Sacramento Mandarins On the Road

Remainder of Tour

2010-08-27T14:14:00.001-07:00

To read about the remainder of the Mandarins 2010 DCI tour, check out our "virtual tour" here: http://bit.ly/drxtjn

August 1-2, Ohio

2010-08-03T05:43:00.000-07:00

Our stay in Ohio continued with weather that was much better than what we had encountered in Texas and the south. We shared housing at Northridge High School in Dayton with Pioneer. However, the facility was very large and spread out, so we did not really see too much of each other.

Mr. Chow's meatloaf was the highlight of several fantastic meals served up by our ever working food crew.

Monday night's show was a good effort, and many parts of the show are starting to show significant improvement, although there was not quite the same energy as the Atlanta show. However, we continue to make improvement with every rehearsal block, every performance.

Next stop, upstate New York!

July 29 - 31 Atlanta

2010-08-03T04:53:00.000-07:00

Our housing for the Atlanta show was at Temple Middle School, Temple GA. A very large school for a middle school. A great set up for us with a couple of fields, kitchen and cafeteria...and very good weather!

Nearly two full days of rehearsal was something we hadn't had in a while. Time was spent cleaning the show, with considerable emphasis on the opener. Frank Dorritie, a drum corps icon who is also very active in the recording industry spent time with the corps during our stay.

Saturday's show was a big one, with every world class corps in attendance. Our work in Temple paid off as it was the best show of the season, and both staff and members were very happy with the effort and the performance.

After our performance, a sudden downpour occurred as the members were walking back to the buses (it is about a 15 minute walk). As a result, much of the next day was spent drying uniforms and clothes that had been soaked in the downpour.

We are in Ohio for the next couple of days, with a show in Centerville on Monday.

July 27/28 Mississippi

2010-07-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

Arrived at D'iberville High School for a two day stay. The first day was spent in rehearsal, the evening - laundry day!

The show Wednesday evening was held at the University of Southern Mississippi, home of Brett Favre. A good show, but plenty of things to work on in the coming weeks.

The corps will moving on to Georgia, where we will have 2 rehearsal days before the Atlanta regional. Looking forward to getting a lot accomplished!

July 26 - Louisiana

2010-07-27T07:29:00.001-07:00

Had a great stay at Iowa High School today. Thank to the band and color guard, and band director for being such terrific hosts.

Thunderstorms throughout the day so we moved inside and under cover for the last couple of hours of rehearsal.

No rain at the show, in contrast to Monroe LA in 2008 when the corps got drenched on the starting line.

Show was a mixed bag, some parts showed greater clarity, others still needing work. Plenty to work on before Wednesday night's show in Hattiesburg MS, but we are moving forward!

San Antonio July 25

2010-07-26T16:27:00.001-07:00

Today the corps started off with I and E - Individual and Ensemble. The corps was very well represented in a number of categories. You can see the results here: http://bit.ly/bbET5J

Then a well deserved free day down at the River Walk. Off to Iowa, LA , pronounced I-O-Way for housing and a show in Lafayette Monday night.

July 23/24 Dallas/San Antonio

2010-07-25T04:54:00.001-07:00

Last two shows in Texas. The show in Dallas Friday night had a rough start but the corps went on to give a solid performance.

Our housing in San Antonio is terrific; St Mary's Hall, a private middle school on a very large, wooded campus. Plenty of field space, great facilities and very supportive hosts.

Saturday's show in San Antonio was the best of the season. Everyone's hard work this past week definitely paid off. A great way to cap off a week of shows here in Texas.

Today, I and E in the morning, then free day at River Walk!

July 21/22 Houston

2010-07-23T06:53:00.000-07:00

The corps stayed at Bammel Middle School, a familiar place as we have been housed there in the past. The entire pre show staging was completed during our Wednesday rehearsal day.

Thursday's show was delayed first due to possible lightening, then rain falling. At one point, three corps were assembled under the back stands waiting for the weather to clear!

The performance was good, but there were also several spots that everyone feels can be cleaned up by Friday night's performance in Dallas.

We are in Dallas now, some floor time, rehearsal, then it's Showtime!

July 20 Odessa TX

2010-07-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Show Day: Thunder in the Desert, Odessa TX. The show was at the stadium used in the filming of the movie "Friday Night Lights"!

The weather was great today, especially in contrast to the past few days, although it was a bit windy. The local water on the hand, not so much.

