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.