Matt Ross (entrepreneur)
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Matt Ross | |
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| Add a Photo | |
| Born | 1961 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, media executive |
| Known for | School of Rock, One River School of Art + Design |
| Website | mattross.com |
Matt Ross is an American entrepreneur, media executive, and founder of One River School of Art + Design. He is the former CEO of School of Rock and has a background in radio broadcasting. Ross is known for building for-profit educational businesses in music and art.
Career
From 1996 to 2005, Ross worked in radio broadcasting in New York City, holding sales and management positions for media companies including Clear Channel and CBS, eventually becoming a general manager of a major New York City radio station.
In 2005, Ross became the CEO of School of Rock, a music education program. Under his leadership until 2010, the company grew from five to 55 locations. He remained an investor and franchise operator after stepping down.
In 2012, Ross founded One River School of Art + Design in Englewood, New Jersey, to address gaps in U.S. art education by creating a program centered on contemporary, living artists. The school introduced a proprietary, project-based curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning and rotating subjects monthly. It also features exhibitions of emerging artists. Ross has described the curriculum as a "recipe" system intended to offer ongoing variety and accessibility across age groups.
Following his departure from School of Rock in 2010, Ross’s interest in childhood development and modern art led him to explore new approaches to art education. He believes that art fosters creative, spatial, and abstract thinking—skills essential for personal growth.
The school has expanded to over a dozen locations across the United States, including both corporate and franchise sites, and has been noted in press coverage for its contemporary art-focused curriculum and franchising model.
Philanthropy
Ross has served on the Board of Trustees for Art21. His experience as a parent of a child with autism has informed his advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities. In 2018, he led One River School in a national breast cancer awareness initiative in partnership with the nonprofit BrightPink, involving student artwork in a national fundraising campaign.
References
External links
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