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GET READY TO ROCK: SCHOOL OF ROCK ROCKVILLE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 5
Live Music, Community Fun, and Hands-On Experiences at Rockville's Performance-Based Music School
ROCKVILLE, MD (August 24, 2026) — School of Rock, the leader in performance-based music education, is excited to announce the grand opening of School of Rock Rockville. The school is celebrating the opening with a free, family-friendly event on Saturday, September 5, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 1081 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD.
The celebration will feature free trial lessons, a prize wheel, games, and a live performance by the school's house band, giving attendees a firsthand look at the school's dynamic, performance-driven approach to music education.
School of Rock Rockville is owned by Craig Wagenhoffer, who spent 30 years in the high-tech industry as an engineer and engineering manager before opening his first School of Rock location. Craig's connection to music dates back to childhood, when he became hooked on rock music after the release of KISS Alive in 1975. He picked up the guitar in the early 1980s, was playing in club bands by age 15, and hasn’t put down the instrument since.
Craig's path to ownership began when a friend and bandmate left the same company to buy a School of Rock franchise in New Jersey. When Craig's corporate career came to a close around the same time his daughter left for college, he decided it was the right moment to open a school of his own.
"I am here to put the rock in Rockville," said Craig Wagenhoffer, owner of School of Rock Rockville. "Playing guitar has had an incredibly positive impact on my life, and I hope there will be students at the school who end up having that same experience."
"Craig's decades of experience playing guitar combined with his years of leadership in the corporate world make him exactly the kind of owner who can build something lasting for the Rockville community," said Stacey Ryan, President of School of Rock. "He's spent his life around music, and now he gets to share that passion with a new generation of students."
School of Rock Rockville offers music programs for all skill levels and age groups, from kids as young as four 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 Rockville, visit rockville.schoolofrock.com.
GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
WHEN:
Saturday, September 5, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
WHERE:
School of Rock Rockville
1081 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD
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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.
