Meet The Team
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scott owens
Performance/Drums Instructor
Scott Owens has been playing drums for over 20 years, beginning his journey in 6th grade band where he learned to read snare sheet music. However, he quickly discovered that his preferred method of learning was by listening to his favorite bands and emulating his favorite drummers. This hands-on, passion-driven approach is exactly how Scott intends to teach. He believes in harnessing a love of music and replicating it in a unique and personal way. As a professional touring and recording drummer, Scott is confident and excited to share his extensive knowledge and experience with others on a thoughtful and meaningful level.
sebastian mChenry
Performance/Drums Instructor
Sebastian is thrilled to be one of the youngest instructors at the Albany Rock Pit. He specializes in drums and has just finished his first semester at The College of Saint Rose as a Music Industry major. He will be continuing his music education at SCCC. Sebastian is self-taught in multiple instruments, including drums, piano, and guitar, but he has several years of formal training in drumming. He was a member of the Albany Indoor Percussion Ensemble for five years, and they were world finalists at the 2021 Indoor Percussion Circuit. He has experience in recording and producing and plays drums and guitar for his band. Sebastian loves collaborating with other local artists and has been with the Albany Rock Pit since its inception, performing in several of their shows. Albany Rock Pit has helped him grow as a musician in a welcoming environment where everyone can be themselves. Music is his life, and he is a big fan of rock, hip hop, indie, and jazz. Let’s jam!
Grant Hershey
Performance/Drums Instructor
Grant has been drumming since the 3rd grade, when his band teacher first placed him in percussion to keep his hands busy. By 4th grade, he joined the marching band and quickly developed a fascination with the drumline. In 6th grade, he became a member of the Albany Indoor Percussion Ensemble on bass drum, and not long after, he rose to center snare in his school band. During middle school, Grant expanded his skills by learning drum set as part of the jazz band.
After graduating, Grant performed with Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps for two seasons before moving on to the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum Corps, a world-class ensemble where he continues to perform today. His time as a teacher at the Rock Pit has further sharpened his performing and leadership skills, allowing him to share his passion for drumming with the next generation of musicians.
Joe Barna
Performance Instructor
Joe is a drummer and music educator based in Latham, NY, with over 30 years of experience performing behind the kit alongside some of the world's most respected artists in jazz, rock, theater, and classical music. He holds a BFA in Fine Arts from SUNY Purchase and has spent the past three decades guiding students of all ages through the world of percussion and composition.
Joe's teaching philosophy centers on helping each student discover their own unique voice at the drums. A highly skilled and versatile musician, he can demonstrate techniques across a wide range of styles and is always ready to answer questions, no matter how technical. Whether working with beginners or advanced players, Joe brings decades of real-world performance experience into every session, helping students build both technical skill and genuine musical identity.
Connor Shearer
Keys Instructor
Connor is a pianist, composer, and music educator who loves helping students find their own sound at the piano. With a background in classical, jazz and experimental music, he makes lessons engaging and tailored to each student’s interests. Connor’s goal is to build strong fundamentals while keeping music fun, inspiring, and connected to what students love to play.
AJ Horton
Performance/Guitar Instructor
AJ Horton is an Albany-based performer, songwriter, sound engineer, producer, and musician that plays locally and on the road with alternative rock bands Side-B and Rib & the Bones. He specializes in guitar—an instrument with which he has more than a decade of playing experience—and he has graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a B.A. in Music Industry and a minor in Music Performance. His goals include encouraging young musicians’ love for music and providing them with the opportunity to learn and grow!
