed the burning sands and was birthed into the brotherhood of Mu Phi Sigma National Percussion Fraternity Inc. This musical journey has not only increased his love for music, but it has also increased his ambition to service various communities and educate others through music!
Kevin Goren Drum Teacher
Kevin Goren is a drummer from Baltimore, MD specializing in playing a variety of styles of music such as rock, jazz, latin, pop, metal, reggae, and funk. He has been performing professionally in the Baltimore music scene for 6 years and toured nationally across the country with Stacked Like Pancakes for between 2016-2018.
Kevin studied percussion at an early age and received an award and scholarship for Outstanding Achievement in Music. In 2020, he graduated from Towson University, majoring in Business with a minor in Jazz Performance. He has trained with Matt Halpern, a grammy nominated drum performer and nominated as Best Metal Drummer in Modern Drummer magazine, Chris Pierorazio, a Jazz performer from the Peabody Institute and currently studies with Frank Russo, a percussion professor at TU.
As a teacher, Kevin specializes in reading music, and applying rudimental concepts to the drum set, as well as giving his students a well rounded education in all styles and techniques. Each lesson Kevin provides will be accommodated towards the student's specific goals.
Currently, Kevin can be found performing with Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon, who reached #6 on the 2019 season of American Idol.
Taylor Hitaffer Little Wing and Rookies Director
Taylor Hitaffer is a believer in the power of LOVE and MUSIC! She is an arts administrator and educator who began her career at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, working for the American College Theater Festival and Theatre for Young Audiences. She is a graduate of Towson University's Theatre Arts Department and a certified ChildLight Yoga & Mindfulness for Children instructor. Taylor has been director of School of Rock Columbia’s early music appreciation series, Little Wing and Rookies, since 2018.
Gabrielle Gilbert Singing Teacher
Gabrielle Gilbert is a University of Maryland student studying both classical voice performance and hearing and speech studies. These dueling areas of focus have given her the perspective to incorporate both scientific vocal techniques, as well as artistic techniques into her teaching method. She is involved with local art groups as well, performing both opera and musical theatre in the area, as well as being president and founder of 32 Bars, a musical theatre organization at UMD. She utilizes her classical technique and large ensemble experience to be both an effective voice instructor, but also band instructor and emphasizes both musicianship and intention, working to bring on those elements together to allow her students to become captivating performers.
Eric Mann Singing Teacher
Eric Mann considers music a hobby and a passion. Eric has been playing guitar for 8 years and is currently in school at University of Maryland studying vocal performance and music education. Eric has been playing in pop punk/metal bands since junior year of high school as well as written a fair share of original music, and has been invited to play gigs at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Eric has sung with the UMD Chamber singers in places like Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.
Eric considers music one of life’s greatest pleasures and is excited to teach a new generation of musicians, help people discover it for the first time, maybe rekindle a lost flame.
Kathy Stanley Singing and Keyboard Teacher
Kathleen Stanley is a professional keyboard player and singer with experience in many different bands and musical groups since the age of 17, and is a coordinator of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Washington DC chapter. She also plays guitar and ukulele.
She currently plays keyboards and sings lead and harmonies in three groups in the DC area: two classic rock/variety bands, and an oldies duo. She’s previously played venues in San Diego, Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Alaska and Calgary, Canada, sharing the stage with many amazing musicians.
Kathleen is also a songwriter and independent artist. She plays showcases in the DC area, and has attended numerous NSAI song camps, coordinator training sessions and workshops in Nashville; has also pitched songs to publishing companies and secured two single song publishing contracts. She’s recorded her original songs at various studios in Nashville, and her music was featured in Cohesion Theater’s Baltimore performance of Coriolanus by William Shakespeare, and their Political Cabaret.
Mike DeProspo Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher and Drum Teacher
Mike DeProspo is a professional guitarist, bassist, and drummer. He achieved his B.M. Jazz/Commercial Music (Guitar) from Towson University and M.A.T. Music Education from Mount Saint Mary University. He is the lead guitarist for Baltimore-based "Tickle Me Emo" and former lead guitarist for "As If". Mike currently works as an elementary general music teacher for the Baltimore County Public School system. His favorite guitarist is Eddie Van Halen.
Ethan Hanson Drum Teacher
Ethan is a music geek and lover of jazz and progressive rock. He enjoys playing neo-soul, jazz, "in the pocket" funk, and has been blessed to have played alongside Benzel Cowen (George Clinton's current drummer).
Ethan is a college student majoring in jazz and minoring in sound engineering, who loves teaching/jamming out with his students.
Jared Coffin Drum Teacher
Jared is a self-taught drummer and percussionist with almost ten years of experience. His style of playing and teaching is all about finding a balance between technical aspects of drumming, and knowing when to improvise and jam tastefully. Sometimes a song demands that you play something very specific, and other times, it’s more about finding a more laid-back “feel,” without overthinking. Jared also emphasizes the need to listen and know how to serve the song, not just the individual instrument. As Jerry Garcia said - “if you get confused, listen to the music play!
Mike Williams Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher and Drum Teacher
Mike plays guitar, drums, keys, and bass. Mike has been in various bands from marching bands to alternative hard rock bands to heavy metal screamo bands!
Jordan Washington Singing Teacher
Jordan Washington is a native of Columbus, OH. He grew up singing in the Gospel tradition and began his singing life in school choirs and musicals before beginning to study Classical voice privately. Jordan is currently a Senior at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and enjoys singing many styles of music, but specifically has a deep passion for Opera. Along with music, he has deep interest in studying languages and he lived and studied in Italy for a year. There he studied the physiology of the voice and the Italian language. Jordan has had extensive vocal training in Voice production in many styles emphasizing the efficient production of a powerful sound. His teaching is based heavily on scientific principles of the voice and guides his students to find their true voice through a variety of styles without damage. Above all, Jordan loves the singing voice and works to unlock many facets of abilities for any singer.
Jordan is extremely passionate about teaching and working with young people. His own beginnings in music come from great teachers and their guidance and he hopes to be that for his students.
Andy Wright Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Andy Wright grew up in the rock & roll heart of Erie, PA. At age 10, Andy picked up his first guitar, and little did he know that it would be his very first instructor, Eric Brewer (a master guitarist), who would turn out to be one of his biggest musical influences. Though a multi-sport and talented athlete during childhood, his teenage years soon gravitated Andy more toward nearly anything involving music. From high school marching bands, jazz bands and concert bands, to conducting individual
and group “rock band” instruction with kids, Andy had a wide variety of musical experiences, including performing at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. During his senior year, Andy won numerous music awards, including a $10,000
annual writing and music composition scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music.
During his time at Berklee, Andy had a number of significant accomplishments, such as the publication of an article in Fusion (May 2017), along with being chosen to perform at guitar department showcases (2018, 2019) at the Berklee Performance Center. Andy received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music (Contemporary Writing and Production) in 2019. In Andy’s eyes, the guitar is a place where one can really express what’s truly inside and cleanses their inner self. Andy aspires to help students find their inner music soul. To that end, Andy applies a collaborative approach to teaching, which requires both student and teacher to be willing to learn from each other equally. “The best way to teach is to learn from those you are teaching.”
Sage Lewin Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Keyboard Teacher, Drum Teacher
Sage is a musician, recording engineer and multi-instrumentalist. They are proficient in drums, bass, guitar, keys and voice. Currently working on a Bachelors of Music at Ithaca college, They have a deep love of electronic music and recording technology. They apply this technical approach to Their teaching; always striving to explain the process behind a technique or skill. Coming from a recording background They value practice, patience and taking time to get things right.