Sam is a highly accomplished musician and song writer, and has a unique ability to facilitate band communication and growth through clear direction and encouragement.

Sam co-fronts Perth indie punk band and Triple J faves, Sly Withers. 2019 saw the band sign with major record label Dew Process/Universal Music Australia and Sydney based Select Music Agency, tour nationally with the likes of Amy Shark and Slowly Slowly and the launch of their Gravis EP. In 2021 Sly Withers launched their first full length album Gardens which debuted in the ARIA chart top 10 and the band quickly followed this up in 2022 with the release of their second album Overgrown. They have toured their headline shows many times regionally and nationally to sold-out audiences over the last two years, performed at Festivals such as Splendour In The Grass, supported their childhood faves The Wiggles OG and took part in Triple J Like A Version with their cover of Cold Play’s The Scientist clocking up more than 800K views.

Sam has been involved in the Rock Scholars community for over 15 years and is our most experienced mentor.

Instruments: guitar, bass guitar, drums, vocal

Alt-country/rock singer-songwriter Siobhan Cotchin quickly became one of Australia's favourite new artists. Honest, raw and real — Siobhan has proven herself to be a talented songwriter. Able to simply decode complex human relationships, she gets listeners right in their feels. Quickly making her mark on the Australian music scene, her live sets have gained huge momentum, supporting Bob Evans, Spacey Jane, Abbe May and in February 2024 touring the country on a sell out arena tour with Matchbox Twenty and the Goo Goo Dolls

Siobhan’s heart-hitting songwriting has earnt her an impressive list of accolades including, a spot in triple j Unearthed Top 10 best discoveries of 2020, WAM’s Best Country Act, a nomination for Best Blues / Roots Act, Most Popular New Act for 2021 and the Grand Prize for WAM ‘Song Of The Year’ 20.

When Siobhan isn’t super busy with her own music, she has loved working with her vocal and songwriting students and mentoring bands at Rock Scholars since she joined the team in 2021.

Instruments: vocals, guitar, bass guitar

Sam is a working and touring drummer for one of our fastest rising indie-rock bands DICE The Band, playing sold-out headline tours all over Oz and festivals such as Splendour, GTM, Yours and Owls. Sam joined the team in April 2024 and is loving teaching drums and mentoring the next generation of local bands at Rock Scholars. Check out DICE's Like A Version cover of Gloria Gaylor's I Will Survive recorded in June 2024.

Instruments: Drums

Kiera is a vibrant, Indie-solo artist emerging from Margaret River, a radiant song-writer who is bringing a new flare to the Australian music scene with a set of gorgeous vocals that display intricate song-writing and bright melodies.

Kiera has graced festival stages across WA; Here Comes the Sun, Nannup Music Festival and most recently, Bunbury’s Groove in the Moo to name a few. One cannot help but bask in a live set with this bubbly artist, which is likened to a “colourful-indie-bliss out.” Not to mention Kiera’s comical side that will have you smiling from the first word!

Kiera is excited to be a part of the Rock Scholars team with a strong passion for mentoring musical minds, whilst creating a fun and positive atmosphere!

Instruments: vocal, guitar, keys

Angie is a local award-winning musician with a specialisation in vocals, songwriting and guitar. Angie’s unique and bold voice and songwriting has made her one of Perth's most in demand acts. Having played over 100 shows in the past 12 months, Angie is a seasoned performer and has experienced the ins and outs of the industry. She won a WAM award last year for her second single, has been nominated for several others in 2023, toured nationally, and has performed with greats like Noah Dillon, Death By Denim, Ghost Care, Melody Pool and more. Angie is really excited to mentor the next generation of bands and singer-songwriters coming up through the ranks at Rock Scholars.

Instruments: vocals, guitar, bass guitar

Michael Slitenbachs started playing guitar when he was 8, writing songs at 12, and playing in bands not long after. He is the frontman for Surf Shop Cops (formerly known as Last Lions).

The band had airplay on Triple J Unearthed, RTRFM and other indie stations around the country and went on to tour the east coast in 2019, and in 2020 landed support slots for British India, Hawthorne Heights, WAAX, West Thebarton, Press Club, Luca Brasi and a horde of others.

Michael is a multi-instrumentalist, has an Advanced Diploma of Contemporary Music - Music Artist stream from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and has been busy teaching at schools and other music education institutions since 2018. Michael has been mentoring bands at Rock Scholars since the beginning of 2022.

Instruments: guitar, bass guitar, drums, vocal

Anthony is a live and studio bass guitarist who has been playing guitar and bass guitar for the last 25 years playing in numerous local, national and international touring bands.

In 2004 he joined Birds Of Tokyo and toured nationally several times as well as playing in the US and London. Anthony co-wrote and played on their debut EP and first three full-length albums, Day One, Universes, Broken Strings live acoustic album and Birds Of Tokyo. 

He played the Big Day Out tour in 2007 and 2009 with Birds and travelled to the US with them playing alongside bands The Living End, Grinspoon, Faker, Dead Letter Circus, The Butterfly Effect, Silversun Pickups, Deftones and countless other local, national and international acts.

