Mike Sibanda

BIO

Mike Sibanda (born Michael Sibanda) is a sought-after, world-touring marimba music composer, arranger, performer and music educator, born and raised in Zimbabwe.

He is currently the Campus Marimba Director at St Stithians College in Johannesburg, South Africa. Michael has over three decades of professional experience in training and mentoring music ensembles in schools, colleges, community centers festivals and music camps worldwide. He holds a certificate in Music Education from the Kwanongoma College of Music. He specialised in training African music teachers equipping them with teaching skills, African musical instrument performance and instrument making. Michael also holds a Bachelor of Music Honors from the University of Pretoria. He has taught at schools and colleges in Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa, gracing some of the world’s stages with the ensembles he directed.

Michael has frequently adjudicated and presented workshops and papers at various events, conferences and festivals. This included the International Marimba Festival (South Africa), Marching Field Band competitions, National Allied Arts Institute of Zimbabwe, Vocal and Instrumental Eisteddfod, Choral competitions (Botswana), ISME conferences, Kaustinen Festival (Finland), Iguaçu en Concerto (Argentina) and the Zimbabwe Music Festival (in the USA). In 2012 he was invited to take up a residency at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, in the US.

He has a passion for educating young performers and sharing his experiences with other educators. He believes that the marimba gives children equal opportunities to experience the joys of playing a musical instrument. What he enjoys most is empowering his students both young and old by keeping them enthused and excited about marimba music and music making in general, which he does through constant composing and arranging of new music, organizing marimba festivals, teaching, rehearsing and performing.

Besides teaching, Michael directs Totem Marimba Band, a professional marimba outfit that performs at various functions and festivals .