Karl Mokal
Owner

Karl was born and raised in Boston, MA, where he began playing the guitar at the age of 9.  As a teenager, he became serious about playing music and began practicing during the day and sneaking into music clubs at night.  By the time Karl graduated high school, he was a well known blues guitarist within the Boston blues jam scene.  It was during those performances that he met a guitar instructor who helped him enroll in the Berklee College of Music. 

After a brief stay at Berklee, Karl moved to Hollywood, CA, to study at the world-renowned Musicians Institute.  There, he honed his skills as a guitarist, studying various styles and disciplines.  Karl relocated to Charlotte in 1991 bringing with him a new, upbeat "hands on" approach to teaching never before seen in the Charlotte area.  After teaching and managing at several well known music stores in Charlotte such as Music & Arts and Mars Music, Karl founded Streetwise Music in 2001 and created the well known "ROCK SHOP."



Connie Cooper
Program Director

Connie is a native of the Baltimore/Philly area and a business graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  She spent most of her career working for a national bank in a variety of capacities such as credit, quality assurance, sales/marketing and relationship management and has owned/operated several home businesses.  

Connie was enrolled in organ lessons at a very young age, began playing the guitar while in college, and has performed in several bands throughout the years.  She has three children who have all taken guitar and/or keyboard lessons at Streetwise Music since 2009.  Streetwise Music Instruction came highly recommended by the sales staff where she purchased her sons' guitars and by dozens of friends who encouraged her to go there rather than the other seemingly  "similar" music instruction businesses in the area.  Now, she knows why Streetwise gets so many great referrals!  One of her sons currently plays in his own band with several other musicians whom he met while participating in Streetwise's ROCK SHOP program.  

Connie's passion for providing quality, affordable, and, most important,  FUN music instruction to the families of Charlotte is what lead her to a career at Streetwise Music in early 2010.

Madison Stegall
Senior Instructor
Wesley Chapel location

Beginner to Advanced Guitar
Beginner Piano and Drums

Madison, native to Union County, began his musical journey at the age of 14.  He was an avid athlete until he found his musical soulmate...the guitar. He learned to play his instrument the best way he knew how - by copying his heroes.  He drew from influences such as Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Andy LaRocque (King Diamond), Darrell Abbott (Pantera), Jeff Waters (Annihilator), Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), Tom Scholz (Boston), and Joe Satriani. Though the majority of his favorites reside in the Heavy Metal genre, he also enjoys Classical Music, Old-School Country (George Jones, Hank Williams Sr., Willie Nelson, etc.) and Classic Rock. Madison was a self-taught musician until he began college at Wingate University. While persuing his degree in English/Literature, he took musical theory and guitar classes every semester.  Madison is an extremely experienced musician. He has been in bands since he began playing. He has recorded albums and tours with his heavy metal band Final Curse. His dream is to make it onto the cover of a notorious guitar magazine sometime in his lifetime. "Then, I could die happy."



Josh Horne
Guitar and Bass Instructor
Wesley Chapel location

Beginner to Advanced

Josh has been playing guitar for over 10 years.  His earliest influences include Dave Mustaine, Kirk Hammett and the late Randy Rhoads.  He has been teaching at Streetwise Music since the summer of 2009.  Josh says that music has always been very therapeutic for him.  "Watching my students grow as musicians and artists is a reward in itself to me, and I'm very thankful for the people I have met through Streetwise!"



Daniel Allison
Drums/Percussion Instructor
Ballantyne and Wesley Chapel locations

Beginner to Advanced

"I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.  The youngest of four, I have been playing drums for 10 years.  My style consists of, but is not limited to, rock, funk, hip-hop, and jazz.  I also play guitar, bass, keys, and write my own music.

When I'm not teaching, or working at the Fillmore Charlotte, I play in a regionally-touring band, Bubonik Funk.  We have shared the stage with the likes of Cyril Neville, Soulive, Jonny Lang and Zach Deputy.

My love for music runs deep, and I believe it is the truest form of self expression.  The most important aspect of being a musician isn't the ability to play - it's the ability to listen!"

Greg Dalton
Guitar, Piano and Bass Guitar Instructor
Wesley Chapel location

Beginner to Advanced

Originally from Missouri, Greg's musical journey began early, at the age of 4, with a plastic guitar.  Since then, he has spent the majority of his time practicing one instrument or another, from the saxophone, percussion, and even tuba in his high school marching band... to guitar, upright and electric bass, and even banjo in a Dixieland band at Missouri State University.

When Greg isn't teaching, he plays guitar in Chasing Edison, a progressive rock band from Charlotte, as well as many for-hire and contract gigs around the area.  Greg's influences range from jazz musicians such as Cannonball Adderly and Sonny Rollins to guitarists from Pat Metheny to Brad Paisley to Eddie Van Halen.  "There are only two types of music as far as I'm concerned:  good and bad.  I try to learn as much as I can from both."  In his spare time, he enjoys travelling and working at Guitar Center. 


