Meet Our Teachers
We are extremely lucky to have 17 amazing teachers at Rock Out Academy!
TEACHER BIOS
The teachers on our team are amazing, and they each have the patience and kindness to make learning enjoyable. We background check all teachers, and only
Owner
Drums
Voice
Acting
Bands
Song Editing
Songwriting
Group Classes
Cristina Sparacino
Cristina is an accomplished music teacher, a singer-songwriter, & is the owner of Rock Out Academy.
Cristina was always very involved in music. She participated in All County & All State Band, Solo & Ensemble, Festival of Winds, attended Summer Music Conservatory, and music camps.
Cristina was her high school Band President, student conductor,, section leader & was presented the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award.
She received a percussion scholarship to USF, studied the SLYS vocal technique, completed her CDA & Early Childhood Education, beginning her teaching journey as a Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher.
Previous teaching jobs include K-8 general music & drama at Athenian Academy of Pasco for 3 years, dance & drama at Dance Extreme Academy in Trinity, directing programs at Millennium Academy, drumline at various schools, teaching, creating, & running various camps & programs for 14 years in Pasco County.
Cristina is a current recording artist under Starlite Records (Her single, SORRY is available on Spotify and other streaming platforms.
As a drummer & vocalist, Cristina made the semi finals of Tampa Bay Idol, has played in MTV's Enough is Enough campaign against domestic violence, made the semi finals of Ed McMahon's Next Big Star, played at Flight 93's Command Center during 9/11, & toured around the US.
She currently toplines, records and arranges for other artists. She also owns Songshapers.com, and edits music for competitive ice skaters.
Cristina has written 2 current EDM tracks with Sumer Wyn & will be releasing a full-length pop album in 2026.
Music Production
Recording
Songwriting
Voice Over Reels
Guitar
Restringing
Repairs
Rocco Guarino
Rocco Guarino is a Nashville-based record producer and RIAA 2x Platinum award winner. He's also a songwriter, top-ten video director. and published photographer.
Rocco has worked with artists such as Elton John, Slash, Juliette Lewis, Jane Lynch, Billy Corgan, and members of Weezer, Pearl Jam, Guns n Roses, Def Leppard, and Deep Purple, in addition to producing two American Idol top-12 finalists.
Rocco's photographs have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Billboard Magazine, Kerrang,Penthouse, and Bass Player Magazine, as well as outdoor billboard campaigns in New York and Los Angeles.
He has directed video projects for Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver, Cherie Currie of The Runaways, designer John Varvatos, songwriter Diane Warren, and legendary photographer Jim Marshall, among others. His corporate clients have included Deutsche Bank, SmartCar, PBS, HDNet, and Home Shopping Network, as well as record companies such as Universal, RCA, Atlantic, SonyRED, and Interscope.
Born and raised in Hudson Valley, NY, at fifteen he was recording his band's demos on a 4-track, which led to other local bands hiring him, and from there the fire for music production was lit.
The 90's found Rocco in Tampa Bay, FL, where he dove deep into songwriting. He recorded his first album in 1998, which never got released, then formed a band and recorded an album in 2001 that also never got released.
The call of the wild led Rocco to Los Angeles in 2002, where he landed the gig as the assistant to Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots), just before Scott formed rock supergroup Velvet Revolver with Guns n' Roses members Slash, Duff, and Matt Sorum. With a Billboard #1 debut, a double platinum album, a world tour, and a Grammy, Rocco was there filming and photographing everything.
When the band took a break, Rocco entered the studio to record his next album, which of course never got released. For their next album, the band hired Rocco to direct his first music video, which reached #9 on VH1. Rocco embracing his new obsession for directing, and dove into making webisodes, promos, and documentaries featuring some of the biggest names in music. He was nominated as Best Director for his first short film, and wrote two feature-length screenplays, while he continued to balance music and film production throughout the 00's. Obsessed with recording studios since childhood, Rocco has owned and worked at many.
Matt Sorum's (G'n'R) studio in West Hollywood was home for a while, as well as Gilby Clarke's (G'n'R) studio in the Hollywood Hills. In 2014 Rocco partnered with Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) as Chief Engineer to transform their Lavish Studios from a private sandbox into a commercial facility, while serving as A&R for Softdrive Records.
In 2019 Rocco partnered with Rami Jaffee of Foo Fighters to serve as A&R and Chief Engineer of Fonogenic Studios.
