Jeff Hanson Opens Musicology School in Winter Garden After Cancer Battle
Jeff Hanson, the former manager behind Creed, Paramore and Sevendust, will open Musicology, a contemporary music school, in Winter Garden, Florida, on September 1, 2026. The campus, located at 15504 Stoneybrook West Parkway, Suite 130, will offer lessons in vocals, guitar, piano, drums, DJing, woodwinds, brass, songwriting and production for students of all ages.
Hanson’s decision to launch the school follows a life‑changing diagnosis. In 2016 he was told he had Stage 4 neck and head cancer, with a tumor that had spread to his throat. Doctors estimated a 30 % chance of survival. The diagnosis forced him to retire from touring, traveling and managing artists, and to focus on his family.
Before the cancer diagnosis, Hanson had built a career in the music business. He discovered Creed in 1997 while the band was performing cover songs at his Tallahassee venue, Floyd’s Music Store. He later moved to Orlando to manage Creed, Paramore, Tantric, Candlebox and other acts. According to reports, his clients have sold about 60 million records worldwide and he is about to receive his third RIAA Diamond Award, which is awarded for 10 million equivalent units sold or streamed in the United States.
In addition to artist management, Hanson ran a record label and worked as a DJ, club owner and concert promoter. He also coached more than 1,000 children in sports through the Triple Double Basketball Academy and the YMCA in Southwest Orlando. After his cancer treatment, a nationwide prayer chain organized by those children helped him recover, a fact he attributes to the power of community and faith.
The idea for Musicology was inspired by bassist Flea, who opened a nonprofit music school in Los Angeles two decades ago. Hanson recruited Jay Stanley, a founding member of Matchbox Twenty, as part owner and guitar teacher, and Mark Goff, a vocal coach and choreographer for Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, as a vocal instructor. The school’s curriculum will incorporate teaching methods from guitarist Troy Stetina and drummer Carmine Appice, and will be open to both youth and adults.
Musicology will serve as more than a lesson space. The school plans to host field trips to the Rock Hall of Fame, studio visits, parents‑night‑out events, and guest appearances by artists such as Chris Kirkpatrick of NSYNC, Will Hunt of Evanescence, Kevin Miller of Fuel and Peter Keys of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The program will also offer specialized instruction—such as flute lessons—based on student requests.
Hanson says the school’s goal is to provide a community where students can express themselves and develop musical skills, regardless of talent level. He hopes to expand Musicology to other locations, including Tallahassee, the city where his career began.
The grand opening on September 1, 2026 will mark the start of a new chapter for Hanson, who has transitioned from a high‑profile music manager to an educator and community builder.
