On the Couch - #174 - MEX in conversation with Sheldon Rocha Leal

Sheldon Rocha Leal is currently the Director of Culture and Music at Southdowns College, a private school in Centurion. He holds a BA in Law and Psychology from UNISA, a BMus Honours and MMus (Cum Laude) from the University of Pretoria and a PhD in Music Business and Education from the University of the Free State.

He was previously the national head of sound engineering and music at Damelin and head of contemporary music at the National School of the Arts. He was instrumental in the writing of the national curriculum for music for GET, FET and HE at SAQA.

Besides for being in music education for the past 19 years he is also a performer and songwriter, having written songs for multiple artists including the SAMA award winning songstress Lira and artists RJ Benjamin, Yves, Danny K and Karen from Idols. His music has had extensive playlisting on various radio stations nationally.

Some of his students have gone on to lead very successful music careers, people like Anatii, Shane Eagle, Vusi Nova and members of bands like Monark, Prime Circle, Tweak, Pascal and Pearce and Rubber Duc.