Music Academy

Martin Bua brings a wealth of knowledge to the Mandarins Music Academy. He has fulfilled nearly countless roles as a musical jack-of-all-trades, starting with piano at age five and clarinet at age eleven. Since then, he has learned many instruments and joined a variety of ensembles, from small woodwind quintets and flute choirs, to large wind symphonies and symphony orchestras. He was most recently the principal clarinet for the Österreichchor, traveling to Vienna to perform Mendelssohn's Elias. While he was there, he also joined the Bogenhofen Bläserchor as first horn. He has toured internationally not only as an instrumentalist, but also as a vocal soloist and choir member. To round out his musical experience, he co-led his university's drumline, Knightline, on tenors.

Originally from Campbell, CA, Assistant Director Matt Siek brings several decades of musical experience to the MMA. Starting off with the clarinet in the fourth grade, he made the switch to percussion in junior high school. After performing for 4 years in high school band, along with 3 years with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, he went on to receive a Bachelor's degree in Creative Arts with an emphasis on music from San Jose State University. Since graduating, he went on to become the music director at Westmont High School where his marching band and concert band earned several awards over his four-year tenure there. He moved into the professional world of music by accepting a role with Opera San Jose where he served as both Artistic Administrator and Director of Education for over a decade. Most recently, Matt worked with the Modesto Symphony as the Director of Operations before relocating to Sacramento in 2024. Matt has performed with various wind ensembles and orchestras since his time in college, most recently with the Auburn Symphony, under the baton of Peter Jaffe. Matt is excited with his new position with the Mandarins Music Academy, returning to the education field to bring the gift of music to young people and to help aspiring music teachers achieve their dreams.

Jim Mazzaferro is the MMA Music Advisor Director. Jim has been involved with the MMA since its inception in 2016. He has helped to create the curriculum and to recruit and coach MMA Music Directors. Jim is one of the most sought-after music educators with over 40 years of experience as an award-winning educator, clinician, adjudicator and conductor. In this expanded role he will be overseeing our Music Advisors, who are some of the most experienced music educators in our Sacramento region. Jim retired in 2016 as the director of instrumental music at Sheldon High School, located in the Elk Grove Unified School District. Jim currently serves a Music Supervisor for CSU Sacramento. His 40 plus year teaching career has also included Archbishop Riordan High School (San Francisco), Florin High School, Sacramento City College, and Cosumes River College, where he was the Orchestra Director for over 20 years. Jim was the Camp Director/Artistic Director of Cazadero Music Camp, a summer music camp for musicians in grades five through high school from 2001 - 2021. Born and raised in San Francisco, Mazzaferro attended Lowell High School, playing in the school’s Concert Band and Orchestra. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from San Francisco State University, playing in the Symphonic Band under the direction of Dr. Edwin C. Kruth, and served as Principal Bassist in the University Symphony under the direction of Lazlo Varga. Mazzaferro received his Masters degree in Instrumental Conducting from California State University, Sacramento, studying conducting under Dr. Robert Halseth. Mazzaferro has also studied conducting with Frederick Fennell, Jack Stamp, Allan McMurray, and Eugene Corporon. Jim is a multiple recipient of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”. Mazzaferro was named 2005 Teacher of the Year in the Elk Grove Unified School District and in 2009 named as a Crystal Apple recipient as an outstanding educator in the EGUSD by LDS students from Sheldon High School. In 2009, Jim was recognized by the Sacramento Area Theater Association with an “Elly” Award for his musical direction of Sheldon’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” In 2012 Jim was one of eight High School Band Directors in the country that were named a Bandworld Legion of Honor Lauerate by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Lauerates are recognized for maintaining a high quality concert band program and have contributed significantly to the profession through dedication to bands and band music. In 2013 Jim was recognized by the California Music Educators Association as the recipient of the Byron Hoyt/Don Schmeer Outstanding Music Educator Award. In 2015 Jim conducted the California Band Directors Association All State Junior High Concert Band at the California State Music Educators (CASMEC) State Conference in Fresno. In the 2015-2016 school year Jim was named ABC NEWS10 (Sacramento) Teacher of the Month, as well as being recognized as the CMEA Capitol Section Music Educator of the Year. The Elk Grove Regional Scholarship Foundation has established a perpetual scholarship in his name for EGUSD students wishing to pursue a career in music and/or music education. In February 2017 Jim received the CMEA Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award at their annual state conference in San Jose. In 2018 Jim guest conducted the John F. Kennedy Middle School Orchestra (Cupertino) in their performance at the Mid-West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Jim continues to guest conduct and clinic groups throughout California.