Jared Casstevens
General Manager / Music Director
Jared grew up in the Bay Area, where he began his musical journey by taking piano lessons at his elementary school. At age 12 he picked up a guitar and it was love at first sight. His first teacher gave him the tools to learn and play his favorite songs by ear, a skill he would continue to hone over the next 25 years. His next teacher brought Jared back to the fundamentals, teaching him the scales and techniques that would further develop his style and dramatically enhance his playing. He formed a short lived Ska band as a freshman in high school and then moved on to start a pop-punk quartet with his brother Ryan on Drums. He played his first live shows and recorded his first EP with this group, and developed a passion for songwriting and performance.
Years later, Jared became a founding member of the Sacramento Rock band Smirker, a band whose influences include The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana, Ween and many others. Jared began as the band's bassist and quickly developed a fondness for the instrument. Smirker, whose shows were composed of both cover songs and originals, played frequent gigs in the greater Sacramento area and went on to record their own EP. Jared brings over 25 years of guitar playing and over 15 years of performance experience to School of Rock Sacramento, and looks forward to continuing his musical journey there for years to come.
Angel Alvarez
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Angel Alvarez began his musical journey with the purchase of his first album in 1982 of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." He immediately begged his parents for piano lessons and, although short-lived, these lessons solidified his yearn to be a musician. High school choirs tuned his voice but it wasn't until he got his first guitar as a junior that he finally found his calling. During his 13-year stint as the lead singer and guitarist for the Bay Area band Mystic Rage, he worked to get his bachelor's degree in studio recording and sound design. Additionally, he played in countless venues in California and Nevada, opening for bands like Slayer, Slipknot, Blue Oyster Cult, etc. He became the guitarist and one of the main songwriters for the band A Million Exploding Suns. After this project ended Angel decided to finally form the band he has always wanted. Now in a new band, Zero Day Threat, he has 100% creative control. Angel brings over 20 years of combined experience in performing, writing, engineering and teaching to School of Rock and is passionate about imparting his knowledge and experience to the next generation.
Ian McDonald
Drum Teacher
Enamored with the bombastic energy of punk rock from an early age, Ian started tapping along with Green Day’s “Dookie” and “Smash” by The Offspring on whatever he could. Over time, the tapping snowballed into a practice pad and a pair of sticks, to lessons with an industry veteran, to the drum kit, and four years in the high school drum line.
Two decades later, that punk rock energy, ethos, and enthusiasm have influenced his playing in a number of groups across genres, ranging from a little bit of time on the road with a hardcore band to the more introspective, indie rock feel of his current project - Vinnie Guidera & the Dead Birds.
Monique Horyza
Keyboard Teacher
Monique Horyza was born a natural keyboardist and music lover. Before she could read, she could play piano. She began Classical piano lessons with a private instructor at the age of 4. By age 16 she joined a local pop rock band and was introduced to the culture of playing live music. It only took one show for her to know that playing keys live on stage was her calling! Studying at Musicians Institute was the next step for Monique to hone her skills. Graduating top of her class in 2011 with an Associate’s Degree in Keyboard Technology, she is now a professional-level keyboardist with the ability to play keys and piano in any genre or style of music. At advanced levels she understands music theory, composition, live sound, digital music, music production and music directing.
Monique has played keys live and in studio recording sessions for multiple artists in Los Angeles. For two years she also wrote, produced, and released her own music while working with a drummer in a band they called Adequate. In December 2021, Monique was hired at School of Rock as a Keyboard Instructor and Music Director for Rock 101. She says: "The incredibly talented souls that come to our school never ceases to amaze me. Watching them achieve bliss from music from beyond their time is so pure, and is certainly something I am glad to be able to help share with the world."
Yacine Ofoe
Drum Teacher
Yacine has been playing drums for 23 years. He started learning at 8 years old and took lessons for 3 years. His enthusiasm for drums led him to learn so quickly that his teacher told him there wasn’t much left to teach him. So he continued to build up his drum skills on his own while listening and playing along to all of his favorite bands. Starting with pop punk and moving on to hardcore, screamo, and metal. He started his first band at 12 years old with middle school friends covering The Misfits songs and playing house shows. After high school, he started a melodic hardcore band with his brother and closest friends. They were signed to a small label after their 2nd show, toured California, and recorded an album. Yacine has played in dozens of bands and played hundreds of shows/concerts throughout his career. He has been teaching for School of Rock Elk Grove since 2017 and is excited to be teaching at the new Sacramento location as well!
