MATT BARILE
Owner/Founder
Matt began his music career as an audio engineer for the campus music venue of his undergraduate studies at Binghamton University, all the while playing and performing in both original and cover bands. After graduating with his Masters in Music Business and Technology from NYU, Matt secured a role as a composer, producer and sound designer with an Emmy-award winning Sonic Branding firm, Audiobrain, in Manhattan.
With the company, Matt has written, produced, and supervised music featured on NBC networks, including on-site for the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games, with his music also aired during the 2014 Sochi Olympics Gold Medal Hockey game and The Last Gold documentary (aired during the Rio Summer Olympic Games). He has also designed ringtones, app sounds and system notifications released on over 1 billion Android phones globally, created product sounds for the Ultimate Ears line of blue tooth speakers, written and produced music for the New York Football Giants official broadcast music package, and produced music, designed sounds and casted and recorded voices for WNET's educational game series Mission US, amongst several other music and audio based projects, including for brands such as Holland America Cruise Lines, Amazon, Kia, and Logitech.
Through all this, Matt has discovered the greatest of rewards in being able to share his love of music and sound with the young, budding musicians of the world, particularly here in the Warwick Valley.
ANDREW FORBES
Managing Director
Andrew is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, with a major in Music Business/Management. He also holds an MBA from Suffolk University in Boston. Andrew spent many years working on the business side of the music and television industries at companies such as Roc Nation, Viacom and MSG Networks. As a life-long musician, he has played guitar and bass in many bands over the years, and has extensive studio and performance experience.
SEAN MEYERS
Teaching Director
Sean is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter who began studying drums as his primary instrument nearly 25 years ago. After taking drum lessons in elementary school his enthusiasm for music quickly grew into obsession and Sean immediately began drumming with rock and metal bands in middle school. He continued to play, gig, and record with bands throughout high school and eventually graduated from Montclair State University in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance on the drum set. Throughout High School and beyond Sean also began studying guitar, bass, piano and vocals which has led to him releasing several albums of his own that he composed. Sean has made it a goal to be fluent in all styles of music, ranging from Jazz, Funk and Latin, to Rock and Heavy metal and just about everything in between. Sean continues to gig regularly through the tri-state area with a myriad of different acts and remains an active session musician, both on stage and in the studio. Sean's teaching style puts a healthy emphasis on technique, theory, and proper form, while still keeping things applicable, fun, and personalized to each student.
ANNE CLARK (GREENWOOD LAKE)
Piano & Vocal Instructor
Anne’s love for music began at a very young age, singing, playing, and writing in any spare minute, and joining every musical ensemble available. She attended Houghton College where she studied Music Composition with a concentration in Vocal Performance. While completing coursework with a strong classical focus, she continued to work on contemporary playing and writing techniques on her own.
Most recently, Anne acquired a degree and board certification in Music Therapy. She strives to help students achieve a musical education and product that they can be proud of, as well as an appreciation for music that will last a lifetime!
JOHN REDDAN
Guitar & Bass instructor
Born in the Rolling Hills of Warwick, New York, John Reddan was highly influenced by blues and classic rock music throughout his upbringing. John started playing the guitar at the age of nine, consistently trying to hone his skills. Over the years, he has had many great opportunities to work and play with some of the best musicians that music has to offer. Around 2001, John met international blues musician, Bill Perry. Perry, long running guitarist with Richie Havens, encouraged John to come on stage and play. After playing together one time, Perry asked John if he would be interested in playing guitar with the Bill Perry Blues Band. Soon after, John had become a mainstay having played with Perry for Six years. Some notable performances with Bill would include The Jimiway Blues Festival in Poland, New Morning Club in Paris, The New York State Blues Festival, and opening up for Bo Diddley at Stewart International Airport. They would play across the world bringing Bill Perry’s high-energy psychedelic blues to the people. John also played guitar on three of Bill’s records. After Bill Perry’s passing in 2007, John teamed up with his drummer brother, Chris, forming the Reddan Brothers Band in 2008. They produced and recorded twelve original songs written by John. Their album opened up many opportunities to play at various Festivals. The Reddan Brothers were honored to open for Levon Helm himself at both Bodles Opera House and at Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble. John has also shared the stage with guitarist Jimmy Vivino of The Conan O’Brien Show, James Cotton guitarist Slam Allen, Little Sammy Davis of The Levon Helm Band, and Nighthawk’s founder and guitarist extraordinaire Jimmy Thackery. Since 2012, John has been performing solo acoustic gigs throughout the New York tri-state area. As of 2015, he is also now a Member of the New York State Blues Hall of Fame. As of 2020 John has been Focused on Playing and Recording as much as possible as a freelance musician with many different projects though-out the Hudson valley and elsewhere. In 2023 John began teaching at the Rock Underground, offering students the opportunity to expand their own paths though Music Education.
