Entrepreneur: Jason Weiner is Queen Creek's Hometown Hero for April

Jason Weiner has two passions — music and teaching — and as the owner of the School of Rock in Queen Creek, he is able to indulge in both.

After years of studying music and audio engineering in several places across the country, the Washington, D.C., native returned to Arizona to teach at one of his alma maters, the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences in the Valley.

Not long after his return, Weiner and his wife, Sarah, decided to become franchise owner-operators of the School of Rock and bring it to Queen Creek. The School of Rock has locations around the world and seven in Arizona, including Queen Creek.

The School of Rock offers music lessons, programs for all ages and camps and workshops for budding musicians, as well as for those who want to hone their craft.

“I get to be a part of the creative world and help others to find their passion through music and the arts,” Weiner said. “Our goal is not to make rock stars but to help build confidence and allow people to grow into the best versions of themselves.”

Business Name: School of Rock (AZ) & Crowded Head Industries Inc. (CA)

When and why I moved here: The first time we moved here was in 2006 when I attended the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences. After graduation I completed an internship program in Los Angeles and began my career as an audio engineer. We moved back to the area in 2018 to live closer to my wife’s family.

What I do: Before anything else, I am a family man. In my professional life, I am audio engineer, teacher and photographer. I have always been drawn to working with talented individuals who are looking to create and add positivity to the world around them.

Personal background highlights: I grew up just outside of Washington, D.C., working in my family’s video store from a young age. This is where I learned the importance of hard work and how to operate a business from the ground up. Our community was very supportive of our sports and arts programs in which I heavily participated. I played baseball and was a member of our high school’s All-American Men’s Gymnastics team, competing in all events.

As a musician I was awarded many opportunities to participate as a member of our District and state choirs. In 1997 I was a recipient of a music scholarship for vocal performance, and attended Radford University from 1997-2001; majoring first in music business, eventually graduating with a degree in advanced audio production technology. After graduating from Radford, I focused on being a professional musician, having many opportunities to tour, record music of my own as well as with many other talented artists. I met my wife Sarah in 2002 and we had our first child in 2005. At this point I made the decision to further my knowledge of audio engineering and moved to Arizona to complete a master recording program at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences. After graduation I completed an internship program in Los Angeles and began my career as an audio engineer, leading me to open my own company, Crowded Head Industries in 2012.

Professional background highlights: I have been very fortunate in my career to be surrounded by some of the smartest most talented individuals in the entertainment industry. Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with so many of the artists that lived on the posters of my walls as a teenager, as well as the producers who helped bring their visions to life. From 2008-2010, I collaborated with The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, and other major labels, on the (Content Creator Data) project. The project was funded by a grant from the Library of Congress NDIIPP program. Its purpose was to create a standardized method for the collection of metadata and the delivery of recorded music masters, ensuring that musicians and engineers received credit and accurate compensation for their works.

In 2012, I founded Crowded Head Industries, a digital asset management firm for the entertainment industry, working with companies such as Universal Music Group, Disney and Epitaph Records. In 2015 my family and I moved to Athens, Georgia, after buying a recording studio/music school. It was here that I discovered my love for teaching kids to perform in bands. After moving back to Arizona, I began teaching at the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences and shortly thereafter, my wife and I made the decision to join the School of Rock family and open a location in Queen Creek. Working alongside my wife and watching these young musicians grow to become more confident and capable versions of themselves has been the most rewarding aspect of my professional career.

What does it mean to be a Queen Creek resident? Family and community comes first. That’s why I love it here.

What do you think you bring to the local community that makes it better? I hope that we are successful in providing a positive and safe environment for people of all ages to learn, be themselves and play music in a fun atmosphere. Our goal is not to make rock stars but to help build confidence and allow people to grow into the best versions of themselves.

What would you tell people about why it's important to make a difference in Queen Creek? There are many things in the world that we don’t have control over. Our community is the one place where efforts can be made and brought to reality in a way that is visible and felt.

My family: My wife, Sarah, and I have three amazing children who are all driven in their own unique ways. Our twins, Hannah and Rachel, are middle school students and participate in our music program. Our oldest, Jocelyn, is attending NAU on an academic scholarship as a geology major. We are fortunate to have my wife’s parents and sister as neighbors in our community. My parents still live outside of the Washington, D.C., area where my mother is a special education teacher of over 40 years and my father is recently retired. I have a brother in Los Angeles who is a professional photographer, working with some of biggest artists in the music industry.

My interests and hobbies: I am an avid baseball fan, and I love taking photos. Mostly of my family but I have also been very fortunate to be invited as a photographer for many of my favorite bands over the years resulting in several of my photos being on display at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas.

People who inspired me (and how): I am inspired by people who take risks, bet on themselves and most of all get back up and persevere no matter how many times they get knocked down.

My guiding philosophy: Do your best to be a good person and go after what makes you happy.

My advice to today’s youth: Time is on your side. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Those mistakes are where we learn our best lessons.

The Queen Creek Independent is pleased to announce Jason Weiner as the April 2025 Hometown Hero bestowed in the category of Entrepreneur.  The Queen Creek Independent along with East Valley Institute of Technology and the Queen Creek Olive Mill salute Mr. Weiner as this month's Queen Creek Hometown Heroes Awards recipient.