Our Teachers
Zach Cambria
Zach Cambria is a multi instrumentalist who teaches, writes, composes, arranges, and performs on the piano, guitar, ukulele, percussion instruments, and with his voice. In addition to teaching at Sandy Springs Music, he writes and plays all types of contemporary music (most notably rock, soul, R&B, pop, and jazz) in local studios. He is featured in and has written on more than 100 records for various artists. He also writes and records his own music. Zach performs with a band or at jazz clubs weekly and can be seen recently with touring acts Baby Rose, Sam Burchfield, and Chelsea Shag, among others. With a strong background in theory and performance, and a vigor to inject creativity and individuality in all aspects of music, Zach inspires his students to think and play in the way that feels right to them. For some students, that means learning by the book. For others, it may mean playing by ear. Everyone is unique, with different passions and ways or rates of learning. Zach believes that should be celebrated, tapped into, and cultivated. Zach loves the challenges and victories of getting students and musicians to understand music and play it creatively for themselves and others. He looks forward to every individual who walks through the door looking to learn, regardless of ability or age.
Alex Selph
Alex’s excellent communication and interpersonal skills make him a favorite among his students. He teaches students interested in a range of genres including rock, reggae, latin, R&B, pop, jazz, gospel, and blues. Alex’s students gain a solid foundation in whichever style they pursue. Alex began exploring percussion and playing drums at the age of seven. He now performs with a number of different bands in Atlanta. Alex is a graduate of the Atlanta Institute of Music. He is proficient in composing, transcribing and arranging music.
Devon Cantwell
Devon has been teaching guitar for over 13 years in addition to writing and recording for various bands around Atlanta. He graduated from the Atlanta Institute Of Music and specializes in Rock, Jazz, R&B, Blues as well as classical guitar. Students just starting or students wanting to explore improvising/soloing/shredding, Devon is your guy! Devon also loves working on songwriting and diving into music theory to help his students develop into well rounded musicians. Devon plays a variety of stringed instruments such as Guitar, Bass guitar, Mandolin, and Ukulele. His belief is that through the right amount of self discipline and practice anyone can find their individual voice on their instrument and he strives to get his students where they ultimately want to go! Devon loves working with kids as well as adults and his upbeat and positive attitude is beloved by his students and staff alike!
Doug Ehlen
Doug Ehlen believes the key to musical success is igniting the spark that excites each student. Whether it’s learning the theme song to your favorite TV show, understanding the backstory to a popular song, or unlocking the fretboard, Doug understands that doing what it takes to get a student excited to pick up his or her instrument is critical to instilling a long-term love for music. Doug teaches all genres, ages, and skill levels. His years of experience with live performance and recording arm him with endless lessons, materials, techniques, and stories to share. Doug is a Georgia native. He graduated from the Atlanta Institute of Music in 2012 and has helped students discover their passion for music since 2011.
Farrel Capek
Farrel Capek has a gift for making music lessons fun. She has seen time and time again that students learn best, stay motivated, and meet their goals when they love what they are doing. While she teaches voice and piano across all genres, Farrel specializes in pop, rock, R&B, classical, and musical theater. She teaches students how to sing with proper vocal technique, how to record in the studio, how to perform for an audience, and how to audition. If a student is interested in creating their own music, she works with them to strengthen their songwriting skills. Since her first paid performance at the age of 11, Farrel has performed in cities across the country from Atlanta to LA. She has trained with world-renowned vocal instructors including Seth Riggs, vocal coach to Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and more than 150 other Grammy winners.
Jared Bryan
Jared Bryan joined the team at Sandy Springs Music in the spring of 2005. He has been playing and studying the guitar for more than twenty years.
Since earning his degree from the Atlanta Institute of Music, Jared has
dedicated himself to performing and teaching. Jared’s specialties are
rock, jazz, R&B, and funk. He strives to bring out the gift of music
he believes all of us possess. Jared has toured across the south and
opened for well-known bands including Cowboy Mouth and The North Mississippi All Stars.
Jennifer Hanna
Jennifer is a staff singer at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. A mezzo-soprano, Jennifer holds a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance from Millikin University. She completed her master of music degree at Georgia State University in December 2007, and is in the voice studio of Kathryn Hartgrove. Jennifer was recently seen performing the roles of Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffman and Harry in Albert Herring at Georgia State University. She has also performed roles in scenes from Hansel and Gretel, Saint of Bleecker Street, Louise, Wolfy, Cold Sassy Tree, Cosi fan Tutte, Ballad of Baby Doe, Sir John in Love, Alcina, Falstaff, and Marriage of Figaro. Jennifer attended the Blas International Summer School of Irish Traditional Music and Dance in Limerick, Ireland during the summer of 2000. In the summer of 2002, she participated in La Musica Lirica Opera Festival in Urbania, Italy. She also performed in the Harrower Opera Workshop during the summers of 2006 and 2007. Prior to living in Atlanta, she sang under the direction of Paul French with the Mount Carmel Church Choir, and William Ferris Chorale in Chicago, IL.