In 2021 Rocco founded Starlite Records. Born out of a frustration for too much great music going unheard for not fitting into trends, Rocco decided it was time to create a genre-agnostic label where stale formulas don't exist. Rocco is signed to APM Music Publishing and has placements on NBC, ABC, Comedy Central, IFC, E!, Hulu, Netflix, HGTV, and HBO. He's produced many indie rock bands, and projects featuring members of The Cult, Weezer, GnR, and two American Idol finalists. Photography has been a lifelong passion for Rocco, and his photos have been featured in Billboard Magazine, Bass Player Magazine, Penthouse (the music section;-), Entertainment Magazine, retail packaging, album art, and outdoor billboard campaigns in NY and LA. Rocco is endorsed by some of the top brands in music, including Gibson Pro Audio, KRK Systems, Aston Microphones, Furman Power, Sandhill Microphones, Behringer, Cerwin-Vega, Rode Microphones, and ProCo Sound.
Rocco’s interest in keeping the arts accessible to everyone led him to work with non-profits Adopt The Arts. Rocco continues to create in a variety of mediums, to tell stories that move the masses. He's obsessed with dogs (over 25 lbs), likes pineapple fried rice, and is a voting member of The Recording Academy (The Grammys).
Piano
Woodwinds
Brecklynn Bashant
As the Daughter of Miss Cristina, Brecklynn has grown up on a stage, performing in her first recital at just 2 years old.
Brecklynn has been studying piano privately for 11 years and has taken lessons on several instruments/disciplines since she was a toddler.
She plays 10 instruments. (Piano, Voice, Clarinet, Sax, Drums, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, Clarinet, Flute, & Oboe.
Brecklynn teaches piano, woodwinds, & assists with student bands & acting classes.
Brecklynn is the current drum major for River Ridge High School and is a member of FFCC percussion, jazz band, chorus, and has been a member of All State Chorus, All County Band, Festival of Winds, and scored several straight superior awards at Solo & Ensemble. This year she will be returning to the Macy's Day Parade playing clarinet with Macy's Great American Band for her second year!
Shas been in voice lessons for 14 years and started acting at age 2 under Jennifer Deckelman & her Mother.
Brecklynn has participated in 20 student rock bands, 22 theater & performance camps /shows over the years. She has been the lead actress at Richey Suncoast Theater, & starred in the Microsoft app, Learning with Brecklynn.
She is currently in her second year of Teacher Academy and will be majoring in music & early childhood education.
Brecklynn may be our youngest teacher, but she has worked with young children through adults and is proving to be very popular at Rock Out Academy!
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Brass
Ukulele
Drums
Violin
Harmonica
Restringing
Repairs
Kevin Adair
Kevin's lifelong journey in music began at age 4 when he embarked on piano lessons. Fueled by an enduring passion for all things musical, he soon found himself exploring new horizons by joining a multitude of bands throughout his school years.
His insatiable thirst for knowledge propelled him to undertake Advanced Placement Music Theory studies, where he honed his understanding of the intricate workings of music. Under the tutelage of the renowned Blake Richardson from the progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me, Kevin's skills began to soar.
Alongside his band endeavors, he also actively participated in various theater crews and wind ensembles within the vibrant Florida music scene.
Notable mentions include Aionios, Charge Alexander, For Those Like Us, and Apeiron Bound, where Kevin showed his versatility as a musician.
Additionally, he has had the honor of sharing the stage with esteemed acts such as The Contortionist, Entheos, and Polyphia, further solidifying his reputation as an accomplished performer.
With over a decade of professional teaching under his belt, Kevin Adair continues to inspire and impart his musical wisdom to eager students.
Guitar
Drums
Piano
Voice
Restringing
Nicole Cognato
Nicole grew up in a small town on Long Island, New York. She had an active young mind with a love for music and rhythm. Luckily, she began her musical journey with private piano lessons at age five. Having lessons this young certainly helped her understand the student experience of learning how to use your skills and discipline to be successful as a musician.
While receiving training on piano, she joined her elementary school orchestra in the 3rd grade and quickly soared with violin. During this period, Nicole began learning music theory and the art of reading music.
As a fourth grader, Nicole would go on to conduct and tune every instrument in her orchestra during rehearsal. She always competed and won many NYSMA competitions for violin while attending music seminars and workshops. It was then that her teacher realized she had a gift.
Nicole continued with piano lessons and began guitar. Later, after college, she bought herself a drum set and began to learn drums.
As an adult, Nicole studied to become an elementary teacher and worked in the New York State School Districts for over five years.
Nicole understands the importance that music has had in her life and wishes to ignite that passion in other music lovers!
Acting
Voice
Isa Cacciavillani
Isa is a very talented actor & vocalist.
Immersed in the arts from a young age, Isa has acted in a dozen shows on a variety of local stages.
Isa was President of International Thespian Troupe 5031, was recognized as Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Musical (Mayor of Bikini Bottom) & Outstanding Performer in a Musical (Janis Sarkisian) for Broadway Star of the Future.
