Faculty and Staff

Jon Fox

Professor, Music Industry Careers

Education:

BM in Jazz Studies - Wayne State University, Detroit, MI

MM in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy - University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Professional Background:

Originally from Detroit, MI, guitarist Jon Fox began performing and recording with various rock, jazz, country and popular ensembles at the age of fifteen. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University in Detroit and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Colorado, Boulder.

Jon currently works as a Professor in the Music Industry Careers Program and is active in the Central Texas music scene. He has one full-length CD to his credit, "A Single Step Forward," featuring 11 original compositions performed by The Jon Fox Quartet.

Shane Hall

Professor, Music Industry Careers

Education:

McLennan Community College with an A.A.S Degree in Commercial Music

UT Arlington with a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Piano

Professional Background:

A native of Waco, TX, Shane Hall started playing piano at the age of 9 in church. This led to a lifelong career involved in worship and church music. Since graduating from college, Shane has performed across the country for different artists across multiple genres including Worship music, Country, Jazz and Rock. Some highlights are opening for Diamond Rio, Neal McCoy and being featured on Good Day Austin with Country artist Billie Jo Jones. Shane currently serves as a worship leader at Woodway FUMC and as the keyboardist/band leader for artist Billie Jo Jones.

Korey Hicks

Assistant Professor

Education:

B.M. in Guitar Performance from Berklee College of Music / McNally Smith College of Music

M.M. in Jazz Guitar from Oklahoma State University

Professional Background:

“…Jaw-dropping, absolutely stellar guitar playing.” — Blue Monday Monthly

Korey is a professional guitarist with over 25 years of live experience as a performer, educator, and studio musician.

In that time, he has played over 4,000 gigs in a wide variety of genres, including contemporary pop, jazz, country, blues, rock, fusion, P&W, and more. He has opened for Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Martina McBride, Tracy Byrd, REO Speedwagon, Restless Heart, Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers Band, Chris Duarte, Jason Boland, Joe Nichols, Turnpike Troubadours, Little Texas, Dale Watson, etc. He was a member of the house band at the world-famous Billy Bob’s Texas for over a decade and has been a well-known studio guitarist in the Texas and Oklahoma music scenes.

Korey’s YouTube channel has over 15,000 subscribers and a 99.9% like-to-dislike ratio, while his Patreon community has grown to over 1,100 monthly students. He is the creator of the popular “Guitar in a Year” program, which takes beginners to the intermediate level while teaching them how to play, perform, write, teach, and improvise modern music.

Korey’s passion is helping musicians of all ages realize their dreams and learn to create sustainable careers in the music industry through developing versatility and understanding how to maximize multiple income streams.

In addition to his role as the director of the Dallas campus at Visible Music College, Korey is the former head of both the Guitar Division and Music Theory Division at VMC and is now an Assistant Professor of Music Industry Careers and Guitar at McLennan Community College.

Korey attended Berklee College of Music and McNally Smith College of Music. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Guitar from Oklahoma State University.

Korey and his wife have been married for 18 years and have seven children.

Jonathan Kutz

Director of Music Industry Careers

Education:

B.S. in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas

Professional Background:

Jonathan Kutz currently serves as the Director of the Music Industry Careers program at McLennan Community College. Other responsibilities include the teaching of drum set/percussion lessons and developing a course on the History of American Music. He joined the Music Industry Career faculty in 1997 and has coached rock band, improvisational ensemble and percussion ensemble.

Mr. Kutz has extensive training as a classical percussionist and teaches traditional percussion such as snare drum, marimba, timpani and accessories. His students have gone on to universities such as Baylor, Tarleton, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and University of North Texas.

Mr. Kutz has been playing professionally since 1982 and career highlights include performances with Ted Nugent, Tommy Emmanuel, Ruthie Foster, Sloppy Joe and many others.

Kayla Rosas

Instructor, Music Industry Careers

Education:

A.A.S Degree in Audio Technology and Songwriting - McLennan Community College

Certificate in Computer Information Systems/Media Communications - McLennan Community College

Professional Background:

Since graduating from MCC, Kayla has been working full-time in the audio industry as one of the few women engineers. For the past 34 years she and her husband, Steven, have been the owner/operators of their own recording studio, Direct Resonance Studios, LLC. Kayla has worked with Ted Nugent, Mike Judge, Holly Tucker, and Billy Joe Shaver to name a few. She has also provided audio services for Baylor University, Tarleton, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, History Channel, The Simpsons, Oasis Audio Books and many more.