Josh Hayward
Josh has been teaching saxophone, flute, clarinet, and piano at Sandy Springs Music since 2017. He began working in the Atlanta music scene since 2009 as a reed player, arranger, and educator. A Conyers native, Josh found his musical footing with Atlanta area legend Dub Hudson before moving on to study with Marcus Printup (a member of Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra) and jazz heavyweight Sam Skelton, his mentor at Kennesaw State University. This rich background opened the door to regular all-state band attendance and a deep understanding of youth music education techniques. Josh performs regularly in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast.
Kyle Van Rooyen
Kyle Van Rooyen has been performing in the Atlanta area for over ten years. In 2010, he graduated from the Atlanta Institute of Music and Media (AIMM) with a performance certificate with a concentration in drum kit. Kyle has had experience in several different environments: Drum line, Big band, Studio work, Hip Hop,
Gospel, Fusion, and has even performed on some of the largest stages in Atlanta, including Lakewood Amphitheater. He is currently the house drummer and band director for The Factory Church in Woodstock, GA and is also a freelance drummer. Not only is Kyle passionate about the drums, he also delves into other areas of music including guitar, vocals, bass, and even composition. One of Kyle’s other passions is teaching, which he has been doing for over ten years as well. He is excited to share his love for music and create a positive learning environment for the next generation of drummers.
Mateo Rueda
Speaks English (native) and Spanish
Mateo has a gift for identifying little things that keep his students motivated. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from The U. of Memphis. He has worked professionally as a performer in regional theaters across the country. To Mateo, every song tells a story, whether it is lyrical or instrumental, musical theatre, pop/rock, classical, or jazz. His goal is to help his students master the technical elements of a song while discovering creative ways of expressing themselves.
Mel Latty
Mel has prepared students for the National Federation Festival of Music, Georgia All-State Choir, recitals, showcases, musical theatre auditions, and talent shows. A graduate of Georgia College and State University with a bachelor’s degree in music therapy, Mel has experience working with diverse populations including students diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, learning disorders, visual impairments, and more. During her time at GCSU, she received several awards and scholarships. She loves to customize lessons to suit individual student needs. She often brings additional instruments to her lessons for students interested in playing in a group setting so they learn how to play with others. She has a knack for helping students understand how individual skills relate to their overall musical goals. Melanie’s greatest passion is songwriting and composing with students.
Nich Gannon
Nich attended Young Harris College where he received his Bachelor’s in Music. From there he moved to Atlanta and attended Georgia State University, where he received his Master’s in Jazz Studies. As a performer, Nich draws influence from various genres including Jazz, Rock, R&B, Funk, Motown, and Blues. He has performed with, attended masterclasses, and been instructed by various artists including Randy Brecker, Claus Hessler, Ignacio Berroa, Ed Neumeister, and many others. He currently holds the seat as drummer for local Atlanta band, The Ides of June. As an educator, Nich has helped students prepare for college auditions, All-State/Honor Band, DCI, and WGI. He believes in helping students find their individual voice behind their instrument while learning to be a chameleon within a broad variety of music.
Rachel Campbell
Rachel Campbell is a violinist and Sandy Springs native who studied here at Sandy Springs Music prior to earning a degree in Music Education at Kennesaw State University. Rachel has been teaching at SSM since 2014 and loves working in the same community where she grew up, often guiding students through musical journeys very similar to her own. She thrives on teaching violinists, violists, and cellists of different ages, backgrounds, musical experiences, and musical interests. Rachel’s passion for teaching means that she is always learning. She reads constantly about innovative teaching approaches, new ideas to meet student needs, and creative solutions to addressing problems. She particularly enjoys developing games and fun activities to enhance student engagement and understanding. Rachel sets a relaxed lesson environment that builds student confidence and establishes solid playing techniques. When she is not teaching, Rachel plays violin with the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra and fiddles in Atlanta string band Fruit for All.
Rebecca Uhlein
While earning her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of West Georgia (UWG), Rebecca performed with the UWG Choir, UWG Jazz Band, and various gigs with “Shades of Red”, a trio she co-founded. She sang at St. Oliver’s Catholic Church as part of the Life Teen Band, and is currently cantoring with the band at St. Jude Catholic Church for the Life Teen contemporary service. Rebecca was a production assistant for “The Voice” and worked as a stage manager, event production manager, and booking agent for Driven Entertainment Group. Her favorite genres are classical, contemporary, musical theater, and jazz works. Music has had an amazing impact on Rebecca’s life. She is grateful for the opportunity to nurture a love for music in her students.
Robert Breeser
Speaks English (native), Spanish and Japanese
Robert Breeser began playing trumpet at age 8 in his middle school band. Developing an early passion for brass instruments, Robert began taking private lessons at Sandy Springs Music with Jonathan Lackey and continued those studies through his high school years. Robert honed his skills while playing in the All State Jazz Band and the GSU Youth Jazz Ensemble. Robert continued his musical studies while attending Wake Forest University and played in their acclaimed marching band. Now coming full circle, Robert has returned to Sandy Springs Music in a teaching role and is excited to share his passion for music with students. He focuses on a holistic teaching approach, teaching students about fun and expression as much as technical prowess.