Students from School of Rock Montclair Perform at bergenPAC Tribute to Lollapalooza's 25th Anniversary

Eight teenage musicians from School of Rock Montclair participated in a concert commemorating the 25th anniversary of Lollapalooza, an annual music festival that was conceived in 1991 by Perry Farrell, singer/founder of the band Jane’s Addiction. The concert, which took place at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood for a crowd of 800, also featured performances by student bands from School of Rock locations from across New Jersey.

“The fact that Lollapalooza has always presented the best in alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock, hip hop, and EDM gives it a strong connection to our students’ music tastes,” says Kevin March, General Manager of School of Rock Montclair. “The songs that our musicians performed at bergenPAC were by iconic 90s artists that are representative of the original Lollapalooza experience.”

Students who comprised the School of Rock Montclair band at the concert included:

· Willy Oechsli, 14, drums/bass guitar (Montclair)

· Austen Gray, 16, vocals/guitar (Belleville)

· Sam Schuman, 17, guitar (Montclair)

· Alex Carpenter, 13, guitar (Clifton)

· Jordan Scott-Young, 12, vocals/bass guitar (West Orange)

· Luca Yannuzzi, 13, vocals/bass guitar (Wayne)

· Ron Gorai, 15, guitar (Boonton)

· Shaurya Salwen, 15, drums (Montclair)

Songs that SoR Montclair’s students performed at the event were “Jeremy” by Pearl Jam, “Cherub Rock” by Smashing Pumpkins, “Bombtrack” by Rage Against the Machine, “Middle Man” by Living Color, “Man In a Box” by Alice in Chains, and “Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. The students also performed “Heartache Tonight” by The Eagles, in memory of the late Glenn Frey.

“I had a blast performing at bergenPAC with my friends, and had a great time watching, listening to, and meeting students from other School of Rock locations,” says SoR Montclair student Austen Gray. “School of Rock is a community, and it’s through that community spirit that I’ve had the opportunity to hone not only my playing skills, but also to become a better songwriter, performer, teacher, and even a better person. The lessons that I have learned and my unique experiences that could only come from a place like School of Rock will be an advantage for me throughout my music career.”