Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps

Mandarins
Drum and Bugle Corps

250px Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps logo and DCI World Class logo on the Stanford University scoreboard
Location	Sacramento, CA
Division	World Class
Founded	1963
Director	JW Koester
Championship titles	Division III 1987, '88, '92, '96-99 Division II 2001
Uniform	(2014) Deep purple fading to black cadet 3 golden chinese frogs Curved golden sash Golden panel Long purple sleeve and black gloves Black pants Black shoes Purple/Black shako w/black bill & plume Golden chain Golden Mandarins '\\\ on shako

The Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class (formerly Division I) competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Sacramento, California, the Mandarins is a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI).

History

The corps was founded in 1963 as the Ye Wah Drum and Lyre Corps, an activity for youth of Asian-American heritage. Roy Wong, Frank Lim, Thomas Fong, and Yuk Fong had originally approached the Sacramento Chinese community with the intent of starting a drum and bugle corps to perform at the many festivals and parades held each year in the Sacramento area. After struggling to get underway, the corps made its debut on the Fourth of July, 1963. A color guard was added to the corps in 1964 and became a competitive unit in 1965.

Entering the field as a competition corps, the group changed its name to the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in 1967. The corps competed only in Northern California until making its first trip to Southern California in 1970. Since that first trip, the corps has represented its community, Sacramento, and California around the country and abroad. Mandarins appeared in the Taiwan presidential inaugural ceremonies in 1972 and '78. In 1974, they went to Hawaii to march in the King Kamehameha Parade. In 1975, they made their first trip to the Pacific Northwest and Canada. They made their first appearance at the DCI World Championships at Denver in 1978.

In 1983, under the leadership of Executive Director Ray Mar, the corps began working toward becoming a highly successful competitive corps, and they have been regular competitors in DCI since 1986, winning Class A60/Division III championships in 1987, '88, '92, and '96 through '99 and the Division II title in 2001. Mandarins moved into Division I (now World Class) in 2003, and their highest finish has been 17th place in 2005 & '06.

In 2014, the Mandarins and the Sacramento State Department of Music entered into a partnership to conduct the Mandarins Academies. These are performing arts camps held on the Sacramento State campus to help youth develop their skills in brass, percussion, and color guard performance, and in drum major conducting.

Sponsorship

Since beginning in 1963, the Mandarins have been sponsored by a volunteer booster club of parents and supporters. The Mandarins of Sacramento, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) musical organization. As such, it has a Board of Directors, director, and staff assigned to carry out the organization's mission. JW Koester is the corps director, Jim Tabuchi is the Executive Director, and Raymond Mar is the organization's advisor and Director Emeritus.

Show Summary (1984-2016)

Sources:

Gold background indicates DCI Championship; Pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist.

