Our Mission

By offering music education in a safe, nurturing environment, Kronendal Music Academy can support the physical, mental and emotional well-being of children in our care. We focus on 21st Century skills development that will equip young people with the self-confidence to build their future, and the resilience needed when dealing with life’s setbacks and stresses, while our support programmes help children, youth and their families develop social behaviour change.

Our Vision

Our vision is that young people develop the tools they need to thrive, to be employable, create opportunities to rise out of the cycle of poverty, and raise their own children differently.

Our Values

Growth – Embracing opportunities to do better whenever we can
Communication – Effectively sharing data to create clarity and purpose
Transparency – Being an open book and accountable
Integrity – Building trust by accepting responsibility for all our actions
Professionalism – Taking pride in offering a high-quality service
Relationship – Synergy in our partnerships and team

KMA Board

Jackie Pollok

Chairperson

BAFA (UCT) 1987 (Honours Fine Art Degree majoring in History of Art and Studio Work Lithography) HDE (UCT) 1989 (High School Art Teacher); Adv. Cert. Counselling & Communication Skills: Coaching (SACAP) 2015; B Soc Sci Hons Psych (SACAP) 2016; Jackie believes in ‘paying it forward’ and lectured Leadership and Self Development at TSiBA for two and a half years. TSiBA is an NPO offering Business Degrees with a focus on encouraging entrepreneurial skills and providing mentorship for previously disadvantaged individuals.

Chris Hames

Vice-chairperson

Chris is a semi-retired teacher, marine zoologist and environmental carer. Having arrived in Hout Bay from the UK 4 years ago he is embracing opportunities to support local projects, especially with educational activities; hence his enthusiasm for the role with KMA. Chris is COO of the BlueBay project and has raised funds for the Hout Bay Seal Rescue Centre with sales of a book 'Cathy the Cape Fur Seal' that he has written for children. He is currently writing an activity and information book about the ocean and coastal wildlife of the Western Cape.

Cecily Campbell

Secretary

Cecily graduated from Natal University with a BA and then Stellenbosch University in Higher Education. She has taught at various High Schools in Cape Town, Harare and Mutare. Following which, Cecily worked for her husband in his Private Practice as his Business Administrator. She has worked as a Volunteer Teacher at Constantia Primary School, Oranjekloof Primary School, James House and now at KMA. The children absolutely adore her kind, motherly and gentle way. Her passions include Education in our country, wildlife and hiking.

Eloise Williams

Member

Eloise is a qualified corporate coach specialising in support to assignees from all over the world to overcome and manage cultural differences. She is also a qualified TEFL and TEFL Business English trainer. Previously worked as GM in various industries and started her career with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pretoria with subsequent diplomatic postings to London and Tel Aviv. A University of Stellenbosch graduate Eloise has lived and worked as an expatriate in many countries over the past 20 years. She is passionate about education, language and communication and facilitating these across language and cultural barriers.

Marvin Weavers

Member

Marvin prides himself in being a Capetonian. He holds diplomas in Business Management and Management and is now pursuing his BTech in Project Management at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Marvin started his career in the Arts sector, managing several projects as Youth Development and Education Manager for the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra before he joined the Jakes Gerwel Fellowship in 2022. With a passion for the development of the youth, his career over the last decade has been focused on making a difference in the lives of young people.

Nozipho Dube

Member

Nozipho Dube has always been drawn towards issues of social justice. She has served on the Boards of Embrace Dignity which advocates for legal reform to end the exploitation and sex trafficking of women as well as Bright Start, an Education Support Program dedicated to low-income families. Founding Ecogift in 2015 was no different. The company was born out of the need to respond to the unemployment rate which has been over 30% over the past decade. Ecogift manufactures and distributes Protective Clothing and Corporate Wear. Nozipho holds a postgraduate certificate in Information Technology and Management from Sheffield Hallam University.

Dr Guido Angelucci

Member

Originally from Abruzzo, Italy, Guido grew up in Cape Town from 1997. After specializing in legal studies at UNISA and UCT, he founded Gast Consulting in 2014. In 2017, Dr. Angelucci was appointed Vice -Chairperson of the Com.It.Es. of the Cape Provinces and in 2022, he was invited to become a Consultant and Member of the Italian-South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, furthering his commitment to bridging Italian and South African entrepreneurship. He currently also consults for additional European chambers and institutions active in Southern Africa and was elected President of COMITES in 2024. Guido is passionate about music and plays a number of instruments.

