One of the things MontCo Music takes pride in is providing steady work for passionate, local musicians. Our faculty is young, tech-savvy, versatile, and made up of professional musicians who all have degrees in music. Please meet our talented staff:
James Sauppe (founder) – Drums, Beginner/Intermediate Piano, Production
James Sauppe
James Sauppe earned a BM in Music Performance (Drums) in 2009 from The University of the Arts in Philly and a Master’s in Music Technology (Game Audio) from SUU in 2023. He currently teaches Music Technology and Game Audio classes at the Community College of Philadelphia as a member of its budding Sound Recording and Music Technology program. A voting member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Recording Academy since 2019, James writes and produces original music under the moniker, RVLVR, and has released albums on reputable record labels such as Noremixes and Seclusiasis, amongst many others. You can check out his original music/productions on iTunes/Apple Music. He’s currently the Music Editor for the upcoming video game, Bugs N’ Boo Hags.
Joe Baldacci – Drums, Bass, Guitar, Piano, Production
Joe Baldacci
With over a decade of experience teaching music to students of all ages and backgrounds, Joe Baldacci is truly a Jack-of-all-Trades musician. Joe earned a BM in Music Performance from UArts in 2008 on Drum Set, and since has had a very eclectic career as a performer and educator. You can currently catch Joe playing drums around Philly with his group, Muscle Tough, as well as with many other of Philly’s favorite musicians.
Todd Erk- Upright/Electric Bass, Guitar, Production
Todd Erk
Todd has been touring and recording internationally with a wide array of artists for well over a decade. He earned a BM in Jazz Performance (Upright Bass) from The University of the Arts in 2005 and has since been a road warrior, as they call it, consistently performing across the country and world. He currently performs with indie band- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Philly songstress- Birdie Busch, folk rockers- Hoots and Hellmouth, and recently joined Turkish band, ZRNA, with members from West Philadelphia Orchestra. His ethos, to provide the tools for one to artfully express themselves, transcending beyond music and into everyday life.
Tim Schilling – Beginner to Advanced Guitar & Bass
Tim Schilling
*ON TOUR UNTIL JUNE 2025*
A graduate of the University of the Arts, Tim Schilling has been making a name for himself by performing in a variety of genres and venues throughout the country. From recording studios and radio stations in Nashville, TN to musical theater Productions at Philly’s famed Walnut Street theater, Tim’s eclectic talents can be traced around the nation. In 2015, he embarked on a US tour with Matt McAndrew (of NBC’s The Voice season 7) as a direct support act for the Plain White T’s on their Guantanamo and Beyond tour. Tim has also collaborated with renowned artists such as Katie Hargrove, Dana Sorey, and Grammy-nominated local favorite, Ben O’Neill, and continues to perform and teach regularly in the Philadelphia area.
Jack Steinman – Beginner/Intermediate Guitar, Digital Music Production
Jack Steinman
Born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Jack Steinman has been playing guitar since the age of 8. He releases original music on Philadelphia’s, Spring Garden Records, writing and producing under the moniker, Somebody Like You, a project that conveys his masterful songwriting skills and unique production style. Jack loves sharing his obvious passion for music with his students, and bases his teaching method on the fusion of music and technology. He’s currently studying Sound Recording and Music Technology at the Community College of Philadelphia, where he’s a student of Montco Music founder, James Sauppe. Jack will be continuing his music education at Temple University this Fall.
Natalie Gebhardt – Voice, Beginner/Intermediate Piano
Natalie Gebhardt
Natalie Gebhardt has been singing and playing piano since the age of 5. Currently performing as Beatrix Thorn, she released her debut EP, “worm moon,” in 2025. She is currently signed to Spring Garden Records, with whom she will be releasing a full length album in 2026, and an EP with the indie rock band there, there, with which she plays drums and sings. Natalie has been teaching since 2023 and loves sharing her skills and passion for music. She is a recent graduate in Music Performance (piano), and Audio Production from the Community College of Philadelphia. She previously studied at the University of the Arts.