Matt Braniff
Piano/Keyboard and Guitar Instructor
Ballantyne location

Beginner to Advanced Piano/Keyboard
Beginner to Intermediate Guitar

Matt was born and raised in Charlotte and has over 13-years' playing experience.  He understands the power of music and its ability to be used as the greatest form of self expression.  When Matt isn't teaching, he enjoys playing local and regional gigs.  He accepts all styles of music and is open to every idea that comes his way.  "Music is the greatest gift, because you can never stop learning from it!"

Mikey Marrero
Guitar and Bass Instructor
Ballantyne location

Beginner to Advanced Guitar
Beginner to Intermediate Bass Guitar

Mikey was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved to the states at a very early age.  His fascination with music started at age 8.  After playing clarinet for four years, he quickly picked up the guitar at age 11 and immediately fell in love with the instrument.

Obsessively devoting four-to-six hours to practice each day, Mikey taught himself works from classical to metal/shred genres.  He is currently a guitar major, studying for his degree in Music/Music Education at CPCC.  Mikey says, "Studying classical and jazz guitar really opens up your mind and perception toward the instrument and music in general.  Tracing the modern-day guitar language to its roots allows you to identify the path music has traveled for it to finally become what it is today."

Mikey is the founding member of the band "Fall of Ashes," which is a Christian Progressive Rock band that leads worship at local churches and plays at local venues.  He was recently honored as CPCC's 2011 Outstanding Student, where he was invited on stage during the world-renown Assad Brothers concert to share his future goals and aspirations.  Upon leaving CPCC, Mikey plans to continue composing for his band, obtaining a master's degree in Music Business and establishing a career in music.

Tony Oliver-Paull
Guitar and Bass Instructor
Ballantyne location

Beginner to Advanced Guitar
Beginner to Intermediate Bass Guitar 

Tony is from Fort Mill, South Carolina.  He has been playing guitar for over 12 years.  He graduated in 2007 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC.  There, he studied jazz guitar, classical guitar, and music theory.  

Tony currently plays guitar in the bands Reckless, The Escape Artists, and StellaRising.  He also fills in, on occasion, for the guitarist in The Stranger (Billy Joel Tribute band).  Tony's credits include playing guitar in several high school productions such as "Bye-Bye Birdie," "Grease," and "RENT."

 

 

James Nelson
Guitar Instructor
Wesley Chapel location

Beginner to Advanced

James Nelson’s interest in music began when he first heard “Eruption” by Van Halen. He got his first guitar shortly after his 13th birthday. He lived for his instrument, playing night and day, every day. His earliest influences included Angus Young (AC/DC), Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Joe Satriani, and later was influenced by Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Paul Gilbert and many others. It wasn’t long until people started noticing his rapid growth as a musician.

While in junior high school he participated in the school talent show and won. The word “Prodigy” was even used. In the 8th grade, he came up with the idea to have a benefit concert called “Lets Rock Cancer out Of Our Lives” for a contest hosted by the Roads to Success program. He was responsible for lining up bands to perform, along with arranging for concession sales, t-shirts to give away and all proceeds were given to the American Cancer Society. He assisted with the directing as well as performing.

From that point forward, James has continued to perform professionally as a musician for 5 years. He has also been involved in studio recording work for L.O.F Records, and is currently playing and recording with his Progressive Metal band, Society In Question (S.I.Q.). Most recently, Guitar Center of Charlotte has named him “Hometown Hero”. James will be featured on Charlotte’s local Guitar Center’s website. In the future, James plans to attend the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, California with his friends to receive the best education in the country for contemporary music. “Music is magic, and everyone needs a little magic in life.”

 

Julia Bullock
Vocal Performance Coach
Ballantyne and Wesley Chapel locations

Beginner to Intermediate 

Julia was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and moved to Charlotte when she was 9 years old.  She did her first talent show in second grade and immediately knew that she wanted to spend her whole life surrounded by music.

Julia started her first band at the age of 13, and after a year of playing covers, she was ready for something more.  She met a group of musicians through a Guitar Center ad, and the band Lyra Shines, known now as "The Local Traumatic," was born.

Her band has played at the Double Door Inn, Amos' Southend, Tremont Music Hall, and NC Music Factory.  They also participated in the "Shop 'Til You Rock" event at the Carolina Place Mall in 2010.

Julia's band has been going strong for three years and has helped her to develop as a singer, songwriter and musician.  Julia participated in the music camp NOISE!2009 in Nashville Tennessee and has acted in several high school musicals including:  Alice in Wonderland, Jungle Book, Clue - The Musical, and Godspell.  You can also see her in the independent short film "Ghost Trek" in 2012.

Alan Gomiz
Guitar, Piano and Songwriting Instructor
Ballantyne and Wesley Chapel locations

Beginner to Intermediate Guitar
Beginner Piano 

Alan has 16-years' experience studying the guitar, particularly the styles of classical/flamenco, contemporary jazz/jazz fusion, and Chicago blues.  He also has almost ten years' experience performing in groups, including a Christian group which toured the U.S.  

Alan is a singer/songwriter and has composed more than 50 songs, many of which he plans to record and promote in the near future.  He holds a Bachelor's degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville.