Hayden Donahoo Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Hayden Donahoo is a young and upcoming guitarist from Raleigh, North Carolina with over 11 years of playing experience in a wide variety of genres, in everything from jazz, neo-classical shred, blues, pop and classic rock, to more modern styles of rock and progressive metal. While residing in Raleigh, Hayden, was enthusiastically involved as the guitarist in the traveling jazz ensemble at Heritage High School. Being involved in such a fun, enriching experience only made his love and dream of playing music strengthen and grow to much greater heights. Early on as a middle school student he started taking interest in more guitar-centric music, taking to players that were renowned for their advanced technique with rhythm and lead playing. Some of these influences included Mark Tremonti of Creed/Alter Bridge, John Petrucci of Dream Theater, Jason Richardson, Paul Gilbert and Rusty Cooley. Attempting to learn these styles of music sent him down a fun musical journey with its respective ups and downs. In the summers, he had a practice regimen that lasted up to six hours a day to gain proficiency in alternate picking, sweep picking, legato and tapping. These were among some of the advanced techniques he poured so much time into to further develop his playing. As music and guitar continued to play a prominent role in his life, he set off to Atlanta after graduating high school to attend The Atlanta Institute of Music and Media to further pursue his music dream. At AIMM he spent two years earning a degree studying music theory, guitar performance and audio engineering. Since then he has played in a touring corporate/formal event band throughout 2019, is active playing around the Atlanta area and is a guitar teacher and bass guitar teacher at School of Rock West Cobb.
Rachel Johnson Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Piano Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher
Rachel Johnson is an Atlanta singer/songwriter and independent recording artist who began her musical career in musical theatre when she was five. She began singing in choirs by the age of six, at the age of seven began piano lessons and began playing the guitar at the age of eight. She continued to perform in musical theatre, choirs and acapella groups. Rachel is classically trained in voice as well as in pop music. She also learned to play drums and ukulele. She is currently a student at Kennesaw State University majoring in Media Entertainment in the communication program, with a certificate in Music Entertainment Business. When she isn’t teaching music, Rachel spends her time writing music and performing. Rachel is also an independent recording artist, has toured in the US and England, and has some of her music on different streaming platforms. Some of the venues she has performed in include London’s legendary Troubadour Club. She recently completed US festival dates in Los Angeles, Indiana and Atlanta. Rachel was asked to join Skillet and Hollyn to play at the Rock the World Music Festival. She started writing songs at the age of 13, and her first single, "Undefeated," was released on iTunes in 2015. She has worked with Grammy-nominated producer Nick Chawala (Bravo Ocean Music), her mentor and artist Prisca, producer Rich Veltrop (Pink, Tom Petty, Rage Against the Machine), and with producer Glenn Sawyer who runs The Spot Studios in Denver, Colorado. She is a guitar teacher, bass guitar teacher, drum teacher, piano teacher and vocal teacher at School of Rock West Cobb.
Colby Kuzontkoski Drum Teacher
Colby is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance. At UMass he studied under professors Peter Tanner, Eduardo Leandro, Ayano Kataoka and Thomas Hannum. During his time at UMass he studied performance practice in all forms including contemporary chamber music, solo repertoire, new music and traditional percussion ensemble. He also extensively studied the art of arranging for percussion in the form of marimba ensembles, percussion ensembles, marching ensembles and marimba bands. He has published an article on the application of articulations in percussion called: “The Percussion Techniques Style Guide: Connecting the Arranger Coach and Performer.” Published in the Percussive Arts Society journal: Percussive Notes (2009). Vol. 47, No. 5, pp. 38, 40-41. For the last fifteen years Colby has had the great opportunity to write for and teach competitive percussion ensembles around the country. He has also taught and given clinics at numerous schools throughout the country. Including Thom Hannum’s Mobile Percussion Seminar in Amherst MA, University of Alabama, University of Massachusetts, University of New Haven, Marcus High School, Harrison High School, King Philip High School among others. Each program achieved national awards such as the Subtler Flag, BOA Grand National championships and WGI percussion championships.
Colby is an experienced drum set player having studied with Boston favorite Bob Gullotti for three years, attended two Berklee 5 Week Summer Performance Programs in Boston and has performed extensively in jazz and GB bands throughout the Northeast. He has also recorded several albums and toured with bands including award winning metal band Under Falling Skies and Dave Matthews Band tribute Satellite.
