Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps

Mandarins
Drum and Bugle Corps

Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps logo
Location	Sacramento, CA
Division	World Class
Founded	1963
President	Daniel Fong[1]
Director	JW Koester
Championship titles	DCI Open Class: 1987 1988 1992 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001
Website	www.mandarins.org

The Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive drum and bugle corps. Based in Sacramento, California, the Mandarins is a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI).^[2] Holders of eight DCI divisional championship titles, the Mandarins made its first World Class Finals appearance on August 11, 2018, with a tenth-place finish.^[3]

History

The corps was founded in 1963 as the Ye Wah Drums and Lyras Corps, an activity for youth of Chinese-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 6th place, earned in 2023.^[4]

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, woodwinds, and color guard performance, and in drum major conducting.^[5]

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. JW Koester is the corps director, Jim Tabuchi is the executive director, and Raymond Mar is the organization's advisor and director emeritus.^[6]

Show summary (1978–2024)

Source:^[7]

Key

Light blue background indicates DCI Open Class Finalist[a]

Goldenrod background indicates DCI Open Class Champion[a]

Pale green background indicates DCI World Class Semifinalist[b]

Pale blue background indicates DCI World Class Finalist[b]

1. From 1986–1991, the Mandarins competed in Class A60, and from 1992–2002 in Division II & III; these are the same tier, and have since been renamed Open Class.
2. From 2003–2007, the Mandarins competed in Division I, and have competed since 2008 in World Class. These are the same tier, just renamed.