Year	Theme	Repertoire	Score	Placement
1984		Legacy (Unknown) / Light on my Life by Bill Sharpe and Roger Odell / Loisita (Unknown)	---	---
1985		Ponteio by Edú Lobo and Jose Carlos Capinam / Rainmaker by Earl Klugh / Dark Orchid by Sammy Nestico	---	---
1986		Dark Orchid by Sammy Nestico / Rainmaker by Earl Klugh / Bossa Netti by Vic Cionetti / Copacabana by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman, and Bruce Sussman	64.80	10th A60
1987		Storm at Sun-Up by Gino Vannelli / Celebration Suite by Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea / Voyager by Derrick Graves, Dexter Wansel, George Howard, Herb Smith, and Steve Gold / Sweet Cheryl Lynn by Chuck Mangione	85.30 61.90	1st A60 20th
1988		The Sorcerer and the Latin by Vic Schoen / In Her Family by Pat Metheney / Celebration Suite by Chick Corea / Voyager by Derrick Graves, Dexter Wansel, George Howard, Herb Smith, and Steve Gold / More Than the Stars by Eddie Cole	80.20 53.70	1st A60 19th
1989		Dreams of the Sirens by Russ Freeman / In Her Family by Pat Metheney / Minuano & The First Circle by Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays	87.10 64.70	3rd A60 18th
1990		The First Circle by Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays / Letter From Home & Third Wind by Pat Methenry / Minuano & Flight of the Falcon by Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays	88.20 63.90	2nd A60 19th
1991		Let There Be Praise & In His Presence by Dick and Melodie Tunney / So Much 2 Say by Cedrick Dent and Mervyn Warren / Miracles can Happen by Brent Henderson and Craig Patty / Make His Praise Glorious by Bill and Robin Wolaver	92.60	2nd A60
1992		Joy (Traditional) / Jubilee Variations, Appalachian Spring & The Red Pony by Aaron Copland	89.50 90.00 67.80	1st DIII 4th DII/III 26th
1993		Episode Five for Brass by Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen / Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber / Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson	92.60 67.20	2nd DII 26th
1994	Voices of a Planet	Black Forest by Brian Slawson / Dance of the Hunter's Fire by Airto Moreira, Babatunde Olatunji, Flora Purim, Sikiru Adepoju & Vikku Vinayakram / Minuano by Pat Metheney and Lyle Mays / Bones by Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Babatunde Olatunji, and Flora Purim / Udu Chant by Sikiru Adepoju, Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, and Airto Moreira / Appalachian Morning by Paul Halley	90.80	3rd DIII
1995	Cinematic Impressions	Theme Song (from Speed) by Howard Shore / The Wedding Night by Bernard Herrmann / A Perilous Direction and The Honeymoon & The Creation (from Frankenstein) by Patrick Doyle	91.50 69.10	2nd DIII 22nd
1996	To the Edge	Taiko Drumming (Original) / Rhythm of the Saints by Paul Simon / Cirque du Soleil by René Dupéré	94.00 69.30	1st DIII 21st
1997	Passport	Ghost Train (from The Ghost Train Triptych) / The Ride (from The Ghost Train) / At the Station & The Motive Revolution (from The Ghost Train Triptych) / Bullet (from The Ghost Train) All by Eric Whitacre	94.80 73.10	1st DIII 20th
1998	Dragon Dance - Tan Dun	Dragon Dance by Tan Dun / Happy Valley by Vanessa-Mae / The Butterfly Lovers by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao	93.80 71.50	1st DIII 23rd
1999	Transformations	Overture & Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) / Symphonic Suite (from On the Waterfront) All by Leonard Bernstein	93.70 73.90	1st DIII 20th
2000	Katachi-- The Essence of Design	Heroes Symphony & V2 Schneider by Philip Glass / Anakin's Theme, The Droid Battle, Panaka & Duel of the Fates (from Star Wars Episode I) by John Williams	94.30 74.35	2nd DII 18th
2001	Festival of Music	Music for a Festival, Variations on an Enigma, Mountain Song & Partita by Philip Sparke	97.80 79.30	1st DII 16th
2002		Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke / Montage by Peter Graham / A London Overture & Diversions by Philip Sparke	95.80 78.05	3rd DII 19th
2003	Black Market Bazaar	Symphony No.2 in B Minor, Polovetsian Dances (from Prince Igor) & In the Steppes of Central Asia by Alexander Borodin / Bacchanale (from Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saëns	80.30	18th
2004	Samurai	Red Warrior by Hans Zimmer / Ouverture Solennelle by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Tabidachi, Nishi he (Departure to the West) by Joe Hisaishi / Bullet by Wong / The Way of the Sword by Hans Zimmer	77.75	20th
2005	Loves Me... Loves Me Not...	Adagio from Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (variation 18) by Sergei Rachmaninoff / Vibraphonissimo & Nuevo Tango by Astor Piazzolla / Symphonic Dances, Mvt. III by Sergei Rachmaninoff	78.10	17th
2006	Rhythm Nation	Martillo by Luis Garay Percussion World / Egyptian Danza by Al Di Meola / Back Home by Nando Lauria / Din Daa Daa by George Kranz / Rhythm Nation by James Harris, Terry Lewis. and Janet Jackson / Clapping Music by Steve Reich / Episode - Prelude by Nando Lauria/ Tell it All & The Way Up by Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny	77.875	17th
2007	Dragon Dance	Tea in Chinese Camp, Call of the Mountain (from Gates of Gold) & Shadow and Light by Joseph Curiale / Battle in the Forest (from House of Flying Daggers) by Shigeru Umebayashi / Jubiliation Dragon Dance by Tan Dun	75.20	21st
2008	River	Wind River by Joseph Curiale / Cajun Folksong by Frank Ticheli / Sunrise (from Grand Canyon Suite) by Ferde Grofé / Inferno (from Divine Comedy) by Robert W. Smith	77.925	19th
2009	ABSOLUTE	Absolute Fanfare: Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovich / Absolute Passion: Libertango by Astor Piazzola / Absolute Joy: Ode to Joy (from Ninth Symphony) by Ludwig van Beethoven / Joy (Traditional) / Christmas Anthem by Robert W. Smith / Absolute Rhythm & Absolute Velocity Partita by Phillip Sparke	79.65	18th
2010	To Dream of Far Away Lands	Meetings Along the Edge by Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar / The Mountain of Fruit and Flowers by David Buckley / Samudra Manthan by Shivkumar Sharma / Quiet by Sheila Chandra, Steve Coe, and Martin Smith / Ever So Lonely by Steve Coe / Ambush from Ten Sides (Chinese traditional)	78.10	19th
2011	The Forty Thieves: An Ancient Tale of Spices, Toxins, and Perfumes	Octabones by Adi Morag / Spices, Perfumes, and Toxins by Avner Dorman	75.70	21st
2012	Prophecy	Prophecy by Key Poulan	71.60	23rd
2013	DESTINATION AMERICA: Journey of the Paper Sons	The Promise of a Better Life, Journey to America, Interrogation, and Freedom by Key Poulan	79.750	18th
2014	UnbreakABLE: The Human Spirit is Limitless	Original compositions by Key Poulan with Tony Nunez and Kevin Shaw	78.150	21st
2015	RESURRECTION	I. The Awakening / II. Warrior / III. The Dynasty of the Emperor / IV. Forever in Stone by Key Poulan with Sean Womack and Mark Hunter	76.425	20th
2016	TBA	TBA	TBD	TBD

