Bree Taylor
Singing Teacher
For Bree, singing, writing and performing were built into her DNA. She was born to James Taylor songs in the delivery room, and by the age of six, she was already exhibiting signs of being a musician. Despite her hearing impairment from childhood, she found her voice among choirs, eventually making her way to a recording studio in her teens.
Bree hasn't let her hearing loss hold her back from going after her dreams. She is the epitome of resilience, and has made a career for herself as a country superstar, known for her upbeat music. With powerhouse vocals and high energy stage performance, she blends a country sound with pop and rock influences.
Bree has trained with vocal coach to the stars, Bob Garrett and Lorraine Lawson from ‘The Launch’. As a multiply nominated country artist, she just won Mississauga Music’s FAN CHOICE AWARD 2022, and released her debut album “DAUNTLESS” that listens like pages of her personal diary. Bree is excited to bring her experience and musical background to School of Rock Streetsville and to work with and inspire local artists.
Colin Hassell
Drum Teacher
Colin is a drummer and multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto. He has nearly 20 years of performance experience and has had the opportunity to play with a wide array of talented professionals during that time. His biggest influences include Steve Gadd, Nate Smith, Steve Jordan, Benny Greb, Larnell Lewis, Mark Kelso, Matt Halpern, Mike Portnoy, and many others. He attended Humber College’s Bachelor of Music program in 2016. Colin works regularly with a number of groups and artists including Mindy Sins, Sole Power, Mutari, David Morrison, Vi, and others. Colin’s primary goal with School of Rock is to help students find their inner star power and allow them to experience the breadth of opportunity in the world of music and performance.
Jake Gerovac
Guitar Teacher
Jake is a blues and rock guitarist that has been playing guitar since 2007. Some of his biggest influences include guitar icons Gary Clark Jr., Jimmy Page, B.B. King, and Jimi Hendrix. He has studied music theory during his time at the University of Guelph and spends his free time teaching himself new concepts on the guitar. He is currently the lead guitarist in the Mississauga-based band The Boneheads, who are two-time finalists at the Mississauga Arts Awards for Music - Group (Emerging) category in 2021 and 2022, as well as nominees for Best New Group at the Mississauga Music Awards in 2022. Jake’s main goal at School of Rock Streetsville is to help students develop into strong musicians so that they can keep rock music alive and well in Mississauga.
Jeff Wesseling
Guitar Teacher
Jeff’s been playing in bands since classic rock was just called ROCK! As a lead guitarist with over 40 years experience performing live and in studio, Jeff has had the amazing opportunity to play in numerous bands, work in many different genres, co-write and record a few albums, and teach guitar to all ages.
Listening to bands like Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck Group, Pink Floyd, Cream, and Savoy Brown was epic and life-changing for him, learning every riff he could off the old vinyl LP’s. From 2017 to 2021 Jeff served on the Board of Directors for the Mississauga Arts Council. During that time, he established a new local venue to showcase up-and-coming original bands and singer songwriters. He also put a volunteer session band together to work with some of the artists he heard at the showcase events, which was an incredible experience for all. Jeff could hear and see how these young artists quickly became better musicians and comfortable on stage by working with a full band.
When he heard about Streetsville’s School Of Rock Performance Based Music Education method, Jeff knew he wanted to be part of this great Streetsville team and share what he had learned from all his years of playing.
Julian Camelo
Keyboard + Piano Teacher, Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Julian Camelo is a multi-instrumentalist and sound designer originally from Bogota, Colombia. He graduated from Pontifical Xaverian University with a bachelor's degree in Music and Audio post-production.
For the past decade, Julian has experienced many roles as a musician and sound designer. He has been in several projects as a music editor, re-recording mixer, and dialogue editor in shows for Discovery, Disney, Amazon, and many others.
Julian has extensive experience as a live musician in numerous rock indie projects. He believes the most fun and effective way to learn to play an instrument is through music that moves your body and touches your soul.
That's how he felt about rock music since he first heard The Beatles.
He feels very excited about the chance to share his knowledge with new generations of musicians and create new rock ensembles at School of Rock Streetsville by teaching piano, guitar, and bass.
Kat Pinhorn
Singing Teacher, Piano Teacher
Kat Pinhorn is a Toronto based singer-songwriter who recently graduated with honours from Humber College’s Bachelor of Music program. Kat’s parents both graduated from the University of Toronto’s classical program; her mother with a Masters of Piano, and her Father with a Bachelor of Classical Voice. Kat began music lessons at 4 years old, learning piano from her mother. She began studying voice in the Bach Children’s Chorus under the direction of Linda Beaupre at age 6. Kat’s love for music blossomed throughout grade school as she began writing songs and learning to play guitar. Kat began teaching piano, voice, and guitar privately during her first year of university. Her students range from children to adults all with a love of music and a desire to learn. Kat is currently music director at West Edge Community Church, as well as an independent artist recording and performing around the GTA. Kat enjoys connecting with students, and providing them a safe space to explore music. She joins our team at School of Rock Streetsville aspiring to build a community of passionate music lovers
Nathaniel Fava
Guitar Teacher, Bass Guitar Teacher
Nathaniel (Nat) has been a musician for most of his life. As a multi-instrumentalist in guitar, bass, and vocals, Nat has played in a few local bands exploring multiple genres like rock, punk, folk, country, and R&B. He has several other skills, hobbies, and interests that have gotten him to where he is today, including obtaining a diploma in Visual and Digital Arts from Humber College in 2018 and developing IT and technology skills throughout the pandemic in 2020.
