Below is a short biography of all of our teachers.   Teachers with a phone number after their names are available for private lessons.   Please contact them directly to inquire about costs and availability.

Holly Pintozzi -- Drums      630-846-5542
Holly has been teaching drums to students of all ages for the past six years.  She studied music performance, theory and composition at Northern Illinois University.  She has played professionally for over 20 years, performing, recording and doing session work (Randomosity Records, Studio VMR, Robert McShane).  Currently she plays in several bands, including Rockin' Mountain Oysters, that perform in many Chicago-area venues (Fitzgeralds, Taste of Chicago, Double Door).

Jason Styx -- Drums      708-262-0626

Jason studied drums and percussion at The University of Houston. He marched in the Cavaliers Drum Corp.  Jason lived in Athens, Georgia for 10 years, performing and recording in jazz and rock bands, including Bloodkin and teaching at The Musicians Warehouse. Moving to Chicago in 1999, he has recorded and performed regularly with The Bon Mots, The Eric Chial 2, and The Wes Hollywood Show/Tenniscourts.  Jason currently performs with the roots/rock/country band Decoy Prayer Meeting.   He is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society.

Bob Koutek -- Bass
Bob studied music and theatre at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.  He has performed jazz, orchestral and rock music with several different bands in various clubs in both New York and Chicago, and is also a session and studio musician.  He currently writes and performs professionally in his own band as well as in The Rockin' Mountain Oysters and Vernam Cipher.  Bob has recently been teaching locally and has a growing student base in Downers Grove.

Katie Nauss -- Vocals     630-291-6041

Katie graduated with a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008. While honing her writing skills, she spent most of her time in the theater and as a member and officer of, as well as an arranger for, the nationally renowned A Capella group, The Rip Chords. Upon graduating, Katie fell into the Chicagoland music scene, doing anything from running karaoke to putting on battles of the bands to performing original and cover music in bands of her own. She has appeared on several local radio stations with The Jeremy Greer Band and has performed on stages from Chicago to Tennessee, including the Chicago House of Blues stage. Katie has been with the Rock Academy since spring of 2011, and she continues to bring her unique blend of vocal knowledge and performing experience to her students both in the band setting and in private lessons.

Johnny Lukashevich -- Guitar, Piano, & Songwriting     708-806-3711
Johnny has been teaching guitar, bass guitar, and piano since 2002.  He has a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Elmhurst College.  He has been a member of indie-rock band "The Slugs" with performances and airplay on television (Party of Five, Melrose Place, WGN Morning News) and radio (WLUP, WCKG, WXRT, WGN) and Chicago venues (House of Blues, Metro, Taste of Chicago).  As a singer / songwriter, Johnny has released two solo albums and performed throughout Chicagoland.

Jay Swanstrom -- Guitar   630-901-6373

Jay is full-time teacher at Herrick Middle School in Downers Grove, IL, where he sponsors the Guitar Club and the Variety Show. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and also a minor in music from Augustana College. While at Augustana, Jay performed in several jazz ensembles and took classical guitar lessons. Jay has been in several different bands in a wide range of styles including rock, blues, funk, jam and metal. He has performed in the pit for musicals including Working, Pippin and The Wiz.    At his church, Jay plays bass for children’s musicals and is a long-time member of the praise band.    Jay has attended master classes, workshops, and private lessons with world-renowned guitarists Steve Grismore, Doyle Dykes, Greg Koch and Muriel Anderson.   Jay has maintained a private guitar teaching practice since 2004.  

Wendy Parman -- Vocals    773-474-8471

Wendy Parman is a classically trained singer and actor. She has taught all skill levels and age groups, and enjoys the challenges of both professional singers and kids with "American Idol" dreams. She has many years of experience performing and teaching in the Chicago area, including roles with Bailiwick Repertory, Court Theater, National Jewish Theater and many others. Wendy has a BFA in Theater/Voice (University of Kansas) and a MA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College, and currently teaches both acting and voice at Virtuoso Performing Arts in Niles. She is also the lead singer of The Red Apples, a roots rock band that performs around the Chicago area. Her many years of experience performing in various genres have made her an excellent voice teacher and performance coach, who will help you find your true voice and performance style. She is also a mom, who understands and appreciates the needs of younger students. She has a "whole music" approach to voice lessons for children and teens, who learn the basics of music just like they would in any instrument.

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