Some parts of the show are showing definite improvement as a result of work during the past few days since the SoCal weekend. Tonight, the corps also had the opportunity to provide the encore performance at the show; all the members enjoyed the opportunity to perform once again; the staff had a good time as well!

Long bus ride tonight to Houston, then a rehearsal day before Thursday night's show.

El Paso TX - Monday, July 19

2010-07-20T06:55:00.001-07:00

Monday was a rehearsal day in El Paso TX. The corps worked on several aspects of the show, including sketching in the basics of the pre show. Front sideline screens were also added, and the logistics of getting them on and off of the field addressed.

All sections are definitely showing improvement on a daily basis as we head east during this first week of tour. We are also spending time on getting some of the new brass players into the show.

After rehearsal, the corps is headed off to Odessa, TX for Tuesday night's show, Thunder In the Desert.

July 18 Mesa AZ

2010-07-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

Upon arrival in Mesa, the corps rehearsed from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., then rested and slept until it was time to prepare for the evening show: this allowed us to avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day. The school facility was very nice, and a welcome change from the previous couple of days.

During warm up at the show site ("the lot"), the skies opened up with rain, thunder and lighting. After a delay, the show was cancelled, although a couple of corps then performed a standstill (by then we had already packed up the equipment).

It was off to Texas, going through New Mexico, roadrunner territory! The exhibition show in El Paso has been cancelled due to show sponsor issues, but we still have retained the housing site, so it will be a rehearsal day instead.

The staff has been very impressed by the corps members thus far on tour. They have been resilient and done a fantastic job, particularly given some of the logistical challenges in Southern California and the rainout in AZ. They are focused and hardworking in rehearsal, and appear driven in the task of improving the show rep by rep, show by show. They are doing a great job!

Next show is in Odessa, TX, Tuesday night.

July 16 and 17

2010-07-18T00:25:00.000-07:00

Our last couple of days in California are now over. During our stay there were some issues with the show sponsor provided housing and rehearsal fields, yet the corps was able to work through them. Saturday's show in Paramount was the best of the season to date.

Shirley Dorritie was with the corps this weekend reinforcing the positive performance visualization techniques and methods she had introduced at the Memorial Day camp. This certainly contributed to the success of Saturday evening's performance.

The corps is now on the road to Arizona for Sunday evening's show in Mesa. By the way, this is the first time since 2006 that the corps was full at the beginning of tour, with every spot filled. This season the corps includes 60 brass, 28 guard, 27 percussion and 2 drum majors (and a brass line alternate as well!)

We're Back on the Road!

2010-07-17T11:24:00.001-07:00

After several weeks of shows and rehearsal in California, the buses left Elk Grove CA early Friday a.m. on July 16. A couple of SoCal shows and then on to Arizona and Texas for our first week on the road. A lot of improvements and refinements have been made both visually and musically, with more on the way.

The color guard has a number of theme days, which dictate the rehearsal attire for the day. Today is "Pink Day"!

Everyone is looking forward to a great show in Paramount tonight, our last show in California for the season!

End of Training Camp - First Show!

2010-06-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

“Show Day” - two words that everyone is always excited to hear, especially when it refers to the first show of the season. The Mandarins first show is tonight at Buchanan High School in Clovis: http://bit.ly/9Yte10

The corps is presently wrapping up a 5 day stay at Washington Union High School in Fresno. The week was spent finishing up the last 12 pages of closer drill and “taking the met out” of the closer. Movement was added to the percussion feature Bollymash, and time was spent to review all other parts of the show and work on basic technique (circle drill anyone?).

The staff also worked on adding in a number of new brass and guard members, including a number of performers from Southern California, with more coming in this weekend; some high schools in Southern California get out late for the summer!

After tonight’s performance, the corps will travel to James Lick High School in San Jose. The corps will stay there through the weekend as there are shows at Stanford on Saturday and in Stockton at the University of the Pacific: http://mandarins.org/news/news.html#06182010.

You can get more info by checking out our latest video newsletter: http://mandarins.org/

Week 1 of Training Camp Complete

2010-06-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

The Mandarins finished the Sacramento week of training camp with our annual Family Day event. This includes section presentations, introduction of staff, recognition of support staff and the administrative team, scholarship awards, and of course, two runthroughs of the show, one with drill, one in standstill.

To conclude the formal portion of the evening, all alumni were asked to come down to the track. There the brass line played Year of the Dragon as a way or recognizing and expressing appreciation for those who marched in the corps before them, and made this year possible.

With music (courtesy of percussion arranger Tony Nunez) playing in the background, everyone was invited out of the stands. This allowed corps members, family, friends and boosters the opportunity to exchange hugs, congratulations, high fives and take advantage of photo ops.

