Cape artist earns coveted spot on School of Rock’s Allstars Music Program Tour
A Cape Coral resident has been invited to perform on the School of Rock Allstars Music Program Tour this summer, an honor hard to earn.
And he’s done it twice.
“I’m honored and proud to be part of the 2024 AllStars team. I enjoy playing alongside and learning from such talented peers and mentors,” said Tommy Firriolo, 16. “AllStars is a rewarding experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Having the incredible honor of meeting musicians that became friends as well as mentors helped shape my previous tour experience. The School of Rock instructors, chaperones, and students inspired and supported me along the way, and I cannot wait to be part of this 2024 tour.”
The junior at Ida S. Baker High School plays bass.
School of Rock Fort Myers owner/GM Doug Harris said Firriolo has been a student at School of Rock Fort Myers for three years.
“The School of Rock AllStars Tour takes the very best students from around the world and sends them on a county-wide summer tour across the United States,” he said. “Less than one percent of School of Rock students are selected each year to represent School of Rock as an AllStar. Students in both the performance program, and house band are eligible to audition for this prestigious award.”
The students go through an intensive audition process, which starts off with video submissions, followed by live auditions.
The two-week tour series began more than 10 years ago to provide students with an authentic touring experience, which includes traveling on a tour bus, doing tour publicity, and starring in nightly performances at famous venues and festivals.
“Becoming an AllStar is the highest level of achievement for a School of Rock student. These students often go on to have accomplished careers in the music industry. Former AllStars have gone on to become touring artists, star in Broadway musicals, get signed to record deals, become finalists on talent competitions like The Voice and American Idol, or have other notable roles in the music industry,” Harris said.
The first stop on the tour will be at Nauti Parrot Oasis, Fort Myers, on Monday, July 22 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased HERE.
Other stops include Hooch & Hive in Tampa, Conduit in Orlando, Respectable Street in West Palm and Gramps in Miami. The tour concludes on Saturday, July 27.
“Additionally, they will spend a couple of days in a world-class studio doing some recording sessions,” Harris said.
Firriolo said he is looking forward to being a part of this authentic touring experience.
“I’m also very excited to reconnect with old friends from last year’s tour as well as getting to meet new like-minded musicians. It’s a privilege to have the chance to meet and support other local School of Rock House Bands as well,” he said.
Firriolo hopes that being exposed to new mentors and instructors will allow him to grow as a musician through professional experiences.
He qualified in 2023, making this his second experience.
“My 2023 School of Rock AllStars tour was truly unforgettable. I met some amazing instructors and students. It gave me a chance to have a professional touring and recording experience that was made possible through the School of Rock AllStars program. I also loved getting to see different parts of the country while exploring the West Coast,” Firriolo said.
The School of Rock AllStars Music Program has partnered with Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. He said this partnership was created to give support to an incredibly important cause.
“Teen suicide rates have risen at an alarming rate, making young people’s mental health support more vital than ever. At School of Rock, we know that music can change lives, and so can mental health awareness. School of Rock is committed to spreading SPTS’s message of reducing the number of youth suicides,” Harris said.
School of Rock Fort Myers began in 2020 by Doug and Lori Harris. Every year since, it has won the Best of Fort Myers for Best Music School, Best Music Lessons, Best Afterschool Programs, and Best Summer Camp Programs.
The school has 200 students learning guitar, bass guitar, drums, vocals and piano/keys using Performance Based Music Education.
“Twenty years of experience and hundreds of thousands of students have taught us that playing music with others results in stronger proficiency compared to conventional music education,” Harris said. “Working toward and experiencing live performance is the core of our curriculum. Our students grow as individuals by taking the stage with others. While our students work with bandmates, they learn broader life skills like collaboration, compromise and courage. We call this revolutionary approach to music education ‘The School of Rock Method.’ The School of Rock Method builds musical proficiency through our proprietary Method App, Method Book collection, and SongFirst approach. Our method has been awarded a patent making our teaching system available nowhere else. School of Rock’s performance based music education includes programs for all ages and skill levels — as young as 3 years old to adults.”