Cali Rodi
Singer · Songwriter · Musician
Seventeen-year-old Cali Rodi comes from Cave Creek, Arizona, and is a senior at Cactus Shadows High School. Cali’s musical influences range from the guitar licks of Keith Urban, and the pure country of Miranda Lambert, to the soulful sounds of Grace Potter. Playing guitar since age 9, and writing her own songs since age 12, Cali is well on her way to becoming a major force in country music. Ever since her very first paying gig at the Buffalo Chip at age 12, Cali has performed all over Arizona, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, and with country super group Little Big Town in Nashvile. Currently, you can find Cali at the Hyatt Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch on Thursday and Sunday nights. She plans to pursue her music career next fall at Belmont University in Nashville.
Cali also has her heart and country soul set on finding a cure for cancer. Since 2009, when she lost her grandmother to cancer, she has been a musical ambassador and performer for the New York-based T.J. Martell Foundation and its efforts in finding a cure.
Jimmy Leg
Jimmy Leg is five talented guys – two lead guitarists, a bass player, a drummer, and a lead singer that play an eclectic song set ranging from alternative to classic rock.
Band members Max, Patrick, Kyle, Morgan, and Sean came together in the Spring of 2011 during a Stages Music Workshop. It was at this workshop that Kyle and Sean first played together and realized they had a common interest in song selection and live performances. The boys set out to find the best talent available and immediately reached out to Morgan to add his unique and mad guitar skills to go with Kyle’s.
Max joined the band with his amazing self taught drum skills – this guy can play anything! Patrick joined the band and brought his effortlessly smooth style and groove on the bass. All the members have helped fuel their exciting live performances. The Band’s restless energy and constant activity gave rise to the name of the band, Jimmy Leg.
The Band enjoys a range of music that engages a broad audience with selections from Green Day, Van Halen, Jet, Weezer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cage the Elephant, Velvet Revolver, and U2, along with some original tunes.
Despite their young age, the band has played live performances at many venues which include Channel 12’s EVB Live, Desert Ridge Marketplace, Tempe Marketplace, Club Red/Red Owl, The Big Fish Pub, The Parkway Bar – La Mesa, CA and local Scottsdale, AZ establishments such as Hornacek’s House of Golf, Jalapeno Inferno, El Pedregal, Highland’s Church, and Rhythm & Wine. Jimmy Leg also won the Battle in the Basement 2012 hosted by “No Longer Together”
The Band has performed for several local and national charities, which include MASKMatters.org, Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, Teen Life Line, Workshops For Youth & Families, AZ Hunger Week, Hornacek’s Golf Toys for Tots, and Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation’s Rock & Skate Event.
Bobbi Kerr
Bobbi Kerr began guitar lessons at the age of 8 and incorporated singing into her music at the age of 11. She is now 14 and has played at several venues including Buffalo Chip, Hard Rock Café, Harold’s, The Compound, Women’s Expo, Cody’s and Bookman’s. Bobbi has been an active member of the Chicks With Picks for three years and performs frequently with the organization. She enjoys writing her own music and is eager to record her first cd. Musical artists that influence her include Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, The Band Perry and country music as a whole. This is Bobbi’s second year participating in Rock the District and she is very excited for the opportunity!
BUDDHA!
One with the music – in the zone – zen to the tone – in tune with the time: feeling the dichotomy of love and sadness of the world; listening to the sound of one hand clapping; focusing beyond the pop-culture of the vacuous children of the third millennium; channeling Dillon and linking to Lennon. Paying full freight in the heart but still pushing it to the music, this trio is fresh and young in their time together, yet fully committed to sharing the vibe; sounding out the depths of our collective souls; truth through rhyme too harsh to bear, were it not for the smooth guitar; heart stopping, but for the heartbeat of the drum. As if it’s kicking you to listen to the next stanza. This is not a front. Peace. Not just a saying, we really wish you peace, in the zone to the syncopated pulse of life. Written from the heart, original, thoughtful. BUDDHA! John Patrick Tracy (songwriter, singer, guitar) Tim Sammons (drums) and Skylar Rawson (bass guitar)
Run 2 Cover
Run 2 Cover is comprised of three young, gifted, and relevant teen musicians. Band members include: Christian (bass/lead vocals) and his younger brother, Brandon (drums/vocals) and their best friend and neighbor, Colin (lead guitar/vocals). Run 2 Cover performs their original music as well as a wide spectrum of cover songs ranging from Bob Marley, Prince, Blink 182, Alice Cooper, Black Eyed Peas, Ramones, Guns and Roses, Chevelle, Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo Green, Jimmy Eat World, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, etc…The band performs all over the valley and has shared the stage with popular local and national bands.
