Whitefish Bay native Rock Marasco plans to open a School of Rock location in Shorewood this October to give kids and adults in his hometown a chance to fine tune their music skills and step into the spotlight.
Marasco, who currently lives near Chicago, will open a School of Rock franchise on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 4050 N. Oakland Ave., which formerly housed the nonprofit Gilda’s Club of Southeastern Wisconsin.
School of Rock is a performance-based music education program with more than 100 locations throughout the United States and in Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Chile, and the Philippines.
The school, which has been opening franchises since 2005 but first launched in 1998, strives “to inspire the world to rock…on stage and in life,” according to its website.
Marasco decided to open a Wisconsin franchise after noticing the musical strides two of his children were making at School of Rock programs in Illinois.
“Opening a School of Rock in Shorewood is extremely fulfilling as it combines my Milwaukee roots, passion for music and business background,” Marasco said. “I’ve seen firsthand how School of Rock can impact kids in so many ways, helping them both develop their musical talent as well as develop strong friendships with their peers. It’s very exciting to be able to offer this one-of-a-kind experience to kids in my hometown.”
The school’s instrumental programming, which is primarily conducted on weekday evenings and during weekends, emphasizes building confidence on stage alongside peer performers. Programs cater to students of all ages and encompass both private lessons and group practices that culminate in shows before live audiences.
At the school’s Shorewood location, most music instructors will be Milwaukee-area professionals. Students will also have opportunities to work with musicians from outside the city through a special “Guest Performer Series.”
To learn more about individual music classes or to schedule an onsite visit at School of Rock, go to www.shorewood.schoolofrock.com.
