President – Dr. William Au

Bill has been a charter member of the Foundation since its inception in 1996, and was introduced to traditional jazz by his brother-in-law, jazz trombonist Howard Miyata. Bill’s three sons attended the Teagarden Jazz Camp and are now professional musicians and music teachers. Bill began playing trombone in 6th grade, and was a member of the Cal Marching Band representing the US at the 1970 Osaka World’s Fair, and a founding member of the UC Berkeley Jazz Ensemble. He continues to play trombone whenever he has the time and enjoys jamming at the at home with his sons. Bill is passionate about supporting youth music education, particularly traditional jazz, and jazz in general.

Bill is a retired neurologist with special expertise in Alzheimer Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. He has served as Chief of Staff at Sutter Medical Center, Chairman of the Board for Sutter Health Sac-Sierra Region, and most recently, finished his term as Board Chair of Sutter Medical Group.

Vice President – Nancy Parker

Nancy is an attorney, with most of her 24 years of practice for the State of California. A native Californian, Nancy attended University of California, Berkeley for her undergraduate degree and law school at University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Nancy and her husband John are long-time music and jazz fans, attending many adult and youth jazz concerts and festivals across the country. Their daughter Claire (now a UCLA graduate) performed in the jazz and concert bands at Rio Americano High and Arden Middle Schools, was a long-time member of TNT, performed with the River City Swingers, and attended Teagarden jazz camp for many summers. Nancy has also been a long-time volunteer in Sacramento, from being a Girl Scout leader, TNT band manager, and served 2 years as president of Rio Americano Band Boosters. Nancy looks forward to bringing her experience and enthusiasm to the foundation’s mission of youth education and performance of early jazz.

Secretary – Mike Duffek

A lifelong resident of Sacramento county, Mike attended area schools and began playing trumpet at age 11. In 1973 he joined the Sacramento Youth Band, and performed in the Junior Marching Band, Senior Marching Band and Jazz Band.  He was also drum major for the Senior Marching Band for 5 years.  A graduate of Kennedy High School, Mike performed in the Concert  Band at Cosumnes River College, then moved on to Sacramento State University and a degree in Communication Studies. Recently retired from the California Prison Industry Authority, Mike currently serves as President of the Sacramento Youth Band Parent’s Assn. and has been involved with the Sacramento Youth Band for over 44 years.

Treasurer – James Treadwell

A longtime jazz fan, frequent festival attendee, and native Californian, James came to Sacramento from the Bay Area in 1986 to attend CSU Sacramento and never left. His degrees in Business and in Communications helped launch a career in insurance. James comes to the Foundation now as regional marketing manager for the largest workers compensation provider in California. His more than 28 years of insurance experience in claims, marketing, underwriting, and employment rules and guidelines help the foundation negotiate a smooth way through sometimes complicated state and federal requirements. Separate from his day job, James with his wife Erin are proud of their two musical children who have both received music lesson awards, attended the Teagarden Jazz Camp, performed in TNT, and were in band programs that benefited from the Trad Jazz Project. James is grateful for the opportunity to use his professional experience and love of music to benefit the foundation and help support and encourage the education of future generations in the performance of early jazz.

 Executive Director – Patti Jones

Patti Jones has been involved with the Trad Jazz community since the early 1970s, and over time served as a Board Member of the now defunct Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society (STJS), editor of the STJS Newsletter, Jazz Festival volunteer, and Education Committee Chair. Having left the STJS Board, she was asked in 2009 to join the Foundation Board, and soon took over the secretarial duties. By 2015 it was obvious that the Foundation needed a part-time Executive Director, and Jones, recently retired from the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, seemed the obvious choice. She still puts in a lot of volunteer time chairing the Education Committee, fundraising, and working hard to expand the Foundation’s programs.