Run 2 Cover won FIRST place in the 2011 Battle in the Basement band competition held in Scottsdale, Arizona. The winner was determined by a panel of judges and also audience vote.
Run 2 Cover competed in the 2010 and 2011 Alice Cooper Christmas Pudding Talent competition and made it all the way to the finals both years.
The bands songs, ‘Santa Train” and, “Here Come’s Santa” is featured on Alice Cooper’s 2011 and 2012 Christmas Pudding CD. Run 2 Cover’s music has been featured on 93.3 KDKB Ruby Cheek’s radio show.
Run 2 Cover is currently working on more originals and planning to return to the recording studio to finish a 5 song EP this year.
Maya Glicksman & Kyle Kelleher
Maya Glicksman is fourteen years old and is a freshman at Cactus Shadows High School. Music has always been her strongest passion and a huge part of her life. She has been studying classical piano since she was three years old, and began taking voice lessons with Satyam Patel, director of Voices Studio, three years ago. Maya also plays ukulele and a bit of guitar. Some of her biggest musical inspirations include Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Beyonce, and Natasha Bedingfield. She is very excited to perform with Kyle Kelleher and the Voice Studio Performance Troupe at Rock The District this year!
Kyle Kelleher is fourteen years old and is a freshman and at Cactus Shadows High School. Music has made a really big impact on his life. He has been taking guitar lessons since the beginning of fifth grade and has not stopped yet. Kyle also plays a bit of drums. Kyle is very excited to perform with Maya Glicksman at Rock The District this year!
Sydney Collins
Sydney Claire Collins has always loved to perform. Her first exposure to performing and singing came through participating in musicals with Moon Valley Productions, Christian Youth Theater, and Paradise Valley Community College. She was chosen to perform in the productions of “Seussical the Musical”, “Annie”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”, “Your’e a Good Man Charlie Brown”, and “The Music Man”.
Things changed about a year and a half ago when Sydney started playing the guitar. Since then, her taste in music has expanded to include more mainstream music, with inspiration from Jack Johnson, Sheryl Crow, and The Black Keys.
The experience Syd gained from performing in musicals, combined with her amazing voice, her love of singing in front of audiences, and her exposure through guitar lessons to more mainstream music has given her the opportunity to recently performed at a wide range of venues – which include Channel 12’s EVB Live, Desert Ridge Marketplace, Tempe Marketplace, Club Red/Red Owl, Alice Cooperstown, The Parkway Bar – La Mesa, CA and local Scottsdale, AZ establishments such as, Jalapeno Inferno, Highland’s Church, Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers, and Rhythm & Wine.
Sydney was a finalist in the Chicks With Picks 2012 Chick Stock Singing Competition, and recently became a member of Chicks With Picks.
Sydney also devotes a lot of her time performing for several local and national fundraising activities which include MASKMatters.org, Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, Workshops For Youth & Families, AZ Hunger Week, and Hornacek’s Golf Toys for Tots
Sydney hopes to continue to pursue her love of singing, and guitar playing…
Sarah Nelson
Sarah Nelson is an eighth-grader at Sonoran Trails and has been in Rock the District for three years. She is very passionate about the arts and has enjoyed singing, playing music, dancing, and acting for her entire life. She has taken lessons with Martha Lindsey-Glenn for four years, is an Honors student, and is on the STMS cheer team. Some of her musical influences include: George Harrison, Laura Marling, Katy Perry, Connor Oberst, and Zooey Deschanel. She thanks you profusely for supporting this amazing cause and is excited to be part of another Rock the District!