Traditions

Quarter-finals Breakfast

The corps' breakfast on the morning of DCI quarter-finals is always fried rice and mandarin oranges.

The Mandarins "M"

The calligraphic representation of the "Mandarins M" is the corps's logo; it resembles '\\\. Veteran members frequently get an "M" tattoo as a memento of their membership in the corps.

Year of the Dragon

The Mandarins' corps song is a chorale section of Philip Sparke's Year of the Dragon, Part 2. After the last practice before quarterfinals, the hornline surrounds the age-outs and plays Year of the Dragon for them. Also, anytime someone in the corps has to leave during tour, the hornline circles up around he or she, and plays the piece for them. After the piece is played, generally, the corps then gives a huge group hug to the person that is leaving. Lastly, the piece is played to kick off the season and start tour.

Corps Necklace

Towards the end of the season, members of the hornline receive a necklace with a Chinese coin and a shako link on it. The silver shako link shows that the member marched before 2013, the corp's 50th anniversary. A golden link means that the member marched on or after 2013. The number of chains corresponds to the number of years marched.

Reno Crew Jackets

Due to the corp's close proximity to Reno, Nevada, the group that comes from Reno is known as the "Reno Crew". Traditionally, the crew attaches shako links to their member jackets. There seems to be no explanation as to why this tradition started, but the Reno Crew are the only members to do this.

External links

• Mandarins homepage
• Drum Corps International webpage