Innovative workshops for young people & adults in urban London

 

Promo Video

Click here to see our latest promotional video, filmed and edited by JAO!

About Us

The British DJ & MC Academy is a youth arts organisation based in North London.

In 2008, Krissy founded the DJ&MC Academy, driven by a passion to connect people through music. Pioneering a revolutionary mobile outreach van, she brought the rhythm directly to communities. In 2010, Krissy's appearance on Dragons Den became a platform to showcase her unwavering determination, setting the stage for sustained success.

Over 12 years, the academy has touched the lives of 100,000+ individuals across London, Wales, and Manchester. Through economic challenges and pandemic lockdowns, Krissy's journey from a teenage DJ to a youth hostel manager reflects her commitment to positive impact.

Krissy's global DJ career includes commanding sets from Miami to Ibiza and a decade at Kool FM. The academy's team, including former participants turned tutors, plays a pivotal role in its success. Beyond outreach projects, the academy excels in community events, cultivating a talented pool of DJs, producers, and artists.

Re-established as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2019, the academy secured funding, including support from Sadiq Khan's violence reduction project. Achievements extend to establishing radio stations, building studios, and nurturing artists under the Sonitus Music Group label. Notably, our artists have earned MOBO nominations, Sony ATV contracts, and over 100 million streams on mainstream radio.


The DJ&MC Academy stands as a testament to Krissy's vision and the transformative power of music.

Music unquestionably connects people from all walks of life. The work we do continues to leverage this virtue, delivering programmes to some of the most deprived parts of our city.
 
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Meet the Team

 

Krissy
CEO
 

Christian
Managing Director
 

Debbie
Outreach & Engagement Coordinator
 

Kyan
Social Media Manager
 

Rebecca
Admin Apprentice & PA
 

Maldi
Radio Presenter & Sound Engineer
 

Grace
Singing Tutor
 

Kareem
DJ, Producer & Mentor
 

DJ Keaun
DJ & Radio Presenter
 

DJ E Dott
DJ, Radio Presenter & Producer
 

Olona
Rapper & Producer
 

Orion
Producer & Engineer Tutor
 

Lize a.k.a. Redd
Lyricist & Tutor
 

Will
Dancer
 

Enzo
DJ Tutor
 

Oskar
DJ, Music Production & Presenting Tutor
 

Jay
Podcast & Music Project Assistant
 

Isaac
Beatboxer, Rapper & Songwriting Tutor
 

Lillie
Photographer
 

JV
Youth Ambassador, Lyricist & Rapper
 

Irish
Youth Ambassador
 

Dre
Youth Ambassador
 

Kiki
Youth Ambassador
 

Terence
Youth Ambassador
 

Emmanuel
Youth Ambassador
 

Amy
Youth Ambassador & Singer
 

Aaliyah
Youth Ambassador & DJ
 

Tilly
Volunteer

Trustees

Introducing the Academy's Trustees

 

Serge Wyett
Chairman
 

Kenny Barber
 

Grace Dixon
 

Cynthia Coburn
 

Christie Anayiotou

Case Studies

To name just a few young people who have come through the Academy and are now inspiring artists and tutors alike.


 

Glenn Sonko

Glenn Sonko, a seasoned professional with roots in education and mentorship, initially taught on a course at Barnet College before extending his expertise to mentoring with the DJMC Academy. His journey has led him to manage renowned artists such as Tion Wayne and Potter Payper, showcasing his exceptional talent in artist management.

Additionally, Glenn holds a pivotal role as an A&R representative for Def Jam, contributing his keen insights and industry experience to the renowned record label. With his remarkable track record and dedication to nurturing talent, Glenn Sonko continues to shape the landscape of the music industry, earning him widespread recognition and admiration.

 


What People Say

I am told that the footage of yesterday’s event does not do justice to what happened yesterday. Your staff and performer brought the mobile youth hub into a new level of excellence. Jordan will be reaching out to follow up with you about the impact yesterday’s performance had and would like to explore more opportunities to promote your work and empower our young people.
 
We have loved every second of working with the DJMC Academy. It has been great for us to see our pupils so engaged and willing to learn about something they have probably never considered doing before. Staff took the time to get to know our pupils and build relationships with them using music and art as a hook to capture their imaginations. We hope to be able to work with DJMC Academy again in the future to produce more amazing work together.
 
Carl Blackstock, Assistant Headteacher, Fern House School
Turning Words Into Dreams was one of the most popular courses making up GLYPT's Summer Arts College in 2010. I was really impressed with the quality and skill of the artists delivering the programme
 
Claire Newby, Education Manager, Greenwich & Lewisham Young People's Theatre
The British DJMC Academy have been warmly received by our students, who have loved the opportunity to experience writing lyrics and then getting the chance to perform them on a microphone. Their staff are extremely friendly and seem to have a lot of experience working with and supporting students.
 
Andrew Louis, Curriculum Co-ordinator & Music Teacher, Enfield Secondary Tuition Centre, Eldon Site
It has been a pleasure to work in partnership with The DJ and MC Academy over the last couple of years. They have shown dedication and commitment to the projects at our youth centre and the young people have responded with great enthusiasm for the DJ'ing and Mc'ing projects. A young person who attended a DJ course in June said – ‘More people know me and I feel more confident speaking on the mic to them. Over the summer I DJ'ed more and spoke on the mic and taught other people. I also showed older people how to use the decks.
 
Kate Smith, Youth Development Worker, Oasis Enfield, EIYCT

Click here to read more Testimonials.

Partners

Click here to see a complete list of our partners and clients.