Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy

January 9, 2026 Simone Ellin, Associate Editor

Andrew Walen of Pikesville recently opened a School of Rock franchise in his hometown. (Photo provided)

They say you’re never too old to rock ‘n’ roll. Pikesville resident Andrew Walen wholeheartedly agrees.

Last June, Walen became the owner of Pikeville’s new School of Rock music school franchise, where he’s helping other enthusiasts realize their rock ‘n’ roll dreams.

Recently, Jmore caught up with Walen, a Baltimore native and former psychotherapist and mental health industry executive, to learn about his newest venture.

How did you come to own a School of Rock franchise?

I was an executive and owner in the mental health space and our business, Refresh Mental Health, sold to Optum Healthcare, in 2021. I was basically ushered out the door, so I retired at 48.

I spent over two years working part-time as a therapist, but I was kind of bored. I started looking to see what businesses might be for sale and stumbled across School of Rock. I was familiar with them as a School of Rock dad. Back when my son was 10, we wanted him to get involved in music lessons. He started out playing the drums, and then someone turned me on to School of Rock, and we tried them out with a summer camp. He went from being a novice to a kid literally playing a song from the band Sublime and a Beatles song in five days. My wife and I were floored by the progress he made. So we enrolled him in their regular program and he was there, at the Baltimore City location, for four years.

I was also a graduate of the Berklee School of Music. Before my son was born, I was a professional musician and songwriter in Nashville. So I contacted School of Rock and they were so fun and accommodating and kind. School of Rock was a perfect opportunity to take my skill as a therapist and musician to help people not just with their musical education but their well-being in general, which is what I think education should be.

Why Pikesville?

I live in Pikesville and have since we moved from Nashville in 2007. I called School of Rock and said, ‘Hey, listen, I’d be interested in being a franchisee, but I don’t want to travel to do it.’ They said, ‘We just opened up that territory for a new franchise, so your timing is perfect.’ It was beshert. It’s been a long, hard road trying to find a location, getting through all of the issues with permits, buildouts and hiring, and getting students in the door, but it has been eminently rewarding.

How’s it going so far?

It’s been an absolute blast. We’ve got kids in our punk show which is for 8-18-year-olds, and they’re just killing it. We’ve got a ‘Best of 2000s’ show for the same age group, and we’ve got an adult band doing ‘Best of the ‘80s,’ and they’re having so much fun. We’ve got 19-year-olds to an 87-year-old in our adult program. They’re from all walks of life.

And you’ve reached out to the Orthodox community?

I recognized how many businesses were not an option for members of the religious community, and I have a lot of friends who are observant. So I chose to be closed on Fridays and Saturdays. I wanted to accommodate my staff, who are professional musicians who get their best paying gigs on Fridays and Saturdays. But I also wanted to make sure the religious community would have the opportunity to participate in everything we do. So we’re open Sunday through Thursday.

What programs are you offering now?

We have different groups for different ages, starting with ‘Little Wing’ for 4- and 5-year-olds; ‘Rookies’ for 6- and 7-year-olds; ‘Rock 101’ program for 8-12-year-olds, where they get their first exposure to playing in front of people. They will do a couple of songs at our end-of-season performance, and it’s always a big treat for them and their parents.

Once they graduate with enough skill in their instrument and emotional maturity, they graduate to our performance-based music education. That’s a two-hour band rehearsal, plus their individual lesson, and they’re doing themed shows. This season, we’re doing a punk show — Blondie, The Clash, the Ramones and our ‘Best of 2000s,’ which is bands like Foo Fighters and The Killers and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

School of Rock Pikesville is at 1848 Reisterstown Road. For information about School of Rock, Pikesville, visit schoolofrock.com/locations/Pikesville.