Andrew Yonki
Performance/Showcase/Guitar Instructor
Andrew moved to Schenectady in 2019 from outside of Washington, DC, where he was heavily immersed in the heavy rock and punk scenes as both musician and fan. A guitar player for thirty years, Andrew has extensive performance experience on stages everywhere from DC to Tampa to Vancouver to Brooklyn and just about everywhere in between, with the bands Caustic Casanova from DC and Idle Era from right here in Schenectady. Even thirty years playing guitar and 20 years in bands, few things feel better than playing guitar with musicians he likes and respects, and still gets the thrill of his life anytime he takes the stage. He wants to share that experience with the next generation of rockers, and share with them the joy and fun and connection that comes with being a performer and musician.
james krone
Bass/Guitar Instructor
James Krone is a Bass and Guitar instructor whose entire life revolves around his love of music. As a member of the band Brother T and the Boys, James has spent years writing, recording, and performing original music, with multiple albums released throughout his career.
Beyond performing, James is a dedicated craftsman who spends his free time repairing and refining guitars and basses — a passion that gives him a deep, hands-on understanding of the instruments he teaches. This combination of performance experience, songwriting background, and technical instrument knowledge makes him a well-rounded and passionate teacher for students at any level.
jennifer Stella
Performance/Vocal Instuctor
Jennifer lives in Albany, NY where she has been teaching music locally for over 10 years. Beginning with her first guitar lessons at age 7, Jennifer participated in a wide ranging musical background from her younger years through college, playing clarinet and saxophone in various ensembles, singing in choirs, and performing with musical theater groups. Holding a BS in Music Education from The College of Saint Rose, where she was a voice major, and a MM in Music Education from the Longy School of Music, where she studied culturally responsive teaching in the music classroom, she has spent these past ten years teaching many genres to students of all ages, focusing on safe singing techniques and music learning through performance. On any given day you can open Jennifer's playlist and find a wide array of musical selections being used in her lessons, or there for her to sing along to herself. When Jennifer is not teaching, she can usually be found attending live music and theater, hiking, and captaining her adult rec kickball team.
Bella Phinney
Performance/Vocal Instructor
Bella is a singer-songwriter who has been gigging professionally around Upstate NY since the age of 15. She continues to take every opportunity to share music within her community. Bella graduated from SUNY Oneonta as a Music Industry major with a focus in audio production and composition. Writing and producing her own music along with teaching aspiring artists is Bella’s favorite thing to do. She looks forward to working with all the young talent at the Albany Rock Pit and unlocking the amazing potential in all of her students’ voices.
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lucas foley
Vocal Instuctor
Lucas is a vocalist and songwriter who's been blending and exploring musical techniques since a very young age. His specialty typically consists of combining harsh vocals with clean vocals to create a dynamically cohesive but somewhat chaotic style. Currently studying at Sece Lucas is a classically trained vocalist however this differs quite a bit from his own musical endeavors. Lucas is the vocalist in multiple alternative/metal bands as well as a rap group. These projects allow him to explore and express a full range of techniques and styles. His goal in teaching is to help students combine all their favorite musical ideas with a heavy focus on technique as well as open creative expression. Beyond just vocal technique he is very passionate about songwriting and would love to help students translate the ideas they visualize in their head into beautifully expressive songs.
Robert Houle
Performance Instuctor
Robert Houle is a Music Teacher based in Latham, NY, with knowledge in Baritone, Bass Guitar, French Horn, Guitar, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, and Voice.
While relatively new to teaching music specifically, Robert has spent decades teaching art and has guided students through countless skills across a variety of fields. He believes deeply in the power of teaching as a tool for learning — for him, guiding others is the surest path to truly understanding something yourself.
Robert's teaching philosophy is simple: you can teach yourself anything, but a good teacher knows where the obstacles are, how to help you navigate around them, and how to make the journey along the way fun and rewarding.
Maddy Caiazzo
Rock Pit Manager/Scheduler
Maddy has been with the Rock Pit since day one. She has a background in technology and she will be managing all things electronic! With her knowledge in IT, she created our website and continues to manage it to ensure it is running smooth for our clients. You can find Maddy's smiling face at the front desk, where she found her new passion for helping parents and children navigate through their musical journey! Though Maddy doesn't play any instruments herself, she is an avid concert goer and music lover of all genres, so she fits right in here at the Rock Pit!
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Maddy directly!
518-769-0908
Apply Today
Want to teach at our school? Contact the email below with your resume!