Photos of the week are posted here: http://bit.ly/cglCVX

After a day off on Father's Day, the corps is now in Fresno for week two of training camp. The guard will be working in several new members, and working on the closer drill. The battery and brass will work on the remaining 12 pages of closer drill as well. We will be working in a few new brass players as well.

Based on what the design team saw of the show this weekend (including Wayne Downey's observations after his weeknight visit with the corps), there are already a number of show refinements taking place.

Of course, solidifying the show is also the major emphasis for the week with the first show this Friday night in Clovis. See you there!

Nearing the end of Week 1

2010-06-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

The corps has been progressing by leaps and bounds. We have about 10 pages of the closer to complete, but have done a lot of teaching this week.

As we approach the end of week 1, more time will be spent reviewing material that has been added throughout the week. This will involve more ensemble work here at the Cosumnes Oaks High School Stadium.

We have had some of our local high school students being added back in the show as school is over. However, we do have over a half of dozen members from Southern California who will not be joining us until next week (and a couple the following week) as the school year goes later in those areas.

The weather has cooled considerably this week as it is in the low 80's!

Tomorrow night, Saturday June 30, is Family night, section presentations start at 7 p.m. and a full run at 8 p.m. Of course, everyone is invited early (alumni especially) if you want to catch up and say hello to folks you haven't seen for quite some time. The corps members will be busy preparing for the evening, so there will not be time to chat with them until after the evening performance. However, we will leave the lights on in the stadium so there will be plenty of photo opportunities for those of you who want to take pictures of corps members in uniform.

Sunday, June 20, Father's Day, is a day off before we travel to Fresno for week 2 of training camp which will include the first few shows of the season.

Hope to see everyone tomorrow night!

Training Camp has started

2010-06-14T07:43:00.000-07:00

Friday night the corps assembled at its Sacramento base camp, Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove. We've set up for the week and had a good weekend of rehearsal to start things off.

We are fortunate to have the support of the administration as we have use of 2 gyms, cafeteria and 3 fields (including the stadium). We've also been set up AV wise to allow the members to see a video of each day's concluding runthrough.

The weekend was spent finishing the the percussion feature, which includes as its source material "Ever So Lonely" by Monsoon. There was also a good amount of sectional time as each caption staff is working to refine specific techniques, and apply them in performance to portions of the show.

We do have a number of high school students who are still in school, so we will be adding people in as the next couple of weeks go by.

If you want to drop by, please do, we'll be here all week. And don't forget Family Day, Saturday night, June 19 at 7 p.m.

We are also looking for a couple of tubas and a couple of guard people, so if you're still thinking about marching this summer, it's not too late!

May and June Camp Report

2010-06-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

The Mandarins have been busy the past few weekends with the last couple of camps leading up to our annual training camp.

We now have the opener, 2nd production and first few sets of the percussion feature on the field. We are looking to have the entire show on the field after the first few days of our Sacramento training camp, which will begin Friday night, June 11. You can see a schedule of the week here: http://mandarins.org/auditions/detail.html

The Memorial Day camp included a performance skills session with Shirley Dorritie. Shirley has extensive drum corps experience and is a member of the DCI Hall of Fame. She has combined this experience with an MA in Counseling Psychology to provide a basis for successful performance techniques. Her session was very valuable in getting the staff and members visualize and execute enhanced performances.

We still have a few spots left: guard, tuba and baritone sections have openings. If you are interested, please contact the individual caption heads through the email links on our staff page here: http://mandarins.org/about/info.html

April Camp Report

2010-05-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

Everyone was eagerly awaiting the April camp as it was to be the first time the entire corps was together since the December camp. Many of the members had been very busy through the winter months as participants in winter guard and percussion. In addition, this was the camp that we were to start teaching drill.

After Friday evening sectionals, Saturday and Sunday saw a lot of field time. We are fortunate to call Cosumnes Oaks High School home, as we have use of not only the stadium and its artificial turf field, but also use of the natural grass soccer fields.

Considerable work was done on the music book, and the full corps has almost a minute of the show on the field. The staff was very impressed with the members’ ability to perform this portion of the opener, as it was the first time putting music to drill.

Our outstanding volunteers were also kept busy during the weekend, cooking all the meals (including 2 bbq’s!), taking care of administrative forms, and fitting uniforms.