Staff

Dwyn Griesel

Founder & CEO

director@kmahoutbay.org

Ms Dwyn Griesel has some 28 years teaching experience. She has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Cape Town, majoring in Composition and Arrangement. Dwyn began KMA with her entire paternal inheritance in 2007 and has since received the Inyathelo Award for Philanthropy in The Arts as well as the Lions Club Louis Volks Humanitarian Award. She has studied many diverse disciplines such as proof reading, copy editing, aromatherapy and reflexology and is an avid lover of nature and animals.

Chandni Meghji

Operations Manager

opsmanager@kmahoutbay.org

Of Tanzanian origin, Chandni has been in management for 15 years including administrative volunteering at the AgaKhan Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam. A business-owner in her own right for many years, Chandni has a good understanding of interpersonal relationships and communicating with people from all walks of life. Her extensive experience in financial controls and office admin combined with her passion for problem solving and efficiency, makes Chandni the perfect addition to KMA’s management team. She lives in Hout Bay with her two beautiful daughters, Fatema and Zahra.

Zoe Guenantin

Administration Officer

info@kmahoutbay.org

Zoe joined KMA as a pupil in 2014 on Clarinet and quickly advanced to Tenor Saxophone. She toured with the KMA Jazz Band to the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival in 2018 and continued as a post-matric pupil in 2019. Zoe has joined the KMA team as General Assistant and has proved herslef an invaluable member of the organisation - now as staff! Her love for children, ambitions to become a music teacher, and her excellent admin skills make her the perfect fit for this demanding post!

Curtly Masemola

Head of Music

headofmusic@kmahoutbay.org

Curtly started playing Bass guitar as a young boy in his church in Hout Bay. After a few years of music lessons at KMA, he was not only one of the music school’s first pupils to attend the National Youth Jazz Festival in Makhanda, but was also one of KMA’s first pupils to successfully apply to the UCT Department of Jazz Studies. From 2017 to 2020 Curtly worked as a recording and performing musician which included teaching at Alexander Stinton High School. As an active musician he plays with many different kinds of bands and strives to be an inspiration and example to the pupils at KMA.

Johannes Gideon

School Bus Driver

Mr Gideon moved to Hout Bay in 2000 and previously worked in garden and house services, He then became the KMA driver in September 2020. He enjoys making jokes and listening to music! Mr Gideon is a wonderful, friendly person who safely transports our pupils every day and always with a smile on his face.

Zizipho Mkrwala

Kitchen & Household

Zizipho is a fun, loving person who grew up in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape. She is a genuine people's person and loves to cook hearty meals for our pupils. Zizi has vast experience as a home nurse and is a secret mathematics wizard!

Kirstyn Botha

Music Therapist

Kirstyn Botha is a music therapist and business woman working in Cape Town. She runs her music therapy practice from Sea Point Medical Centre. She has experience in the education and psychosocial fields, working with schools such as Beau Soleil Music Centre and Athlone School for the Blind. Kirstyn's experience lies in the field of child-care and her passion is to help children become stable, emotionally aware human beings who are able to find their place in the world and achieve their fullest potential.

Marchané Janeke

Social Worker

Marchané is a qualified and registered clinical social worker, focusing on a holistic approach to the healing journey of all. With 13 years of experience using Art and Play during sessions with children of all ages, Marchané believes in their potential and equipping them with the skills needed to grow into healthy functioning adults.

Teachers

Simon Van Harte

Bass Teacher

With a BSc. Chemical Science degree behind him, Simon has focused his working life on teaching bass. As an alumni of the distinguished Bergvliet High School Jazz bands, Simon learnt his skills from Cape Town aficionado, Darryl Andrews, whilst also serving in the prestigious George Werner Little Giants Jazz Band. He has extensive experience as a bass player in numerous productions and bands and is presently resident bass teacher at Bergvliet High School.

Stanislav Angelov

Accordion and Orchestra Teacher

Stanislav received numerous awards prior to 1985 and was accepted at The Academy of Music and Dance in Plovdiv-Bulgaria, where he studied Accordion with Prof. Peter Marinov and graduated with a degree in Accordion in 1991. Whilst teaching at the Constantine Preslavsky University in Shumen, Stanislav competed and performed in Bulgaria, France and Poland as a soloist or member of different ensembles orchestras. In 1992 he moved to Cape Town, where he now performs, records and teaches. Stanislav has recorded for the SABC as well as for many radio and TV adverts and has featured on many South African Artistes’ releases.

Mulalo Mphaphuli

Flute and Recorder Teacher

Mulalo Mphaphuli holds a BMus in Western Classical Music specialising in Flute performance and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education both from the University of Cape Town. He says, "Having been privileged enough to have been exposed to music from a young age I would like to share the joys and the benefits of practical music making where I hope to inspire creativity and freedom of expression."