Year	Repertoire	World Championships
		Score	Placement
1978	Repertoires unavailable	43.250	12th Place Class A
1979–83		Did not attend World Championships
1984	Legacy by Bob James / Light on my Life by Bill Sharpe & Roger Odell / Loisita by Bill Sharpe & Roger Odell
1985	Ponteio by Edú Lobo & 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 & Bruce Sussman	64.800	10th Place Class A60
1987	Storm at Sun-Up by Gino Vannelli / Celebration Suite by Chick Corea / Voyager by Derrick Graves, Dexter Wansel, George Howard, Herb Smith & Steve Gold / Sweet Cheryl Lynn by Chuck Mangione	85.300	1st Place Class A60 Champion
		61.900	20th Place Open Class
1988	The Sorcerer and the Latin by Vic Schoen / In Her Family by Pat Metheny / Celebration Suite by Chick Corea / Voyager by Derrick Graves, Dexter Wansel, George Howard, Herb Smith & Steve Gold / More Than the Stars by Eddie Cole	80.200	1st Place Class A60 Champion
		53.700	19th Place Open Class
1989	Dreams of the Sirens by Russ Freeman / In Her Family by Pat Metheny / Minuano & The First Circle by Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays	87.100	3rd Place Class A60 Finalist
		64.700	18th Place Open Class
1990	The First Circle by Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays / Letter From Home & Third Wind by Pat Metheny / Minuano & Flight of the Falcon by Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays	88.200	2nd Place Class A60 Finalist
		63.900	19th Place Open Class
1991	Let There Be Praise & In His Presence by Dick and Melodie Tunney / So Much 2 Say by Cedrick Dent & Mervyn Warren / Miracles Can Happen by Brent Henderson & Craig Patty / Make His Praise Glorious by Bill and Robin Wolaver	85.600	2nd Place Class A60 Finalist
1992	Joy (Traditional) / Jubilee Variations, Appalachian Spring & The Red Pony by Aaron Copland	90.000	4th Place Division II & III Finalist
		67.800	26th Place Division I
1993	Episode Five for Brass by Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen / Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber / Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson	92.600	2nd Place Division II & III Finalist
		67.200	26th Place Division I
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 Metheny & Lyle Mays / Bones by Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Babatunde Olatunji & Flora Purim / Udu Chant by Sikiru Adepoju, Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain & Airto Moreira / Appalachian Morning by Paul Halley	90.800	3rd Place Division II & III Finalist
1995	Cinematic Impressions Theme from Speed by Mark Mancina / The Wedding Night (from Marnie) by Bernard Herrmann / A Perilous Direction, The Honeymoon & The Creation (from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein) by Patrick Doyle	91.500	2nd Place Division III Finalist
		69.100	22nd Place Division I
1996	To the Edge Taiko Drumming (Original) / Rhythm of the Saints by Paul Simon / Cirque du Soleil by René Dupéré	94.000	1st Place Division III Champion
		69.300	21st Place Division I
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	94.800	1st Place Division III Champion
		73.100	20th Place Division I
1998	Dragon Dance - Tan Dun Dragon Dance by Tan Dun / Happy Valley by Vanessa-Mae / The Butterfly Lovers by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao	93.800	1st Place Division III Champion
		71.500	23rd Place Division I
1999	Transformations Overture & Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) / Symphonic Suite (from On the Waterfront) All by Leonard Bernstein	93.700	1st Place Division III Champion
		73.900	20th Place Division I
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 – The Phantom Menace) by John Williams	94.300	2nd Place Division II & III Finalist
		74.350	18th Place Division I
2001	Festival of Music Music for a Festival, Variations on an Enigma, Mountain Song & Partita All by Philip Sparke	97.800	1st Place Division II & III Champion
		79.300	16th Place Division I Semifinalist
2002	Year of the Dragon Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke / Montage by Peter Graham / A London Overture & Diversions by Philip Sparke	95.800	3rd Place Division II & III Finalist
		78.050	19th Place Division I
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	80.300	18th Place Division I
2004	Samurai Red Warrior (from The Last Samurai) 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 (from The Last Samurai) by Hans Zimmer	77.750	20th Place Division I
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. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninoff	78.100	17th Place Division I Semifinalist
2006	Rhythm Nation Martillo by Luis Garay / Egyptian Danza by Al Di Meola / Back Home by Nando Lauria / Din Daa Daa by George Kranz / Rhythm Nation by James Harris, Terry Lewis & Janet Jackson / Clapping Music by Steve Reich / Episode - Prelude by Nando Lauria / Tell it All & The Way Up by Lyle Mays & Pat Metheny	77.875	17th Place Division I Semifinalist
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 / Jubilation Dragon Dance by Tan Dun	75.200	21st Place Division I
2008	River Wind River by Joseph Curiale / Cajun Folksong by Frank Ticheli / Sunrise (from Grand Canyon Suite) by Ferde Grofé / Inferno (from The Divine Comedy) by Robert W. Smith	77.925	19th Place World Class
2009	ABSOLUTE Absolute Fanfare: Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovich Absolute Passion: Libertango by Astor Piazzolla Absolute Joy: Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9) by Ludwig van Beethoven / Joy (Traditional) / Christmas Anthem by Robert W. Smith Absolute Rhythm & Absolute Velocity: Partita by Philip Sparke	79.650	18th Place World Class
2010	To Dream of Far Away Lands Meetings Along the Edge by Philip Glass & Ravi Shankar / The Mountain of Fruit and Flowers by David Buckley / Samudra Manthan by Shivkumar Sharma / Quiet by Sheila Chandra, Steve Coe & Martin Smith / Ever So Lonely by Steve Coe / Ambush from Ten Sides (Chinese Traditional)	78.100	19th Place World Class
2011	The Forty Thieves: An Ancient Tale of Spices, Toxins, and Perfumes Octabones by Adi Morag / Spices, Perfumes, and Toxins by Avner Dorman	75.700	21st Place World Class Semifinalist
2012	Prophecy Prophecy by Key Poulan	71.600	23rd Place World Class Semifinalist
2013	DESTINATION AMERICA: Journey of the Paper Sons The Promise of a Better Life, Journey to America, Interrogation & Freedom All by Key Poulan	79.750	18th Place World Class Semifinalist
2014	UnbreakABLE: The Human Spirit Is Limitless UnbreakABLE: The Human Spirit is Limitless by Key Poulan, Tony Nunez & Kevin Shaw	78.150	21st Place World Class Semifinalist
2015	RESURRECTION I. The Awakening II. Warrior III. The Dynasty of the Emperor IV. Forever in Stone All by Key Poulan with Sean Womack & Mark Hunter	76.425	20th Place World Class Semifinalist
2016	Forbidden Forest I. Into the Forest II. The Calling (inspired by Devilish Love from Hemingway's Garden of Eden) III. Our Demons Within IV. Triumph of our Inner Self All by Key Poulan, Mark Hunter & Sean Womack / The Calling by Roger Julia	81.200	17th Place World Class Semifinalist
2017	Inside the Ink Flow & Drip by Key Poulan, Darren Van Derpoel & Bryan Nungaray / "The Sound of Silence" by Paul Simon / Crazy by Willie Nelson / Inside the Ink by Key Poulan, Darren Van Derpoel & Bryan Nungaray	85.550	13th Place World Class Semifinalist
2018	Life Rite After String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor, Opus 110 (Allegro Molto) by Dmitri Shostakovich / Spiriti by Thomas Doss / True Colors by Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg	88.150	10th Place World Class Finalist
2019	subTerra Ritual and Discovery by Key Poulan & Ike Jackson / On the Shoulders of Giants by Peter Graham / Truman Sleeps (from The Truman Show) by Philip Glass / Allure by Key Poulan / Run, Boy, Run by Yoann Lemoine & Ambroise Willaume / Sacrifice by Key Poulan & Ike Jackson	89.300	10th Place World Class Finalist
2020	Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021	Beyond the Canvas In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins / Stand Up by Cynthia Erivo & Joshuah Brian Campbell / Original Music by Key Poulan, Bryan Harmsen, Ben Pyles & Andy Filipiak	No scored competitions
2022	The Otherside Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2 by Pink Floyd / Otherside by Avi Kaplan / The Wall, The Revolution, The Disintegration & The Triumph by Key Poulan, Bryan Harmsen, Ben Pyles & Andy Filipiak	90.013	10th Place World Class Finalist
2023	Sinnerman Sinnerman by Nina Simone / Take Me to Church by Hozier / Smile by Nat King Cole / Swing Symphony, Mvt. 4 by Wynton Marsalis / Présage by Univers Zero / I'm Tired by Labrinth & Zendaya	93.775	6th Place World Class Finalist
2024	Vieux Carré The Jungle & All Rise by Wynton Marsalis / I Put a Spell on You by Nina Simone / Agape by Nicholas Britell / In the Sweet By and By by Joseph Webster & S. Filmore Bennett / Lie to Me by Trombone Shorty, Chris Seefreid & Stefan Abingdon	92.150	7th Place World Class Finalist

References

1. "Board of Directors". Sacramento Mandarins. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
2. "Corps". Drum Corps International. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
3. "Mandarins raise the bar with inaugural Finals bid". Drum Corps International. 11 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
4. "Drum Corps International: Official DCI Scores". www.dci.org. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
5. "Sacramento Mandarins Partner with Sac State". The Mandarins of Sacramento, Inc. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
6. "Sacramento Mandarins". www.mandarins.org. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
7. "Mandarins/Repertoire". DCX: The Drum Corps Xperience. Retrieved 6 March 2018.

External links

• Official website