In 2010 Anthony became a session musician for the band The Siren Tower and Will Stoker & The Embers, as well as playing in his own projects, Therapist, Casino Sunrise and The Loved Dead. He joined rock band End Of Fashion as a live bass guitarist from mid 2019 to mid 2020. He now plays and records with heavy rock outfit Sparrow.

We were stoked to have Anthony join our team in early 2023! AJ is excited to work with our bands and music students in sharing his knowledge and experience.

Instruments: bass guitar, guitar

Originally hailing from Albany, Tom moved up to Perth to attend university in 2017, first to study Communications & Media and Commerce before realising music was the direction he wanted to take and went on to complete a Diploma of Music at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Tom has had 15 years of drum and percussion tuition himself with the likes of local drumming legends Danny Caddy and Ethan Darnell, was a silver-medalist at an International Music Competition held in Sydney in 2015 and was awarded Top music student at high school the same year. Currently Tom plays in local bands Star Arcana and Red Moon Cowboy and is a session drummer with the likes of Sixth Avenue, LATE 90s and Pretty Uglys. Tom also has a background in theatre with Southern Edge Arts and the WA Youth Theatre Company. Tom joined the team in May 2024 and is incredibly passionate about teaching drums and mentoring the next generation of musicians coming up through the ranks at Rock Scholars.

Instruments: drums

Toby is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing bass guitar, guitar and piano for many years and has theoretical knowledge in all three instruments. He has been performing live since the age of 16 and he enjoys playing all styles of music. Toby currently plays with Motel Marys, Patio Living and Lloyd & The Leftovers.

Toby is very passionate about teaching, always seeking to equip students with the technical, theoretical and performance skills that are needed for them to grow into fine musicians. He brings a positive and friendly vibe to all lessons.

Toby is also a former Rock Scholars band program student from his high school days and we are so excited that he is back some years later to share his experience in playing and performing with our young (and older) students. Toby joined the Rock Scholars team mid-2023.

Instruments: bass guitar, guitar and keyboard

Caleb has been playing guitar and writing music for over 10 years. A former Scholars' band program student himself from some years back, Caleb has been playing in local bands ever since. His latest music project is Rothko who are aiming to release their debut single and E.P. early this year. After completing an Advanced Diploma of Contemporary music - Music artist stream at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Caleb is now studying a Bachelor of Education with a major in music.

Caleb enjoys working with creative spirits and being mentored by some of our best back in the day makes an incredible band mentor to the next generation of bands coming up through the ranks at Rock Scholars today.

Instruments: guitar, bass guitar, vocals

Harry has been playing drums for 9 years and is currently in his final year of his Bachelor of Contemporary Music degree at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Harry also plays drums for the Alternative Rock band Eleven AM and has recently joined Perth funk rock band Scatterback coincidentally with Scholars’ band program alumni from many moons ago. Harry’s learning goal is to create a fun, exciting and positive impact with his teaching as he has had the same impact when he was being taught in high school. Harry commenced teaching at Rock Scholars at the start of 2024.

Instruments: drums

Tom is the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of local band Koi Pond. He grew up in the country and moved to the city a few years ago to pursue his music. Tom is a multi-instrumentalist who has been playing in bands since his early high school days. He has played in many bands in our local music scene since arriving in Perth. Prior to joining the Rock Scholars team mid-2023, Tom previously mentored young bands at a local high school. Tom loves working with young musicians in continuing to develop their craft and musicianship working in a band setting.

Instruments: guitar, bass guitar, drums

Sam is the joint owner of Rock Scholars with his wife Karen. He is a lifelong musician who has played in many original and cover bands over the years, both here and in the UK. Sam is passionate about all forms of music as long as it includes guitars and drums.

Instruments: guitar, bass, more guitar

Karen is the joint owner of Rock Scholars with her husband Sam whose main focus is the management of our band program that now has more than 30 bands, along with all things marketing and communications.

Karen is passionate about what we do having seen first hand the benefits of our Band Program being the parent of a former student herself and having seen the impact our program has had on so many young people since her and Sam purchased this business in early 2016.

Instrument: wants to be a bass player.

Ashleigh completed her Music Artist Contemporary Diploma at WAAPA in 2018, and through her connections at the academy, she formed everyone's favourite 4-piece indie-pop girl band Dulcie. Ashleigh is very passionate about the Perth music scene and is constantly creating, collaborating and growing as an artist. Sharing her passion for music is something very important to her and to be able to teach others from her own experience makes it all worth it. She is looking forward to working with her keyboard students at Rock Scholars.

Instruments: keyboard

As a former Rock Scholars student, Josh has a passion for everything we do and loves sharing his considerable knowledge and technical expertise with a new generation of young musicians.

Josh draws influence from drummers such as Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers and Art Blakey, all of whose work he studies as a part of his bachelors degree in Contemporary Music at WAAPA.
Josh currently plays in numerous Perth bands including Supathick and has recently been supporting emerging WA singer-songwriter Julia Wallace.

Instruments: drums, bass guitar, guitar