Michael Rennie
Founder & Director
Michael was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and grew up in a musical family. He began studying violin and singing at a young age and from early on, understood the value of music as a developmental tool, an art form, and a vehicle to uplift and heal people. Classically trained, Michael has had a dynamic career as an educator, performer, composer and producer, exploring many different genres of music along the way.
In 2012 Michael launched New Village Music (now Jambo Music), a robust after-school music program that spans across several schools in Marin, offering music tuition to hundreds of students over the years. Since his move to Marin county in 2011, Michael has also been the music director at The New Village School, Montessori de Terra Linda and Caulbridge School. In 2022 he became the Strings Specialist Teacher for Marin School of the Arts (MSA) at Novato High School.
Before moving to Marin, Michael lived in Brooklyn NY and was on the string faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Connecticut School of Music. While in New York, Michael also directed an international non-profit, Musicians for World Harmony. He strategized directly with the Leadership and Capacity Development Team at the United Nations, developing and seeking funding for music healing projects in various African countries.
As a commercial composer, Michael has produced and composed music for various music production studios in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, and South Africa. But prior to getting so serious, he spent more than a decade touring and recording with his groundbreaking and popular bands, Sons of Trout and Mikanic. Touring and broadcasting the 90s Cape Town sound and spirit in South Africa and abroad, they were signed to Gallo Records (Warner Music), and released several albums to popular success.
Currently Mike plays violin with his band El Cajon, and lives in Novato with his wife Nicole and their two children, Siena and Dashiel.