The Paul Green Rock Academy is an advanced touring ensemble of young musicians between the ages of 14 and 20 who have been selected for their musical prowess, showmanship, love of performing, and ability to share the stage with professional musicians as they tour the world. The Paul Green Rock Academy is the latest music school from School of Rock founder Paul Green. It is an audition only program for serious and ambitious young musicians. They have spent the last three years touring as the backing band for both Jon Anderson of YES and Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers. More than anything, Paul Green loves having his students play Zappa, calling it one stop shopping for music education.
After meeting at the Zappanale in 2023, Banned from Utopia and the Paul Green Rock Academy decided to tour together in the summer of 2024 to celebrate and share their love of the music of Frank Zappa. Banned from Utopia (BFU) is the Zappa tribute act featuring the most Alumni of his band: Robert Martin, Ray White, and Scott Thunes. Joining them are Robbie Seahag Mangano (Project/Object, The Grandmothers), Jamie Kime (Zappa Plays Zappa), and Joel Taylor (The Al Dimeola Band). The upcoming Zappanale will feature several performances by the Paul Green Rock Academy, including alumni Robert Martin, Ray White and Scott Thunes. The alumni will also be seen and heard as guest musicians with various bands.
Paul Green is the founder of the international music school chain School of Rock, and PGRA is the net iteration of that method and the school of his dreams...a small audition only school for only the most dedicated students, with branches in Philadelphia and Southwestern Connecticut.
