RISE Academy
of Entrepreneurship
Your Passion. Our Guidance.
Your Stage.
THE
DETAILS
RISE Academy was established in 2015 with the aim of transforming raw talent into marketable performers by providing them with both the technical skills and business-know how to build themselves into profitable brands. Our programs and mentoring have yielded impressive results – testament to a winning formula.
RISE Academy is the only school in Africa that focuses on merging artistic talent with business know-how to empower aspiring DJs, Music Producers, Performers and Sound Engineers with the expertise to build successful careers to the extent that it does.
STUDENT SUCCESSES
JOHANNESBURG
- 011 447 6651
- johannesburg@riseacademy.co.za
- 173 Oxford rd, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196
Cape Town
- 021 300 0384
- capetown@riseacademy.co.za
- 80 Strand st, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8001
Durban
- 011 447 6651
- durban@riseacademy.co.za
- 70 Buckingham Terrace, Westville, Durban, 36291
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Sibusiso (Breeze) Shezi
Lecturer
Breeze aka Zulu Bass King is a musician who brings years of experience in studio, on radio, and on the stage to Rise Academy.
He has had tracks played on major SA radio stations, multiple music nominations, and has performed at some of South Africa’s largest music events. He’s worked with a huge array of top artists such as Nasty C, Soweto Gospel Choir, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, just to mention a few.
He used to dance and play rugby competitively and loves to run fitness drills with our performance students to get them ready to pull off amazing stage routines.
CHAY COOK
DIGITAL
Chay is a Public Relations practitioner who manages all of the academy’s
communications. Her role combines an enthusiasm for social media, digital
marketing, and music.
She is also on hand to help students with their marketing and PR queries by
ensuring that her door is always open, and if students are lucky there might even be
some peppermint crisp tart up for grabs since her recipe is one of the best.
CHAY COOK
DIGITAL
Chay is a Public Relations practitioner who manages all of the academy’s
communications. Her role combines an enthusiasm for social media, digital
marketing, and music.
She is also on hand to help students with their marketing and PR queries by
ensuring that her door is always open, and if students are lucky there might even be
some peppermint crisp tart up for grabs since her recipe is one of the best.
JAMES VERKERK
LECTURER
James is a DJ who got his start at the age of 16. He brings his onstage energy and
enthusiasm for music to the Rise Academy classroom where he teaches students
everything they need to know about the art of DJing. He is a skilled sound engineer
with a background in recording, producing and mixing.
James also trained as a classical pianist and is an avid surfer.
CRAIG GREEN
CO-FOUNDER
With more than two decades of experience in event organising, planning and logistics, Craig knows the ins and outs of the music world. He brings an invaluable
network of industry contacts to the Rise Academy community.
In 1998, Craig began U-PARTY, an event production and management company assisting schools to raise funds through community events and socials. He holds a BComm degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and is a self- proclaimed lego aficionado.
SUE GREEN
CO-FOUNDER & MD
Sue brings her business acumen and passion for youth development to the academy, which she launched in 2015. She is a savvy consultant who is experienced in coordinating music events that attract young audiences.
Sue’s academic background in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) piqued her interest in business ethics — a subject she ended up teaching at UCT during the final year of her Honours degree. She also loves cats and practices Jiu-jitsu.