OMAR HAKIM, Drummer, began playing at age five. By ten he was performing publicly with his father Hasan Hakim, a trombone veteran of the Duke Ellington and Count Basie bands.
Omar has toured or recorded with countless music industry legends, including Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, David Bowie, Dire Straits, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Madonna, Daft Punk, Sting, George Benson, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker, Herbie Hancock, Queen Latifah, Celine Dion, D’Angelo, as well as his excellent solo albums and band projects including with his keyboards-virtuoso wife Rachel Z. Omar is chair of Berklee’s Percussion Department.
RACHEL Z, keyboardist, synthesist. Grammy-winning, Grammy-nominated with a long history of award-winning performances in the worlds of jazz and rock. Rachel has released 13 albums as bandleader and been a crucial part of countless tours and recordings including Steps Ahead, Vertú, the Omar Hakim Experience, OZmosys, Wayne Shorter, Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Terri Lyne Carrington, Al Di Meola, and Regina Carter. Her years of touring with Peter Gabriel include appearances in his live films Growing Up Live & Still Growing Up Live. She is Professor of Jazz, Contemporary Music Studies and Electronic Music, variously at New School University NYC, Montclair State University and Cali School of the Arts.
The Rock N’ Roll Collective is a powerhouse group of exceptionally talented young musicians between the ages of 13 and 18. Designed for students who have outgrown traditional music education programs like School of Rock, the Collective offers a professional-level environment where emerging artists can develop their craft and gain real-world performance experience.
Founded by veteran audio engineer and producer Jeremy Gerard, the Collective is music-directed by renowned industry professionals Rachel Z Hakim, Omar Hakim, Mike Pellegrino, and Ben Moyer.
Collective members have performed on tour across the US & Europe. In 2025, Collective members completed US & European tours with Frank Zappa alumni and embarked on a separate European tour with Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers.
The Rock N’ Roll Collective is not just a band — it's a launchpad for the next generation of world-class musicians.
