GET READY TO ROCK: SCHOOL OF ROCK ASHEVILLE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 20
Local Musician and Real Estate Investor Brings Performance-Based Music Education to Asheville
ASHEVILLE, NC (September 8, 2026) – School of Rock, the leader in performance-based music education, announces the grand opening of School of Rock Asheville. The free, family-friendly event will take place on Sunday, September 20, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 1636 Hendersonville Road, Suite 194, Asheville, North Carolina.
The celebration will feature live music from nearby School of Rock locations, instructor performances, school tours, face painting, rock star dress-up and photo opportunities, and free School of Rock temporary tattoos. Devils Foot Brewery will provide craft sodas and Mikasa Peruvian will serve tacos, with the event closing out with a piñata guitar smash.
School of Rock Asheville is owned by Jeff Hayes, a lifelong musician and guitarist who spent his career in real estate before opening his first School of Rock location. Hayes has lived in and around Asheville since 2012, where he has played in several local bands.
"Music has always been a lifelong love, companion and therapist for me, and helping others find the joy that music brings is my goal," said Hayes.
Hayes first discovered School of Rock through the brand's YouTube videos of Allstar performances. After watching the group perform at Summerfest 2025, he became convinced the program's performance-based model belonged in Asheville.
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“Jeff's roots in the Asheville music scene and his own background as a performer give him a real understanding of what students are looking for,” said Stacey Ryan, President of School of Rock. “His enthusiasm for the performance-based model, and his commitment to bringing that experience to his community, make him a great fit to lead this school.”
School of Rock Asheville offers music programs for all skill levels and age groups, from kids as young as five years old to adults. Students receive weekly one-on-one instruction on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, or vocals, and participate in group rehearsals that culminate in live performances at real venues. School of Rock's patented performance-based model builds musical skills while fostering life skills like creativity, resilience, and teamwork.
For more information about School of Rock Asheville, visit https://www.schoolofrock.com/locations/asheville.
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
WHEN:
Sunday, September 20, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
WHERE:
School of Rock Asheville
1636 Hendersonville Road, Suite 194
Asheville, NC
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About School of Rock
School of Rock helps aspiring musicians master skills, unleash creativity, and develop the tools they need to thrive in life. Founded as a single school in Philadelphia, PA., in 1998, School of Rock has become a rapidly growing international franchise with over 650 schools open or in development across 23 global markets and has grown its student count from 4,000 in 2009 to over 80,000 today. School of Rock offers a wide variety of music lessons, including guitar, singing, and piano. The company also sells musical instruments and music gear through its GearSelect program.
School of Rock was awarded US Patent 10,891,872 in 2021 for its innovative music education method. School of Rock is a proud supporter of Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock), the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide (SPTS), and the Play Without Limits Project, a Youth Enrichment Brands initiative that provides youth activity scholarships to kids in need. School of Rock also has garnered the following industry awards in recent years: 2026 Global Franchise Grand Champion; 2026 Regional Champion – U.S.A. by Global Franchise Awards; 2026 and 2025 Best Children's Service & Education Franchise by Global Franchise Awards; seven consecutive years as Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 Top Children's Music Enrichment Brand and ranked #1 in the Children's Enrichment Category in 2025 and 2026; International Franchise Association's 2025 and 2024 Franchisee of the Year Awards; 2025 Franchise Business Review Top Franchise; 2024 Franchise Business Review Most Innovative Franchise; 2024 Top Recession-Proof Franchise by Franchise Business Review; 2024 Culture100 List by Franchise Business Review; 2024 Silver Award for Employee Satisfaction by Franchising@Work; 2024 Award Finalist by Franchising@Work; and 2021 Franchise Innovation Award for Most Innovative Use of Customer-Facing Digital Tools.
Madeleine Nasch