Femke Bakker-Limburg

Violin Teacher

A classically trained Violinist and experienced violin teacher, Femke has over 20 years experience in music education for all ages. Qualified with a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, she also lead a number of music ensembles performing and touring in Europe and America, including a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. Femke is passionate about teaching children and believes Plato’s philosophy: “Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything”.

Keegan Steenkamp

Brass Instruments Teacher

Keegan specialized in Jazz Performance, at the UCT South African College of Music, where he graduated with a Bachelors of Music in 2017. Before heading out to Japan to teach English for a year, Keegan taught Trumpet at South Peninsula High School. Keegan has performed extensively in Cape Town, participating in various festivals and the Kirstenbosch SummerConcert Series.

Judith Stiller

Piano and Recorder Teacher

Judith has a BMus from the University of Bloemfontein and has been teaching music since 1997 at various primary and high schools. She is passionate about creating a safe and welcoming space for children in her teaching space and enjoys being part of the warm home environment at KMA. She is also an avid Hiking and Mountain Biking enthusiast and has completed the Comrades Marathon 5 times!

Keketso Bolofo

African Instruments Teacher

Keketso graduated from the UCT South African College of Music with a post graduate diploma in African Instruments. He has performed extensively with South African African Instruments extraordinaire, Dizu Plaatjies, including Ibuymabo. Keketso has taught marimbas since 2015 for the Nyanga Arts Development Centre, SACM, SACS High School and the Amagongo Arts Programme. Keketso is passionate about spreading the art of playing indigenous African Instruments and believes that every human being should at least be able to play one musical instrument as a way to de-stress.

Tefo Mahola

Drumkit teacher

Tefo is a jazz musician, performing artist and composer from Gugulethu, Cape Town. In 2020 he released his debut album, First Offering, which received the Mzantsi Jazz Award for Best Jazz Album of 2021. He has played with many big names including Youssou N'Dour and Mulatu Astatke, and was selected to represent South Africa as part of MAISHA, a delegation of 12 musicians representing the African and European Union.

Lebohang Banda

Recorder and Singing Teacher

Lebohang Banda is a vocalist from Guguletu who has recently completed her Bachelor of Music specialising in Jazz studies under the tutelage of Nomfundo Xaluva. In 2020 and 2023 Lebohang was part of the UCT jazz choir that took part in Starlight classics and in 2020 she performed in the ArtsCape Youth Jazz festival under the mentorship of Amanda Tiffin and Mandisa Dyantis. As much as she loves performing she has a passion for teaching and community music projects, and has plans and dreams of developing the community she comes from through music education.

Kelleigh Kelderman

Piano Teacher

Kelleigh is a jazz vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, and grew up in a musical family. Her enthusiasm and dedication to her craft has resulted in performances with numerous bands and choirs as featured artist and soloist and she a regular participant in festivals, competitions and shows. Kelleigh was appointed Head of Music at the age of 23 at Pineland’s Primary School, and Project Manager at Beau Soleil Music Centre.

Nolutho Macaleni

Violin Teacher

Nolutho started her professional performing career with the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in 2016 and has been teaching at the Beau Soleil Music Centre’s IFIDYOLI outreach programme since 2021. With a natural affinity for the arts, Nolutho acts, sings, sews, and plays African instruments. She has received a number of awards for her Trinity London Guildhall examinations and was a member of the Franschoek Music Workshop for four years.

Dylan Fine

Guitar Teacher

Dylan Fine has emerged as one of South Africa’s most exciting guitarists having graduating from the esteemed South African College of Music at UCT in April 2018 with a degree in Jazz Performance. He has gone on to become a regular fixture around the Cape Town Jazz scene and is noted for his involvement as a guitarist and composer for The Unity Band, winning ‘Best Newcomer in Jazz’ at the Mzantsi Jazz Awards. Dylan’s work as a musician and session guitarist has seen him play in all of SA’s major festivals and venues. He has worked with notable South African musicians such as Zoe Modiga, Langa Mavuso, Manana, Dan Shout , Tellaman, Chris Schilder, Jono Sweetman and +Buddy Wells.

Jaryd Philander

Guitar Teacher

Jaryd is the Music director at RedPost Church, based in Rondebosch, and has been taught by some of the finest Cape Town guitarists including Alvin Dyers and Michael Bester. His jazz band, Ntsikelelo, is a regular fixture at various venues in and around Cape Town, such as the Drawing Room Café, Jazz in the Native Yards, The Commons, Art of Duplicity, Urban Soul Café and Selective Live. As an artist, he wants wish to establish his brand abroad, with a fusion of sounds combining African, Bebop and Modern Jazz. He is also a personal trainer by trade!