Nat will assist you in getting what you want out of your visit at School of Rock Streetsville and is eager to be amicable with students and parents alike.
Ray Yiu
Drum Teacher
Ray is a funk, rock, and punk drummer who has been playing drums since 2015. Her major music influences include Muse, Maroon 5, Green Day, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wild Cherry, Tower of Power, The Clash, and David Bowie.
Ray joined rock bands “Chapter Hard” and “91.4Hz” in 2019. To further enhance her music knowledge and experience, she is now studying Professional Sound and Business (Studio Production Major) at the Metalworks Institute in Mississauga. Recently, Ray passed her grade 8 drum exam with DISTINCTION at RSL Awards.
Ray enjoys sharing drumming ideas and spreading her knowledge of drumming in all genres of music. She is a passionate drummer and is excited to help her School of Rock Streetsville students as they embark on their drumming journey!
Ryan Sequeira
Drum Teacher
Ryan Sequeira is a drummer based in Toronto, Canada. Growing up in Mumbai India, Ryan started drumming at the age of 16 and was deeply influenced by Rock, Heavy metal, and Funk bands like Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Foo Fighters, Rage against the machine, RHCP, Pfunk, and many more. He played an active part in the local music scene and played at multiple venues across the city and country. To further discover himself as a musician, he enrolled in the music program at Humber College, Canada. He is currently studying under Mark Kelso, Larnell Lewis, Steve Mancuso, and Joaquin Nunez. Musically, Ryan is a versatile drummer and has a deep understanding of the foundations required for drumming in various situations. He has been teaching at different institutes for the past five years, and enjoys getting to know his students as they grow. His goal at School of Rock is to help students develop their craft, and to share his passion for music with aspiring young musicians.
Samuel Ermellini
Guitar Teacher
Samuel is a classic rock and metal guitarist through and through! Growing up in a musical house with a guitarist father, it was impossible not to be exposed to great music and great guitar playing!
The Beatles, Rush, Deep Purple, Van Halen, and Ozzy Osbourne were on repeat at home, and the curiosity for guitar only got more intriguing. That intrigue led Samuel to form the progressive metal band "Pyramid Theorem". They have had the privilege of opening for Sonata Arctica, Edguy, Symphony X, Fates Warning, and Finger 11. They have also been privileged to record their latest record "Beyond The Exosphere" with producer/engineer Richard Chycki. He is notable working with bands such as Rush, Dream Theater, Aerosmith, Pink, etc.
Samuel is also the lead vocalist, and lead guitarist in Rush tribute act "Crush"!
What Sam enjoys most about teaching is the feeling he gets when his students start to really learn and understand their instrument. He says it is magic to see his students in real time getting better and better each day. Sam is more than excited to be joining the School of Rock Streetsville team, and hopes to bring only the best to the table!
Vito De Francesco
Drum Teacher
Vito is a self-taught drummer who has been hitting things with sticks for over 30 years. The driving force behind the bands PYRAMID THEOREM and CRUSH: The Ultimate Rush Experience, he has had the incredible opportunity to perform across the country and record professionally for over 15 years. While his preferred musical genres include Progressive Rock and Heavy Metal, those merely scratch the surface of what satisfies his musical taste buds! When it comes to his influences, while there are many, he feels it is only appropriate to name-drop one drummer - Neil Peart.
With a wide variety of style and flavour entrenched in his playing, Vito is excited to be a part of the School of Rock Streetsville team and is eager to inspire future generations to pick up a pair of drumsticks and make some noise!!
Rob Wilson
Assistant General Manager
Rob has always had a passion for music, with a variety of influences coming to him from his music-loving parents. Ever since he was a child, Rob has been a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums, and later trying out the saxophone and accordion. After playing in a few bands throughout his teenage years, he made the move to the other side of the glass and expanded his musicianship to the engineering and production side of the music industry.
Rob started a new venture after graduating from Metalworks Institute with honours in 2015. The Mississauga Music Awards-nominated artist development and music production company, Cats Cove Media, was officially established in 2016, and since that time Rob has had the pleasure of working with a multitude of artists, spanning many genres and notoriety, both in recording and producing their records, and booking shows and tours.
Having deep roots in Mississauga, Rob is ecstatic to be a part of School of Rock Streetsville. His goal is to nurture the continued growth of Mississauga’s musical talent and keep our youth inspired on their musical journey. Nothing means more to Rob than bringing people together through music!
Paula Carvalho
Owner, General Manager
Paula was raised in Mississauga, and studied at the University of Toronto, graduating with a BA in French and Spanish. She began her teaching career as an Elementary French teacher with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board in 1990. She stayed at home after her sons were born and later returned to work with Rotherglen Montessori School as an Elementary French Teacher.
In 2018, Paula went back to school and graduated from the TESOL PLUS (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) post-graduate program at Sheridan College. It was here that she completed a required elective: Introduction to Business, and found she enjoyed this course more than her language courses.
After completing the one-year program, Paula was hired by Sheridan College as a LINC Instructor (Language Instruction for Newcomers) in the Continuing Education department. While teaching Immigrants and Refugees at Sheridan College, she realized it was the relationships with her students and her role as a mentor that inspired her more than her role as a teacher.
When the program ended in March 2020, she enrolled at the Jay Shetty (Coaching) Certification School. During this time of introspection, she decided that rather than return to teaching or work as a coach, she would pursue a business venture and joined the leadership development program TEC, a peer advisory board supported by 1-to-1 coaching, expert speakers, fast-paced learning, and global networking opportunities.
School of Rock has been a great fit for Paula, combining her teaching experience and entrepreneurial goals with her interest in youth mental health and passion for music.