MICRO-BIO

• Sheldon Rocha Leal is presently the Director of Culture at a private school in Irene, Pretoria, South Africa. He is also the Director of Music at the school and the Head of Operations at the attached after school recreational music academy, which he...More

  Sheldon Rocha Leal is presently the Director of Culture at a private school in Irene, Pretoria, South Africa. He is also the Director of Music at the school and the Head of Operations at the attached after school recreational music academy, which he founded and started in 2008. He commenced his academic education in 1995 when he embarked on tertiary studies at the University of South Africa, wherew he attained a BA majoring in Law and Psychology. He later went on to study Contemporary Music and Business Management at Allenby Campus and Sound Engineering at Bournemouth and Poole College. He later completed postgraduate studies at the University of Pretoria, where he obtained a BMus Hons (Cum Laude), specialising in Technology in Music Education and Arts and Culture Management in 2013 and a Masters in Musicology (Cum Laude), focused on Music Education and Music Business in 2015. For his achievements at the university he was awarded, twice, with academic honours and was inducted into the Golden Key Honours Society. In 2018 he completed a PhD in Curriculum Design and Music Business at the University of the Free State. Besdies for being involved in music at both school level (Director of Music at Southdowns College and Head of Popular Music at the National School of the Arts) and tertiary level (he was previously the National Head of Sound Engineering and Music at Damelin, the biggest provider of private higher education in South Africa and a part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria), he is also a songwriter and lyricist. He has written songs for some of South Africa's most illustrious talent: Lira, RJ Benjamin, Karen Kortje (former SA Idols winner), Danny K and Yvonne Manxeba (aka Yves). One of his songs won a Metro FM Award and peaked at No1 on the radio station (nationally syndicated urban radio station). Sheldon was a vocal consultant on the first season of The Voice, Angola and a Top 4 contestant on the Gospel reality show, Crux Gospel Star. He has spoken at various conferences including Moshito in 2011 (the largest music conference in Africa) and Independent Examination Body, National Conference in 2012. He has judged various music competitions including the Radio Pulpit Jubilate competiton, National Eisteddfod, Springs Eisteddfod, University of Pretoria Acapella Competition and the Viebz Competition hosted at St Andre's College in Befordview, Johannesburg. Sheldon is a registered member of SAMRO (South African Music Rights Organisation) and has consulted with various artists in their recording company contract negotiations. Many of his former students have managed to achieve mainstream success in the South African music industry and he considers this to be one of his biggest achievements. Sheldon was also part of a committee that wrote the national music curriculum (primary school to higher education level) for SAQA (South African Qualifications Authority) and a committee that started the first ever youth arts festival linked to the Arts Alive organisation and the mayor of Johannesburg. 

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EXPERIENCE

• University of Pretoria

  • Part-Time Lecturer in Arts and Culture Management
  • Humanities
  • January 2013 to August 2013

• Centurus

  • Director of Culture
  • Culture
  • January 2012 to Present

• Centurus

  • Director of Music
  • Music
  • February 2008 to Present

• Educor

  • Head of Music and Sound Engineering
  • Sound Engineering and Music
  • January 2007 to December 2007

• Damelin

  • Head of Contemporary Music and Sound Engineering
  • Sound Engineering and Music
  • January 2005 to December 2006

• National School of the Arts

  • Head of Popular Music
  • Culture
  • January 2004 to December 2004

• South African Qualifications Authority

  • Music Standards Generating Body Member
  • Music
  • January 2004 to December 2008

• National Eisteddfod

  • Curriculum Developer
  • Music
  • January 2002 to December 2016

• Allenby Campus

  • Part-Time Lecturer in Music Business and Music History
  • Music
  • January 2001 to December 2005

EDUCATION

• University of the Free State

  • PhD Music
  • February 2015 to December 2018

  This was a research PhD and the topic was "Transforming Higher Music Education in South Africa through the creation of a Music Industry related Baccalaureate".

• University of Pretoria

  • MMus Musicology (Cum Laude)
  • February 2013 to April 2015

  This was a research masters and the topic was "Tertiary Music Education in South Africa: Meeting the needs of music students and the music industry". He received academic honours for this qualification.

• University of Pretoria

  • BMus (Hons) (Cum Laude)
  • January 2011 to April 2013

  As part of this degree he majored in Technology in Music Education and Arts and Culture Management. He received academic honours for this qualification and was inducted into the Golden Key Honours society.

• Eve Boswell Foundation

  • Certificate in Vocal Coaching
  • July 2000 to December 2000

  This was a certificate in which vocal coaching techniques are imparted and taught. He passed this qualification with distinction.

• Eve Boswell Foundation

  • Certificate in Advanced Vocal Production
  • January 2000 to July 2000

  This is a certificate in which students are taught about different advanced vocal production techniques. He passed this certificate with distinction.

• Allenby

  • Higher Diploma in Contemporary Musicianship, Production, Composition and Arrangement
  • January 2000 to April 2001

  He majored in Contemporary Music vocals, vocal training and composition and arrangement.

• Eve Boswell Foundation

  • Certificate in Intermediate Vocal Production
  • June 1999 to December 1999

  This is a certificate in which students are taught about different intermediate vocal production techniques. He passed this certificate with distinction.

• Eve Boswell Foundation

  • Certificate in Beginners Vocal Production
  • January 1999 to June 1999

  This is a certificate in which students are taught about different beginner's vocal production techniques.

• Allenby

  • Diploma in Contemporary Musicianship and Management
  • January 1999 to April 2000

  He majored in vocals, dance and business management. He attained a distinction for this qualification.

• Allenby

  • Diploma in Sound Engineering
  • January 1998 to December 1998

  He was the top performing student in his class and was awarded the "Golden Ear Award" for this achievement.

• Bournemouth and Poole College

  • Diploma in Sound Engineering, Practice and Management
  • January 1998 to May 1999

  He specialised in Live and Studio sound engineering as well as marketing, public relations and bookkeeping.

• University of South Africa

  • BA (Law and Psychology)
  • January 1995 to May 1998

  This was a Bachelor of Arts with a double major: Law and Psychology.

Interests

• Popular Music History

• Music Industry

• Art

• Dance

• Drama

• Culture

• Entrepreneurship

• Creativity

• Music Business

• Music

Links

• Medium Account
• Academia Account
• Twitter Account
• Facebook Account
• LinkedIn Account