They also received Critics Choice awards for makeup design, & small group musical as well as several straight superior awards.
As a vocalist, Isa has a powerfulmezzo-soprano vocal range & got to show off their skills when they had the honor of singing the National Anthem and Alma Mater for River Ridge High School's 2023 Graduation.
Isa is very excited to share their love of singing & musical theatre with both kids and adults at Rock Out Academy!
Winds
Brass
Piano
Arranging
Christopher Greco
Christopher T. Greco, initiated his musical journey in elementary school as an alto saxophonist in the band. His talent shone through middle and high school, earning him spots in prestigious honor ensembles across the county and state.
Although he dabbled in arranging during high school, it wasn't until his third year at the University of South Florida, where he was pursuing a Music Education degree, that he revisited and honed this skill for smaller ensembles.
After graduating in 2014, he began teaching in Pasco County Schools and eventually became a high school band director at River Ridge, his alma mater.
His ensembles garnered high accolades and performance invitations both within and beyond Florida. Concurrently, Chris composed and arranged music for local and university bands.
The COVID pandemic prompted Chris to further his education, leading to a Master's degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, which he completed in 2023. He then took on the role of music director at Bayonet Point Middle School.
Over the past ten years, Chris has created a plethora of arrangements and compositions for friends and colleagues across the United States, including marching shows, stand tunes, jazz ensembles, concert pieces, and commissions.
He eagerly looks forward to sharing his creative endeavors with the world.
Violin
Cello
Viola
Piano
Guitar
Emiko Wennerholt
Emiko is a remarkable musician and an experienced music educator. With over 15 years of teaching experience and a Master's degree in Violin Performance from the University of Texas, her expertise shines through her work.
Ms. Emiko's musical journey has taken her to stages across the globe, performing with prestigious orchestras in Japan, Portugal, Switzerland, and the United States.
Currently serving as the concertmaster of the esteemed Richey Community Orchestra, her passion for music is undeniable.
Alongside her teaching endeavors at private and charter schools in Pasco County, Ms. Emiko co-founded the Greater Pasco Youth Symphony in 2012, where she serves as Director and Conductor. This initiative offers young musicians the chance to develop their musical skills and perform together in string ensemble groups, making music a gratifying and collaborative experience.
With Ms. Emiko's guidance, this youth symphony cultivates talent, fosters creativity, and provides a platform for young musicians to showcase their abilities. In addition to her teaching and conducting roles, Ms. Emiko also performs with the Florida Orchestra, further showcasing her versatility and skill as a musician.
Strings
Bass
Prince Rickens-Aguilar
Prince is excited to join our team of teachers and has 10 years of private lessons on cello, and it definitely shows.
As a recent graduate of River Ridge High School, Prince will be continuing her musical education while teaching.
Prince has also been playing bass for 6 years and has gained experience helping out with the orchestra for the past 3 years at River Ridge High School and already has been teaching privately.
Prine was previously an assistant to both Carly Scholz & Travis Henry & has solidified a strong foundation, and she enjoys sharing her knowledge with students.
Miss Cristina was attending a concert, and saw Prince in action, and was immediately in awe of not only her ability, but the performance quality on stage. Prince was approached on the spot to apply for a teaching position, and we 're so happy to have her.
Prince has a gentle and encouraging personality that makes her a great teacher for both kids and adults!
Ukulele
Banjo
Mandolin
Guitar
Keri Brinton
Keri (Aka Kerpow) started playing ukulele as a child when her mother handed down her own ukulele from her childhood.
Keri would pretend to be Elvis and learned You are My Sunshine on her first day playing. Now she enjoys playing banjo, mandolin, her ukulele collection, hand-pan, and guitar
When she is not teaching music, Keri works as a private chef, a nanny, and plays with a few bands, and creates art in her studio.
Keri brings her passion for music to our rockin' family and we know she will inspire whoever she teaches!
Acting
Deborah Ortiz
Deborah is an Actress, Writer, Director and Award-Winning Producer with a background in theatre, film and TV.
Deborah started as a theatre actress working in New York and began her writing and producing career in theatre.
She started her film career as an actress and quickly found a love for documentaries and directed and produced her first documentary, which is an award-winning film!
She has been featured in commercials for major brands, movies, and is always working on a project.
Deborah is currently working in the feature film arena as an actress, screenwriter and producer, but she also loves to share her knowledge of acting with others.
She enjoys Impacting lives through art, working with a lens of Hope and Empowerment, and she is excited to bring her love of theatre and knowledge to students of all ages at Rock Out Academy!
Voice
(Online Only)
Shalyah Fearing
Shalyah currently attends Berklee College of Music, where she studies music business and literature in hopes of becoming an entertainment lawyer.
