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
 

Maldi
Radio Presenter & Sound Engineer
 

Grace
Singing Tutor
 

Kareem
DJ, Producer & Mentor
 

Keon
DJ & Radio Presenter
 

Irish
Young Ambassador
 

DJ E Dott
DJ, Radio Presenter & Producer
 

Mariah
DJ, Radio Presenter & Tutor
 

Olona
Rapper & Producer
 

Will
Dancer
 

Bradley
DJ Tutor
 

Enzo
DJ Tutor
 

Oskar
DJ, Music Production & Presenting Tutor
 

Nathaniel
Lyricist & Production Tutor
 

Jay
Podcast & Music Project Assistant
 

Tilly
Volunteer
 

Dre
Young Ambassador
 

Kiki
Young Ambassador
 

Terence
Young Ambassador
 

Emmanuel
Young Ambassador

Case Studies

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


 

Bellah

Bellah, the prodigious talent nurtured under our wings for seven transformative years, now stands as a beacon of contemporary UK R&B. Nominated for a coveted MOBO award and hailed as the artist to watch in 2023, her journey epitomizes the fusion of soulful melodies and candid lyricism. Drawing inspiration from luminaries like Summer Walker, Kehlani, and SZA, Bellah infuses her British Nigerian heritage into her music, crafting a sound that resonates deeply with audiences.

With her debut EP, Adultsville, she solidified her status as the UK's new princess of R&B, offering a nostalgic nod to the genre's golden era while carving out her unique space in today's musical landscape. Her ability to effortlessly blend raw emotion with infectious hooks has earned her accolades from industry titans and critical acclaim from platforms like Complex and BBC 1Xtra. As she continues to ascend, Bellah's trajectory symbolizes the resurgence of authentic storytelling in music, captivating hearts and minds with every soul-stirring note.

 


What People Say

I enjoyed the workshop as it helped me to express my emotions by playing music. It was so much fun. I really do hope we can work with them again. The staff were really welcoming and didn't make us feel bad for making mistakes. They taught us several times and were very patient with us.
 
TRM (pupil), Fern House Scool
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
The British DJ & MC Academy have been contracted by London Action Trust to deliver diversionary programmes to young people from high crime gang affected estates on the Waltham Forest gangs intervention project. Activities included open music workshops and accredited courses over a period of 12 weeks. They have successfully engaged young people in positive activity teaching techniques, lyric writing and radio presenting skills.

The young people have learned how to create and perform demonstrating a transition in their thought processes, thinking about their aspirations and directions in life. British DJ & MC Academy have remained professional, enthusiastic and have made every effort to develop the young people using minimal resources. I am willing to support this organisation because I sincerely believe the team have great motivation and a proven track record to make a change in the communities by offering young people alternative paths.
 
Diane Prempeh, Project Manager, London Action Trust
The London DJ&MC Academy were great, they engaged with all our customers and ensured that each young person understood everything. The kids had nothing but positive feedback to give on the friendliness of staff. We definitely would recommend using them.
 
David Duke-Vinton, Community Engagement Advisor, RHP

Click here to read more Testimonials.

Partners

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