About
Mandarins Music Academy offers music education through band programs and a general music class. The program includes music performance and instruction in a classroom setting.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: Music Directors teach two one-hour sessions per week, either before or after school
The Mandarins Music Academy began in 2016 and has expanded to provide music education to over 1,200 students. It partners with the Elk Grove Unified School District to support band programs at all 43 elementary schools. The program began with one elementary school program with 11 students and doubled in the number of schools and children served every year until COVID. Beginning in the fall of 2023, the Sacramento Mandarins Music Academy has offered a general music class to students with special needs at Jessie Baker School. Every student receives a Mandarins Music Academy t-shirt that they can wear for rehearsals or as a performance uniform.
Music Advisors in the program have an average of 30 years of classroom teaching experience and provide feedback and coaching to Music Directors on how they can increase their effectiveness in the classroom. The leadership team includes Program Director Martin Bua, Assistant Program Director Matt Siek, and Music Advisor Director Jim Mazzaferro. The mission of Mandarins Music Academy is to “Give the Gift of Music” to as many children as possible in an equitable way.
Music Advisor Director Jim Mazzaferro has received multiple recognitions, including being named 2005 Teacher of the Year in the Elk Grove Unified School District and a 2009 Crystal Apple recipient as an outstanding educator in the district by LDS students from Sheldon High School. In 2009 he was recognized by the Sacramento Area Theater Association with an “Elly” Award for musical direction of Sheldon’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” In 2012 he was named a Bandworld Legion of Honor Laureate by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. In 2013 he received the Byron Hoyt/Don Schmeer Outstanding Music Educator Award from the California Music Educators Association. In the 2015–2016 school year he was named ABC NEWS10 (Sacramento) Teacher of the Month and recognized as the CMEA Capitol Section Music Educator of the Year. In February 2017 he received the CMEA Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award at the association’s annual state conference in San Jose.
Last updated July 7, 2026.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: Music Directors teach two one-hour sessions per week, either before or after school
The Mandarins Music Academy began in 2016 and has expanded to provide music education to over 1,200 students. It partners with the Elk Grove Unified School District to support band programs at all 43 elementary schools. The program began with one elementary school program with 11 students and doubled in the number of schools and children served every year until COVID. Beginning in the fall of 2023, the Sacramento Mandarins Music Academy has offered a general music class to students with special needs at Jessie Baker School. Every student receives a Mandarins Music Academy t-shirt that they can wear for rehearsals or as a performance uniform.
Music Advisors in the program have an average of 30 years of classroom teaching experience and provide feedback and coaching to Music Directors on how they can increase their effectiveness in the classroom. The leadership team includes Program Director Martin Bua, Assistant Program Director Matt Siek, and Music Advisor Director Jim Mazzaferro. The mission of Mandarins Music Academy is to “Give the Gift of Music” to as many children as possible in an equitable way.
Music Advisor Director Jim Mazzaferro has received multiple recognitions, including being named 2005 Teacher of the Year in the Elk Grove Unified School District and a 2009 Crystal Apple recipient as an outstanding educator in the district by LDS students from Sheldon High School. In 2009 he was recognized by the Sacramento Area Theater Association with an “Elly” Award for musical direction of Sheldon’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” In 2012 he was named a Bandworld Legion of Honor Laureate by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. In 2013 he received the Byron Hoyt/Don Schmeer Outstanding Music Educator Award from the California Music Educators Association. In the 2015–2016 school year he was named ABC NEWS10 (Sacramento) Teacher of the Month and recognized as the CMEA Capitol Section Music Educator of the Year. In February 2017 he received the CMEA Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award at the association’s annual state conference in San Jose.
Last updated July 7, 2026.
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