James Lyon Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher, Drum Teacher
James has been performing guitar for twelve years and has honed the craft of live musicianship. He studied at the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media where he graduated on the honor roll. James also works as a recording engineer across studios in Atlanta and knows the in’s and out’s of the local music industry. He has been teaching guitar and bass guitar for four years and beginner piano for two years.
Jordan Martin Bass Guitar Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Singing Teacher
Jordan is a guitarist, bassist, and vocalist who is a student of the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media (AIMM). He has been involved in many bands, projects, and musical endeavors. Top of his class at AIMM, Jordan takes pride in knowing he has much to offer in terms of musical lessons. He has been teaching guitar, bass, and vocals for 4 years. He also has an extensive background and training in music through his musical family, being in band and choir classes all throughout his schooling, and of course, through pursuing his degree in Music Performance and Technology. He loves working with kids, and enjoys making his lessons a fun learning environment! Jordan is a Bass, Vocals and Guitar teacher at School of Rock West Cobb.
Paul La Duca Drum Teacher
Paul is a professional drummer who graduated at the top of his class at the Atlanta Institute of Music. He has been playing drums since he was 3 years old. Now 22, he has been teaching and gigging for years and offers a great and personable learning experience. He enjoys working with kids and seeing their progression with the material that is learned at the school!
Abby Bentley Singing Teacher, Keyboard Teacher
Abby has been singing and performing for almost 15 years. She has a BFA in musical theatre from Reinhardt University. She has worked to learn every role required to put on a show from backstage to onstage and beyond. She loves teaching and inspiring the next generation of performers!
Evan Wollman Drum Teacher
Evan is from Columbia, South Carolina and began playing drums in his teens. He started taking private lessons for drums in the 8th grade, which continued through high school and after. As well as drums, Evan also has studied piano independently since high school. After high school, Evan attended The Midlands Technical institute, for a certification in Audio Engineering. After completing his certification at Midlands Technical Institute, he spent several years performing and recording with local rock, blues and funk bands.
As of recently Evan is currently attending The Atlanta Institute of Music and Media, majoring in Drum performance and Audio Engineering. As well as attending AIMM, He actively gigs, playing with local cover and original bands as well as churches. Over the years Evan has taken influence from drummers such as Ginger Baker, John Bonham, Nate Smith, Marco Minnemann, Dan Mayo and many others. Nowadays Evan approaches drumming with a strong emphasis in technique, groove and rudiments, teaching his students how to be the strong back bone in their bands.
Chelsea Carboni Singing Teacher
Chelsea is a singer-songwriter and musician out of Atlanta. She has been working for 5 years teaching young, aspiring musicians about vocal technique, basic music theory, and ear training.
Alex Deen Keyboard Teacher, Drum Teacher
Alex attends Kennesaw State University (KSU) and is a member of the Honors College. Alex is a music minor studying jazz piano in the KSU School of Music. In the 2020 / 2021 school year, Alex was pianist with the KSU Jazz I Ensemble, and he was pianist with the KSU Jazz II Ensemble during the 2019 / 2020 school year. At the age of five, Alex began taking piano lessons which he continued throughout high school studying with Kimberli Kangas. In college, Alex studies jazz piano with Tyrone Jackson, performs with the Jazz I Ensemble under direction of Sam Skelton, and performed with the Jazz II Ensemble under direction of Wes Funderbunk along with the KSU Percussion Ensemble under direction of John Lawless. Throughout the years, Alex has performed piano solos at Due West United Methodist Church along with group performances with the KSU Jazz I and II Ensembles and Harrison High School Jazz I Ensemble along with the Harrison High School Wind Ensemble, accompanied the Due West United Methodist Church Youth Choir on summer tour, played synthesizer and marimba with the Harrison High School Marching Band during various competitions through the Bands of America program that included receipt of a Grand National Award in 2015 while playing synthesizer, played vibraphone and marimba with the Harrison High School Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and played vibraphone for the World Class Percussion Ensemble Group (Atlanta Quest) during the 2019 / 2020 indoor WGI percussion competition season. Alex also is a certified professional lifeguard with training through the American Red Cross in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use of an automated external defibrillator. Alex has enjoyed volunteer work with Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Program along with the Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine Special Needs Prom. Alex is excited to be part of the teaching staff at the West Cobb School of Rock.