She joins Rocks Out Academy exclusively as an online instructor and is excited to join our team!
Shalyah is a singer-songwriter and actress.
Born in Springfield, MA and growing up in New Port Richey, Florida, Shalyah was fully committed to juggling between music lessons and productions.
Music has always been in her family. She started singing when she was 5 years old and continued to pursue her career as a professional singer, from studying at an arts school in her hometown to landing lead roles in musicals like The Little Mermaid, A Little Princess, and Shrek to landing a spot in the Top 8 semifinals on season ten of NBC’s The Voice!
At age 15, Shalyah stole the hearts of millions of fans. First on Team Christina, then Team Pharrell and making it to the Top 8 on Team Adam all amongst an outpouring of critical acclaim. Idolator called her “amazing.” AXS claimed, “Fearing has amazing stage presence and sings with emotion and expression that is way beyond her years,” and Entertainment Weekly put it best, “She’s at the start of her own climb.”
Shalyah just got to open for and perform with Earth Wind and Fire & Gladys Knight and is continuing to make her mark in the music industry!
Piano
Voice
Guitar
Genna Bingochea
Genna has been teaching and performing in the Tampa Bay area for over 16 years. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in voice and theater from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro College of Visual and Performing Arts, where she attended and assisted i n numerous recitals, operas, jazz concerts, master classes, contests, musicals and contemporary theater.
She studied piano with Dr. Paul Steward, the chair of the piano department. She was a member of Mu Phi Epsilon a community service organization for music majors and was a music camp counselor.
She has performed in Operas such as Tosca and Carmen. Other performancecredits include, Camelot, Phantom, Kiss Me Kate, Hair and The Who’sTommy.
She completed music education classes and workshops such as instrumental methods and vocal pedagogy, a masters course for teachers of singing. She also conducted a respected music and movement program for young children.
She currently teaches and enjoys singing and playing a variety of musical styles from rock, blues jazz, folk and musical theater, to classical art songs and opera.
She also enjoys sharing her knowledge inacting and theater. She has strong experience working with students of all ages, backgrounds and learning
styles and has supported her students in numerous recitals and performances throughout the years.
Most recently she has been focused on original song writing, and playing the guitar. As an instructor, her philosophy is to discover one’s unique natural singing and playing style, and to find one’s creative passion. She believes piano/keyboarding and or voice ormusic lessons on any instrument in general, help individuals of any age and background improve their confidence, cognitive; memory communication skills and creative abilities, allowing a better quality of life.
Lessons will include “building a strong foundation for any style of music.” She believes although it is important to learn fundamentals suchas reading and writing music, music should always be fun and enjoyable.
Music is about finding and keeping passion in your heart and soul and tapping into one’s creative potential.
“Where words fail music speaks”---Hans Christian Anderson
Bass
Acting
Bianca Estes
Since the age of 3, Bianca has lived and breathed music. Her lessons began at age 5 with piano.
A bassist, band leader, and actor with decades of live TV, and film experience, Miss Bianca grew up in the Hollywood area in a musical family and was mentored by some of the best in music and drama in both theater and television.
Now, Miss Bianca is ready to pass the torch. With years of teaching students of all ages, Miss Bianca specializes in helping beginners build confidence and guiding advanced players toward professional goals and opportunities.
Lessons focus on real-world skills—how to sit in with a band, perform with ease and earn money as a performer, or ascending to the lead role in your school play or writing your mom a song.
Whether you’re 5 or 80, Miss Bianca will nurture and inspire you to grow as a musician and performer!
Guitar
Piano
Michael Tokar
Michael is excited to teach both classical & traditional style guitar as his primary focus at Rock Out Academy.
Michael is originally from New York where he has had formal studies in music education working with ensembles, ear training, and theory.
Michael has worked with bass, violin, cello. clarinet, recorder & trumpet. He has experience in choral and instrumental conducting as well.
His attention to maintaining structure and student goals will definitely make him a popular teacher at ROA!
Drums
Tristan McKinley
Tristan has been drumming since the age of 5 and is now happy to be sharing his love of drumming with students of all ages!
Under the instruction of Mr. Eric Allaire, Tristan has excelled in his skills and his passion for music has continued to grow stronger over the years!
Tristan is part of the Royal Sound Marching Band and loves working with both drum set and marching band students.
We are happy to welcome Tristan to Rock Out Academy!
Acting
Voice
Angela Franklin
Angela is a former long-time student of Miss Cristina, and has since continued her love of theatre, voice, and education.
Angela has starred & performed in numerous theatrical productions and has also worked teaching theatre, and as an educator.
(Full bio coming soon)