staff
STEPHANIE SANDERS
Keyboard/Vocals/Bass Lessons, also THOR Alt/Indy and Fri-Rock Co-Director
Stephanie Sanders is a gifted musician who has been writing and performing music for over 10 years in and around the New York area as well as around the country. Early on in her career she wrote and recorded a full-length album with her band The Saras. Siamese Connection, released in 2001 on Starry Eyed Records. The band subsequently toured opening for Amfibian (featuring Tom Marshall, lyricist for Phish).
This led Stephanie to further pursue music by continuing her education at the New School Jazz program in New York City. After graduating with a BA in Keyboard Performance in 2003 she has continued her study of voice technique, bass, and guitar. She began teaching in New York with The Piano School of NYC teaching at multiple public schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan while also working with numerous private students of all ages. She has been working with Tomato’s House of Rock since it’s conception.
Stephanie currently gigs regularly in NYC. She can often be found playing bass and singing with the band Hawk and Dove. She can also be heard playing bass and/or keyboards as a frequent special guest with Chris Harford and the Band of Changes (featuring members of Ween and Joe Russo of The Duo / Furthur). She worked as musical director and pianist for a production of A Charlie Brown Christmas alongside a local Brooklyn acting troupe and performs on miscellaneous recordings and concerts in New York.
NATALYA GODLA
THOR House Manager and Band Time Director
Natalya came to the United States in the Summer 2003 from her native Russia. She then got certified at AFFA 2005 and has been working ever since as a fitness instructor. Although she does not play any instruments, she has always have been involved in the Rock music scene. Her experience teaching fitness classes for over 10 years, coupled with her love for music, brought her to THOR within the first few weeks of its existence. Natalya runs the Saturday THOR Band Time Program, but her main job as House Manager is hard to describe; While she is basically in charge of the THOR members when Tomato and Stephanie are working on the music, her role goes so much further in helping the members in so many various, and positive, ways.
MARC RIZZO
Private Guitar Instruction on breaks from his ongoing world-tours
We are extremely proud to announce that world-renown virtuoso guitarist of mega metal bands Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy will be teaching private lessons at THOR on breaks from his ongoing world tour.
Because Marc is a very diverse guitarist, with styles stretching from prog to classical guitar and even Flamenco, any guitarist will learn hugely from a lesson with Marc. This is an amazing opportunity for any young guitarist. We will be notifying THOR members of his availability via e-mail and here at the website.
ELLEN FOLEY
Vocal Lessons
Ellen Foley has had a long career in Rock and Roll! After singing “Stop right there!” to Meat Loaf in “Paradise by The Dashboard Light”, and being the co-lead vocalist on the “Bat Out Of Hell” album she went on to record as a solo Artist, collaborating with Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, The Clash, Blue Oyster Cult, Joe Jackson etc etc. She’s also done lots of TV (as Public Defender Billie Young on the 80′s hit “Night Court”!), film (“Cocktail”, “Fatal Attraction”, and “Married To The Mob”)and Broadway (“Hair”), and believes in helping kids find their Voice and work on the performance aspect of the material.
DOUG GILLARD
THOR Summer Intensive Program Co-Director
Doug Gillard is an extremely influential guitarist and songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio who has performed with many ground-breaking Indie-Rock bands and artists such as Death Of Samantha, Gem, Cobra Verde, Guided by Voices, Richard Buckner, Children’s Crusade, Starvation Army, Yuji Oniki, My Dad is Dead, The Mice, Bill Fox, Fence Lions, Zest Of Yore, Stewart Pack, Nada Surf, The Oranges Band, and as a solo artist. Gillard has also scored several independent films, including American Cannibal.
MATT ZEBROSKI
Drum Lessons
Matt Zebroski began playing drums professionally at age 16. At 18, Matt moved to New York to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. There he studied with some of the worlds most notable Jazz musicians including Billy Hart, John Riley, Charlie Persip, and Richie Beirach. Matt quickly developed into a highly accomplished player and instructor, taught private lessons in New York, and conducted clinics at the Litchfield Jazz Camp. While at the New School, Matt met guitarist Alex Skolnick, of Testament. In 2001 the two formed the Alex Skolnick Trio. They have since recorded four studio albums and toured world wide with the guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriella, playing the historic venues such as Radio City Music Hall, the Olympia Theater in Paris and Shepherd’s Bush in London. The trio’s 4th studio album “Veritas” is due to release in March of this 2011.
Matt has also had the pleasure of recording/performing with such artists as Lew Soloff, Bonnie Tyler, multi platinum songwriter Jim Steinman, Grammy nominated cellist Dave Eggar, Metal band IKILLYA (http://ikillya.com) Broadway star Rob Evan, Miles Davis keyboardist Adam Holzman, and Grammy award winning polka artist Alex Miexner. Matt Is also a founding member of the group the Flail (http://theflail.com/), Jazz quintet which has played numerous clubs in New York as well as the Jazz at Vienne and Marseille Jazz Festivals in Europe. Matt continues to search for a way to develop his style in a way that seamlessly incorporates all different aspects and styles of music.