Director

Gabriel Carpenter

Gabriel Carpenter has been studying drums for fourteen years and frequently performs around California, playing a variety of genres including Traditional Jazz, Rock, Pop, Bebop, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and Funk. Carpenter previously studied with drum mentors Rick Lotter, Tim Metz, and Jeff  Hamilton, and spent two years as the drummer for SacJEF’s high school honor band, TNT (The New Traditionalists). Gabe went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in music education from California State University Sacramento.  After obtaining his teaching credential, he became the band director at Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove, where he teaches the jazz bands and orchestra ensembles.

Jill Harper

As a founding member of the now defunct STJS in 1968, Jill was involved in all its programs from the Jubilee and Jazz Sundays to the youth education programs, especially jazz camp. She served on the STJS board in several capacities including President and as the society’s Executive Director and the Director of Jazz Camp in its early years. Jill has served on the Board of the SacJEF Foundation for many years including several terms as Vice-President. She is committed to helping continue the Foundation’s mission of educating young musicians in the style of traditional jazz. In her “other life,” she’s retired from a career of administration in the field of early childhood education.

Ron Jones

A native of Delaware, Ron began playing drums at age 11 and by age 14 was playing professionally with local bands. At 21 he enlisted in the US Air Force, and in 1972 was sent to Anchorage, AK with the Alaskan Air Command Band. He continued to play in Air Force show bands for nearly nine years, and on several occasions was named Top Instrumental Soloist in the USAF’s annual Tops in Blue talent show. Ron retired from the Air Force in 1988, and continued to play in all kinds of bands, from country to Big Band to jazz combos, often backing up top name entertainers. Since his
move to Sacramento, CA in the early 1980s, his drums have been heard in many top West Coast jazz bands. A familiar face on the jazz festival circuit, Ron is known for his smile and obvious enjoyment in playing, which reflect his belief that music brings people together.

Greg Sabin

Greg Sabin has been part of the traditional jazz scene in Sacramento as a musician, volunteer, and advocate for almost three decades. In his professional life, he is a Certified Financial Planner. Specializing in retirement planning, he’s helped thousands of people prepare for and live in retirement. He’s also worked as a freelance writer, publishing national pieces on food, wine, and health. Since 2010, Greg has worked at the Teagarden Jazz Camp as a counselor and trombone instructor. He’s excited to bring his financial acumen and love of traditional jazz to bear on the mission of the SacJEF.

Crystal Sheffield

Crystal Sheffield holds a BS degree in Psychology and a MA in Human Services Counseling from Liberty University, and is a social worker with the Eastern District Federal Defender’s Office in Sacramento. In her work at FDO, Crystal has helped develop a social work program to provide resources and supportive services to clients, while also providing an educational opportunity for social work students. She has collaborated with numerous community agencies and court departments in helping solve challenges that justice-involved individuals face as they reenter their communities. Crystal also works as a private consultant, assisting individuals and organizations with social work support in various capacities. In 2023, Crystal partnered with the Sacramento Public Library to build a social work program within their branches that serves the unhoused community and patrons who frequent the libraries and need resources. Crystal believes strongly in the power of music education to help direct and enrich a child’s life.

Erin Treadwell

Erin comes to the foundation board as a jazz fan and a parent of musicians who have wholly benefited from all of the Foundation programs. A Sacramento native, she attended many of the STJS Music events and festivals growing up. Erin works for the City of Sacramento and manages public information and outreach for the Recycling and Solid Waste Division. She is applying her twenty plus years as a PR professional to SacJEF marketing and outreach efforts. She and her husband James are most proud of their two musical children who have both received music lessons awards, attended the Teagarden Jazz Camp, performed in TNT and were in band programs that benefited from the Trad Jazz Project. Their son Eric is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and daughter Catherine is studying at Willamette University in Oregon.

Felicia Weatherly

As a young student, Felicia participated in virtually every program that the former STJS offered, including years at the summer Jazz Camp, and performing at the Sacramento Music Festival. Inspired to pursue a career in music education, she became a music educator and now teaches at River City High School in West Sacramento, where she created an extremely successful traditional jazz band (Syncopating Sea-Monkeys) program. She has been responsible for many young musicians pursuing an interest in Traditional Jazz, even to the point of becoming professional performers of the music.