TERRY MCDONOUGH (PINE ISLAND)
Piano Instructor
Terry holds a Bachelor Degree of music from Penn State university where he majored in music theory and composition. He has been performing with the local band “Tangent” for 15 years as well as playing solo around the area. Terry possesses a large song repertoire and the ability to improvise. He is an asset and a great source of information to the students he works with.
MIKE DERSCH (GREENWOOD LAKE)
Multi-Instrument Instructor
Mike brings a wealth of musical knowledge and teaching experience to The Rock Underground. He started playing saxophone in school in the fourth grade, which is around the same time he picked up guitar and started teaching himself. During the next few years, Mike found himself becoming more serious about music, picking up instruments like keyboard, bass and drums along the way.
In his early teens, he started writing original material and by his late teens he was playing live and gigging, all the while continuing with saxophone through high school and into college.
Mike went on to study Audio Engineering in college where he developed experience with recording and studio maintenance while also honing in on aspects of theory and performance.
Mike has been providing music instruction for many years. He also has experience running group rehearsals and overseeing live performances with students.
MARY LEE FARRIS (PINE ISLAND)
Piano & Vocal Instructor
Mary Lee has a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Pedagogy with a minor in Piano from the University of Louisville School of Music, along with a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. While there, she appeared frequently with the Kentucky Opera Association and made two recordings with the Louisville Orchestra on its First Edition Label.
She has been honored as a National Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, a National Winner of the WGN-Chicago Auditions, and received the Artist of the Year Award from the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She taught at the University level for several years before re-locating to New York to pursue her professional performing career.
She has performed as soloist with Orchestras throughout the country, including the Kansas City Philharmonic, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Charlotte Symphony, the Louisville Orchestra, and at Carnegie Hall for both the American Symphony and the New York Choral Society.
In her operatic career, Mary Lee has performed with the San Francisco Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Syracuse Opera, Chautauqua Opera and the Glimmerglass Opera Festival and others, including as soloist with the New York City Opera. She spent two seasons as Principal Dramatic Soprano at the Opera Theater of Coburg, Germany where she performed the title roles in Fidelio and Arabella, among others.
She is active with the Hudson Valley chapter of Music Teachers’ National Association, performing several times a year as a performer and provides music for the Scotchtown Presbyterian Church.
MILO AHENAKEW (PINE ISLAND)
Milo began playing and studying guitar at the age of 14. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Guitar with a Minor in Audio Production from Musicians Institute (MI) and has done work in Post Production Audio and Live Sound. He has played guitar in several bands from the Tri-state area (NY, NJ & CT) as well as in Southern California. Milo is a well-rounded musician with a background in different genres such as Rock, Blues, Metal, R&B, Folk, Jazz, Fusion, Funk, and Country.
As a teacher, Milo has instructed students of various age ranges and skill levels. Milo is well versed in the application of music theory, ear training, reading, and playing technique to supplement the needs and wants of his students. He believes in putting the student first and supplies them with the skills necessary to reach their goals.