Kaptain Kat (formerly Freudian Slip)
As a freak folk, christmas-jazz, sludge-metal, doo-wop group with influences such as Mozart and DJ Jazzy Jeff, these fellas just got back from their Tour de Force for one night to rock you into the districth dimension. The hard-hitting, yet tender drum beats of Sam Lekander, the fire-breathing Salamander, accompanied by the velvety plucks of John Francois Bartoleononi’s 6-string axe, will surely dazzle. The sensational whaling trombone of Rhys Kelso (AKA The Devil’s Ghost) paired with the ludicrous bass slams of Eli Tubbs, or “White Rhino” as his fellow gangsters call him, will conjure an evil urge to dance deep inside your sternum as you are sung into a trance by the voice of Emily “No More Mr. Nice Guy” Simpson. See you at the show!
Amanda Gilbert
Amanda Gilbert is a 16 year old Sophomore honors student at Cactus Shadows. Born and raised in Arizona, she has being singing publicly since she was 9 years old and has performed in many civic events, weddings, baby showers, charity and volunteer events, as well school, hospice, Critical Care and many other local events.
She performed in the 2010 Rock the District, has been a finalist in multiple Hot Pipes competitions, and has auditioned for the X-Factor.
Amanda has a great passion for music and is an aspiring Songwriter and plans to in some way help spread music to children all over the world.
“thekards”
Jared Grady, Lead Guitar
Jacob Williams, Rhythm Guitar
Habib Sabbagh, Bass Guitar
Lucas Aikin, Drums & Keys
“thekards” are a foursome of young men attending three different valley high schools purely together for their commitment and passion for music.
Originally brought together by the bands bass player, Habib Sabbagh & drummer, Lucas Aikin. Currently “thekards” have been fortunate to open for Local Favorites Easton Ashe, Mogollon & Arizona Blues project at several valley Hotspots such at Cocomo Joe’s & O’Donohuges as well as opening for the Coyotes Play-off’s. “thekards” were also fortunate to be asked to play in Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation’s “school’s out for summer” and they are annual participants in Alice Coopers’ Christmas Pudding. “thekards” continue to pursue their love of music with the same dedication and enthusiasm as they first day they came together and hope to keep Rockin Out!
VOICES singing troupe
Cass Hanevich
Danesh Naghibzad
Kaeley Martin
Macie Egherman
Maya Glicksman
Moniquea Martinez
VOICES Studio, a North Scottsdale-based music and acting studio, auditioned high school singers and put together a performance troupe in September! The purpose of this group is to inspire singers to become better performers while serving the community through their Pop and R&B performances. For more information on joining the group, please contact us at 480.905.4102 or visit our website at www.voicesstudio.com. LIKE US at www.facebook.com/voicesstudio as well!
Rebekah Ryan & Sabrina Bankemper
Rebekah is a 15 year old girl in the 10th grade at Cactus Shadows High School. She has been taking private vocal lessons with Martha Lindsey-Glenn, every Wednesday for 2 years. She has been in the drama club under the guidance of Andrew Cupo since her freshman year. She is very interested in the film industry and has entered several Film Festivals in the past. Rebekah has also been receiving private guitar lessons from Mr. Frank Grossi for the past few years. She has a love for music and movies. Rebekah is a hardworking, intelligent young lady, who is always striving to succeed in her education, music and films. Rebekah participated in the 2nd annual Rock the District.
Sabrina is a 15 year old girl who is attending Cactus Shadows as a sophomore this year. She has been in Honors Choir under the guidance of Mr. Gary Wykoff since her freshman year. She is part of the first Honors Choir in Cactus Shadows history to win “Superior” at Regionals. Sabrina has participated in Stages Music “Rock n’ Roll Workshops” (band jams), under the guidance of George Mahoney. She was part of the first ever; all girls band with Pauli Mahoney, “Steel Hearts”, and Sabrina was lead vocal singing a Billy Idol song “Mony Mony”. Sabrina was also selected to be in the “Select Choir” at Sonoran Trails Middle School, under the guidance of Ms. Duffy. She is a hard-working student taking many honors classes. When asked if she could attend any college of her choice she chose “The Julliard School”.