Maddy Vine
Singing Teacher
Maddy is a recent college graduate and current masters student. During her undergraduate studies, she majored in voice per her music scholarship requirement which she applied for on a whim. Participating in choir, jazz ensembles, and as a classical soloist, Maddy was introduced to a multitude of vocal new genres. Here she fell in love with the Estill vocal method of training which focuses on anatomy and physiology of the voice. This method has allowed her to have free stylistic range with her voice and performances throughout her time in college. This method also allowed her to protect her voice and left her with a knowledge of how to isolate certain vocal mechanisms to produce any sound desired. After graduation, Maddy was unsure of the next steps on her journey in life until she stumbled into School of Rock out of curiosity and found how gratifying it is to pass on the love of singing and making music for the world.
Adam Allas
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher, Ukulele Teacher
Adam began playing guitar at 17 and within a few years was writing songs and recording demos at his home in
San Diego, California. As his skills increased he began collaborating with other musicians and experimenting
with different musical styles. For several years he operated a home-based project studio, producing and
recording rock, indie, and underground hip-hop music with a number of local artists. During this time he also
learned live sound and technical theater while working at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. Later
Adam began working with young children, teaching music fundamentals and performing in preschools and
classrooms. He rediscovered the thrill of performing and joined a few tribute and cover bands before finding his
home with local cover band The Deviant Strays as their sole guitarist.
Adam has experience in blues, funk, soul, country, folk, bluegrass, and Hawaiian slack-key music, but classic
rock is and always was his main inspiration. He hopes to pass on his love of music to the next generation of rockers!
Alex Bosson
Drum Teacher
Alex Bosson knew from an early age that being a drummer was all he wanted to be in life. He started drumming at the age of 13, taking private lessons for about six months until branching out on his own and playing throughout high school and beyond in local death metal bands and touring around the western United States. When he was 21 years old, Alex had slipped discs in his spine which threatened to end his playing days. It was not a fate he was willing to accept and after multiple surgeries, other procedures, and lots of physical therapy over five years, Alex was finally well enough to get behind the kit again.
He formed the progressive metal project, Lunar, with his long-time friend, Ryan Erwin. Lunar is inspired by acts such as Opeth, Devin Townsend, and Tool, and they are working on their upcoming third full-length album. Alex is also the drummer of Helion Prime. In between playing with both bands, Alex teaches and performs in studio sessions.
Anthony Forcione
Guitar Teacher
Anthony, also known by his stage name, “Antwon Vinnie,” is a Sacramento artist and musician. He has many passions and interests including but not limited to skateboarding, filmmaking, rock climbing, building things, making hats, solving Rubik’s Cubes, and of course, music. Anthony was introduced to music by his older brother and became obsessed with AC/DC. Inspired to want to learn the guitar, he was gifted a red Epiphone SG. His brother taught him the basics, and his Uncle Vin from Canada taught him to play the blues in E.
Later on, Anthony made the transition to the piano, performing at his school's talent shows and jazz band. Eventually, he discovered a love for hip-hop and expressing his thoughts and feelings through rap. Anthony taught himself the art of lyricism and beat-making. Since then he has released many singles, a mixtape, a self-produced EP, and three self-produced full-length albums.
After nine years of rapping, Anthony decided it was time to chase his long-time dream of playing in a rock band. He teamed up with some good friends and formed the band Pet Elephant and their debut album will release soon. Though Anthony suffers from a neurological disease called MS, he doesn’t let it slow him down one bit when it comes to doing the things he loves to the max. Anthony is excited to begin his teaching career at School of Rock in Sacramento, CA, and is not only excited to teach new students but to learn from them as well and strengthen his love for music.
Sierra Aldrich
Studio Coordinator, Singing Teacher
Sierra is originally from the East Bay Area but grew up in Sacramento for most of her life. Sierra has been in love with singing ever since she watched Phantom of the Opera for the first time at 8 years old. This slowly opened her up to discovering more musical theater and finding her voice in music. In recent years, Sierra has really focused all of her energy on her passion for singing. She was self-taught for most of her teenage years but has been trained in operatic singing since the age of 19, and has continued her vocal journey in the Broadway/Musical Theater genre with other instructors over the years. Sierra's main goal in teaching is to help each person find confidence in their own voice and be able to express themselves freely through their singing. Now Sierra is able to immerse herself into her passion while working as a singing teacher here at School of Rock!
Daegan Buckner
Bass Guitar Teacher, Drum Teacher
Daegan began their musical journey over a decade ago, with the gift of a bass guitar. Immediately, they flocked to the stylistic approaches of Les Claypool, Flea, Justin Chancellor, and Victor Wooten. After a short while, Daegan took an avid interest in percussion as well. A hand-me-down drum set and practice pad granted them the ability to begin their percussive journey. Nearly 7 years later, Daegan is now a competent drummer, taking influence from the likes of Benny Greb, Danny Carey, Neil Peart, Larnell Lewis, Sarah Thawer, and many more. Daegan holds a deep passion for music and strives to bring the same drive and enthusiasm into each lesson.