Michael Pierce Guitar Teacher
Michael Pierce is a guitar teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. He has been playing guitar from a young age, and has been actively performing and teaching since 2012. Michael graduated from Aquinas College in 2017 with a degree in Classical Guitar Performance, and he has studied with many world-class guitarists. Michael currently performs and tours with the rock band Conrad Shock and The Noise, and soul-pop band August. He also plays solo classical guitar for weddings, corporate parties and private events all around West Michigan.
Tommy McCord Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Tommy McCord is a Lansing-based musician with nearly two decades of performing, recording and touring experience. At School of Rock East Lansing Tommy is a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher. Tommy has toured the continental US, Mexico and Canada multiple times as a guitarist and singer in the bands The Plurals and Drinking Mercury, and has overseen over 100 independent music releases as a co-founder of the record label GTG Records. Tommy also has experience as both a live sound and recording engineer and can be found behind the mixing desk at venues like Mac's Bar, The Avenue Cafe and the studio space for GTG Records.
Mandy Waltz Drum Teacher
Mandy Waltz is a drum teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. Mandy started drumming when she was 10 years old, and did drum line, jazz band and orchestral band throughout high school, but had the most fun when playing with her friends in rock bands. In 2014, she graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Writing and Communication, again finding she had the most fun playing in rock bands with her friends. Since then she has toured all over the US, Canada, Mexico, the UK and continental Europe, and is looking to do even more with her main band, Rodeo Boys.
Kait Wilson Vocal Instructor, Piano Teacher
Kait Wilson is a vocal instructor and piano teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. She was born and raised in Green Bay, WI. Kait received her Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, where she music directed "Miss Saigon" and "The King and I." Kait spent some time on the east coast, working in professional theaters such as the Peterborough Players. In Lansing, Kait is the music director for the Blue Light Players.
Sarah Wallace Singing and Keyboard Teacher
Sarah Wallace is a vocal instructor and piano teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. Sarah started performing at the age of 3 and began her professional career at the age of 5 as Caroline Kennedy in Accidentally Exalted for Kenneth Robbins Opera Company, St. Paul, MN. She has a BA in Music – Vocal Performance from ORU in Tulsa, OK and has since become a member of the professional Actors’ Equity Association.
Being a native to Lansing, she has performed at the Okemos Barn Theatre, Civic Theatre, Boarshead Theatre, and at Dart Auditorium. Throughout her career she has appeared in a myriad of roles in musical theatre, plays and operas, throughout the Midwest, New York Metropolitan area and southern states and presently sings in cameo roles in other states, countries, and throughout the state of Michigan.
Kayla Torres Keyboard Teacher, Singing Teacher
Kayla Torres is a vocal and keyboard instructor at the School of Rock East Lansing. Kayla started lessons in 6th/7th grade with flute, bassoon, piano, and voice.
She has a Bachelor's in Music Performance which she received at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI and a Masters in Music Performance from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Native from California, she has performed with many groups including wind ensembles, orchestras, small ensembles, quartets, and trios. Her passion is music and pushing the boundaries of "normality". She loves playing electronic bassoon and jazz bassoon.
Alex Everdeen Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Alex Everdeen is a guitar, bass, and drum instructor at School of Rock East Lansing. He picked up his first guitar when he was 10 years old and still has a hard time putting it down. Over the years, he picked up French Horn, drums, bass guitar, trombone, trumpet, and saxophone. He received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Michigan State University and has performed with many prestigious ensembles, such as the MSU Wind Symphony and the Spartan Marching Band. He is an avid musician with a passion for finding the newest cool sounds.
Blaire Windom Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Blaire is a keys instructor and voice teacher at School of Rock East Lansing. She was introduced to music by her father at a very young age, began performing in the church at age seven, and has since developed a passion for music. She graduated from the Detroit School of Fine and Performing Arts High School, focusing on voice. In her high school career she performed at Carnegie Hall, the Detroit Jazz Festival, numerous solo and ensemble festivals, and many church performances. She went on to continue her studies at Claflin University in South Carolina, majoring in Music Performance with a minor in Sociology. She graduated with honors and top of her music class upon completing her senior recital and senior thesis. While there, she starred in theater productions "The Dance on Widows' Row" by Samm-Art Williams, "Carmen Jones" by Oscar Hammerstein II, Handel's "Messiah", and numerous student composition recitals. She also traveled to Bulgaria and performed in Puccini's "Suor Angelica".
Joey Essenburg Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Joey Essenburg is a Lansing-based musician and educator, and teaches drums and bass guitar at School of Rock East Lansing. He is also currently in his student teaching internship at Grand Ledge High School where he works with a wide variety of instrumentation and finds value in students discovering their own musicianship. Originally starting on French Horn, Joey first became interested in drumming watching his older brother play in the marching band of his hometown Jenison, Michigan and picked up his first kit soon after. Joey has performed with many prestigious ensembles such as the MSU Wind Symphony, Spartan Marching Band, and The Bluecoats.