Abby Walker
Abby Walker is a 15-year-old Arizona native and Cave Creek resident. She discovered her love of music and performing a few years ago. While at Foothills Academy, her classmates called her “the singer at Foothills” as she was never too shy to start singing in front of the entire student body. Abby decided to switch schools so she could focus more on her love of music and is a now a freshman at Arizona School for the Arts, where she is involved in intensive choir studies, Advanced Women’s Choir, and is first-chair bassist in the school’s orchestra. “ASA is the best! Everyday, kids just start singing and dancing whenever they can and about every other week, there’s a flash mob during lunch and everyone gets into it.”
A fan of impromptu performances, she will just start singing and playing whenever the mood strikes her…in the middle of crowded shopping centers, at beachside clubs in Rocky Point, on Hollywood Boulevard, on the boardwalk in Huntington Beach…it doesn’t matter!
She is a member and soloist of Light of the Desert Lutheran Church’s worship team, and is a two-time recipient of the Upscale Singers Scholarship. Abby has performed with the Upscale Singers as an Upscale Kid for a few years. She has performed the National Anthem at The University of Phoenix Stadium as well as at charity events. Musically, Abby started with the piano, but has added string instruments of all sizes…ukulele, guitar, even the stand-up bass…to her repertoire.
Dramatically, Abby has performed in Alice in Wonderland and in a mime adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.
In her spare time, Abby serves in the Chris Becker Dining Hall, where she entertains the guests with her music, and she raises money for Red & Terri’s Puppy Rescue in Rocky Point.
Caity Bonine
Caity Bonine is an 8th grader at Sonoran Trails – and she’s passionately pursuing her love of music and the performing and visual arts.
Caity has been singing and writing songs since she could pick up a pencil and memorize a tune. She plays the ukulele, has been practicing the piano and is beginning to learn the guitar. Voice lessons with Martha Lindsey-Glenn for the last year and a half have strengthened her musical tool box. She has been influenced by many musicians and a variety of genres through the years but has been most inspired by Carrie Underwood. She rounds off her creative talents with an occasional acting gig and creating artwork from drawings to sculpture to photography – enjoying every new experience.
Caity has been a great supporter and follower of Rock the District and its performers from the beginning. 2012 marks her second year performing on stage.
“Thank you Rock the District for making these kinds of events possible and for raising awareness and supporting the arts in our district inspiring creativity and excellence in our students.”
Moniquea Martinez
Moniquea Martinez has been at home on the stage since her first solo in third grade. She has taken private voice lessons for nine years from Satyam Patel, founder of Voices Studios in Scottsdale. Moniquea has also played piano for twelve years and enjoys writing songs and accompanying herself when performing. She sang with the Phoenix Girls Chorus for five years, was a member of All State Choir, and has participated in the Hot Pipes competition. This is her third appearance in Rock the District.
Unit 7 Jazz Septet
Unit 7 is a jazz septet comprised of local high school and college musicians. The group’s electrifying horn section features a trumpet, trombone, and two saxophones; all backed up by a stellar rhythm section. Most of the group has played together for the past several years under different titles and orchestrations. Unit 7 is driven by a mutual dedication to music and the desire to perform and spread the great American tradition that is jazz music.
Cactus Shadows High School Varsity Pom Team
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
The Varsity Pom Team is a dedicated group of young girls who have a passion for dance. They won the National Champion title in the Hip Hop division at USA Nationals in California this past spring. The team practices 5 times a week and can be seen performing at all football and basketball games as well as other school and community events. The team has a competition season which begins at the start of November and runs through the middle of March. Not only are these girls dedicated to dance, they also work very hard on their academics at school and have a team GPA of 3.6 with several members higher than a 4.0.
Melissa Rae Nelson
Melissa Rae Nelson, the seventeen year old creative has been known for her committed works with the local theater department as well as her devoted passion to her brain child, Rock the District. As an aspiring actress with her eyes set on the big apple, Melissa has been training for years in both musical and theatrical endeavors. With the help of her family and classmates, Melissa has been heading the development of Rock the District for the past four years. Her committed nature has lent itself to benefit the local community’s programs for the arts in ways no one could ever expect. She would like to thank the Cave Creek community for all the support in helping the concert grow and evolve into what you’ll see November 17th.