Staff & Music Teachers

Thomas Jacob Jr., Assistant Site Director, has been performing and producing music since he was eight years old. His specialities include low brass, guitars, drums, keyboards, synthesizers, and audio engineering. He studied music at Western Connecticut State University, and he holds a Master’s degree in Sound Design from the Glasgow School of Art. He has performance and composition experience across a range of genres including jazz, rock, heavy metal, and electronic music. He has performed on the same stage with such jazz greats as Maynard Ferguson, Roy Haynes, Trombones de Costa Rica, and Paquito D’Rivera. As a rock band and ensemble coach with Bach to Rock, Thomas brings a unique and diverse musical background coupled with a passion for emerging music technologies. 

Pete Mello, Assistant Site Director, has been playing guitar for over 30 years, and has been performing professionally for 16 years in a variety of genres including Rock, Blues, Jazz, and R&B. He has toured in the U.S. and Europe, and performs regularly in the greater Phoenix area. A self-taught Rock and Blues player, Pete also studied Jazz and classical guitar and is an experienced audio engineer with a degree in Audio Production Technologies. Pete’s favorite artists and influences include Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Pink Floyd, and Randy Rhoads. Pete is passionate about inspiring students young and old to pursue and achieve their musical goals and dreams.

Alex T. is a guitar and piano instructor who is also an award winning music composer for film. Alex became fascinated with music when he began taking guitar lessons as a young teenager. By the time he was eighteen years old he had also picked up piano and began practicing vocal music. It wasn’t much longer before he developed an interest in writing music. In 2012, Alex scored his first feature length film Howard & Loki for Director/Cinematographer/Writer David Lewis (Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, Winning London), and has since scored several dozen other film and commercial projects. He has been awarded two regional EMMYs and a College Television award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation for his composition work.

Alex also has a passion for inspiring others and finding ways to help people succeed. Prior to working at Bach 2 Rock, he was an independent guitar and piano instructor and has also worked as a habilitation and respite care provider for children with special needs. He knows the importance of setting concrete short and long term goals to help people succeed and make their dreams come true. 

His favorite composers are J.S. Bach, Gustav Holst, Frederic Chopin, Jean Sibelius, Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky, John Williams, Thomas Newman, Danny Elfman, John Adams and Eric Whitacre. Other musical influences include Radiohead, Muse, Arctic Monkeys, The Black Keys, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, Jack Johnson, and Lana Del Rey.

Andrew L. has been playing music as long as he can remember, but he settled on percussion when he joined his school band in the 6th grade. Shortly thereafter he began taking private drum lessons at Amy K Music. During high school he performed in the Apollo High School marching band, jazz band and symphonic band. In the jazz band he played piano as well as drum set. He is currently seeking his undergraduate Bachelor of Arts in Music Education at Arizona State University. Over the course of his career he has played with multiple rock bands, jazz bands, marching bands, symphonic bands and percussion ensembles. He currently performs with the ASU Wind Ensemble, the ASU Percussion Jazz Ensemble and his band, Sisura. Andrew hopes provide meaningful and effectual instruction to those looking to play and enjoy music.

Brianna is an Arizona native. She has been studying and performing music since she was eight years old. Her specialties include brass, piano, and early childhood music. She believes as Frances Clark said, “There is music in every child. It is the teacher’s job to find it and nurture it.” Her favorite instrument to perform on is the French horn. Brianna earned her Bachelors degree from Brigham Young University in Brass Performance. Her passion for music has taken her across the world to places such as the Czech Republic, Germany, The Netherlands, and the Philippines. She has performed on the same stage as Tony award winning Lea Salonga, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Jordan Smith. She is excited to join the Bach to Rock, North Scottsdale team and can’t wait to share her knowledge and passion for music with you!

Elizabeth B. has been singing, dancing and acting since she was 3 years old. Her love of music and theater has allowed her to perform all over the United States including  the 1st National Broadway Tour of "Parade", directed by Hal Prince. With an MFA in Music Theater from UNLV, she brings a wide variety of styles and techniques to her teaching methods. After working professionally in NYC for over 10 years she is excited to be part of the Bach to Rock, North Scottsdale team and hopes to pass on her love of singing and music to you!

Jack S. is excited to join the teaching staff as Woodwind Instructor at Bach to Rock, North Scottsdale. He began playing at an early age, and currently specializes in teaching saxophone, clarinet and flute. He studied music at Northern Arizona University, receiving his Bachelor of Music Education, and Master of Music degrees. He has a wide range of performance experience from classic to jazz. Jack has been playing professionally over the past 40 years, and is currently performing with a variety of bands around the valley. He has a passion for jazz and is a skilled improviser and composer. A few of his favorite artists include Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and David Sanborn. He enjoys all styles of music, and has experience in a variety of musical genres. He looks forward to sharing his musical knowledge with his students, and help bring their skills to a higher level.

Kelsey M. is a voice teacher and early childhood teacher at Bach to Rock, North Scottsdale. She is a born and raised New Yorker, and is truly gifted as a vocalist, with a deep love and passion for music. Kelsey's talent took her to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she perfected her voice, and earned a degree in Music Business. She recently moved to Arizona in early 2017, and is currently using her musical expertise to teach and inspire a younger generation of talented musicians.

Rachel B. is a musician and educator who works with children and adults to foster their innate love of music. She knows the broad and limitless reach music possess and the joys it can bring. Rachel has been a musician for 30 years and has performed as a violinist in symphonies, quartets, musicals, operas, dances, recordings, other small ensembles, and various special and holiday events.  Over the last 17 years, Rachel has also worked as music educator in public schools, private studios, and cultural centers. Rachel’s most recent work experience is as a music therapist, in the field of mental health, using music to transform and empower. Rachel holds two degrees from Arizona State University, a bachelor of music in music education and a master of music in clinical music therapy.

Sam D. is a part time guitar teacher at Bach to Rock. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music with a Bachelors in Professional Music, and as can be expected, went into finance. He started playing guitar in 2007 at the age of 14 and took quickly to the instrument. His influences include Jimi Hendrix, Roy Buchanan and a wide variety of rock guitarists. Sam strives to help his students reach their fullest potential and realize their musical goals. Above all he believes that music should be fun and exciting.

Ted G. has been playing piano since he was five years old and has been performing professionally for over 30 years. His specialties include multi keyboards and guitar across a range of genres including jazz, blues, rock and classical music.  He holds a BA from Michigan State University where he studied electronic music and attended Interlochen Arts Camp in Interlochen, MI where he studied composition with internationally acclaimed composer/arranger Gunther Schuller. He has also studied with award winning jazz pianists Kenny Barron, Manfredo Fest, Art Resnick and Armand Boatman. Ted is passionate about teaching intermediate and advanced students jazz concepts and theory and multi keyboard techniques.