Sympatico Personnel
Patrick Horner (Percussion Experience) is currently in his fourth year of teaching elementary band in Alexandria City Public Schools. Patrick was born and raised in Alexandria, VA and feels grateful to be able to teach in the school system that helped him pursue his passion. He began playing percussion in 4th grade and continues to play in different capacities to this day. Patrick earned his Bachelor’s of Music Education from George Mason University and participated in many different ensembles while there. Patrick looks forward to sharing his passion for music with every student that enters his classroom.
Gregory House (Program Director/Basic Beats and Beyond) is a passionate, self-taught multi-instrumentalist with a deep love for creating and sharing music. A skilled drummer at heart, he also enjoys playing the bass and acoustic guitar. In his early musical explorations, Greg co-founded two rock bands, Missing in Maryland and Cumberland—both named in tribute to his family’s roots in Cumberland, Maryland. With these bands, he collaborated with his bandmates to write and record four albums, produce two music videos, and perform in countless ticketed concerts across the East Coast from 2007 to 2019. Naturally drawn to leadership, Greg embraced roles that fostered creativity and collaboration, an ethos he’s excited to bring to his new role as Program Director of the Sympatico program.
Now in his 12th year of teaching (his 5th with ACPS), Greg has consistently found ways to merge his talents in music with his passion for education. During COVID, he combined these skills to write and record energetic songs and videos, helping students master math facts through movement.
Today, Greg channels his boundless creativity into heartfelt love songs for his wife, Shauntay, alongside playful, imaginative tunes about food, trucks, and more for his 2.5-year-old son, Ezra, 4-month-old daughter, Eden, and the students he inspires. Whether crafting melodies at home or performing behind the drum kit or guitar at his family’s church in Washington, D.C., Greg continues to share his passion for music, weaving it into the fabric of his family life and community.
Rebecca Walker (Fiddle Factory/Site Coordinator) is beginning her second year of full-time teaching experience. Prior to her teaching career, Rebecca completed a Master of Music at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She began playing the viola in the 5th grade which sparked her passion for music performance and education. In addition to her work with Sympatico, Rebecca teaches 4th and 5th grade strings, as well as Pre-K general music at John Adams Elementary.