The corps was also preparing for our first public appearance of the year, at the Pacific Rim Festival to be held in Old Sacramento on Sunday May 23. Keep checking the corps web page for details: http://mandarins.org/

There were a number of new members at this camp to help round out the roster. At this time, the corps has a couple of guard spots, a couple of tuba spots and one mallet/aux. perc. spot in the pit. If you are interested, please fill out an interest form on line here: http://bit.ly/afOwul or you can contact the individual caption heads through the email links on our staff page here: http://mandarins.org/about/info.html

The corps’ next camp will be Memorial Day weekend, May 28 – 31 at Cosumnes Oaks High School. The staff and members are looking forward to another great camp as we get ready for the 2010 season!

February Camp Wrap Up

2010-02-17T18:19:00.000-08:00

The February camp was held over President's Day weekend, with the best weather we've had to date. Several sessions over the weekend were held outside amidst sunny skies and pleasant temperatures.

Work continued on the 2010 program as the percussion and brass sections concluded camp with ensemble work on this year's opener Meetings Along the Edge, by Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass. The brass line also learned music for the next production, The Mountain of Fruit and Flowers by David Buckley and Samudra Manthan by Shivkumar Sharma.

While there were some absences due to winter percussion, jazz band and honor band performances, personnel wise things are looking good. At this point, we do have a couple of tuba spots. If you are interested, please use our on line registration form and we will be in contact with you: http://bit.ly/afOwul

While the Mandarins summer guard will not be in attendance until the April camp, the Mandarins Guard Academy spent the weekend working on this year's show, set to a medley of Michael Jackson tunes: http://bit.ly/9btTzC

Our next camp will be held March 13 and 14 Cosumnes Oaks High School in Elk Grove. We will continue to audition brass players, especially new tuba players! For more information, check out our audition pages at mandarins.org

Mandarins Update, Saturday February 6 Performances

2010-02-09T08:49:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 6 was a busy day for the Mandarins organization, as both the Brass Academy and Guard Academy had local performances.

After 12 years away from the floor, the Mandarins winter guard returned with an exhibition performance by the Mandarins Guard Academy at the Enochs High School in Modesto. They thrilled the crowd with a show set to an acapella Michael Jackson medley; their next performance will be at McClatchy High School in Sacramento on March 12; the full performance schedule can be seen here: http://mandarins.org/auditions/guard.html

Later that evening the Mandarins Brass Academy held their final performance in a concert that was intended as a way to give back to the community. The Brass Academy entertained an audience of over 50 seniors at the Pioneer House nursing home in Sacramento. One of the 90+ year old residents, who is a former member of the Oakland Symphony, commented that she appreciated the great tonal quality displayed by the brass section. After the concert the Mandarins Brass Academy members presented hand-made Valentine's cards to the residence. In all, it was a great way to finish the second year of the Mandarins Brass Academy.

January Camp Report

2010-01-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

The January camp was definitely a big step forward towards the 2010 season. For one of the few times ever, attendance showed a substantial increase from the December camp. The January camp allowed for consolidation of Northern California and Southern California audition sessions. We also had attendees from our Hawaii workshop, and a number of returning and new members from Japan.

The weekend started with a conditioning session with Chris DaPrato. Chris is a former marching member and staff member; he is currently working with NCAA Div. 1 athletes at Cal Berkeley in their Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy departments. You can read Chris’ bio, as well as bios of the rest of the Mandarins staff through links provided on the info page here:
http://tinyurl.com/yf4azmo

The brass line continued technique work and learned this year's opener, Meetings Along the Edge, a collaborative work between Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass.

The percussion line also worked on refining technique and continued with the audition process. There were many difficult decisions to make, and the Mandarins would like to thank everyone who took the time and effort to audition with the corps, as there was an abundance of talented, highly motivated individuals.

In addition to the brass and percussion sections, the Mandarins Guard Academy was also in attendance. A good deal of work was completed on the 2010 exhibition show, which will be performed at local color guard circuits in the Northern California area. The Mandarins summer guard will be off until the April camp to allow staff and members to participate in winter guard activities.

The weekend included auditions and interviews for the 2010 drum major positions. Leadership and conducting sessions were included as part of the process. Saturday evening had all the candidates conducting the brass line during ensemble rehearsal; Sunday morning consisted of interviews with the caption heads, Mr. Mar and Jim Tabuchi. There was an excellent pool of candidates; the two drum majors for the 2010 season are Chris Honda, third year member and senior at Ponderosa High School and Boyce Jefferies, first year member who is completing his first year as a Music Education major at Sacramento State University.

The Mandarins next camp will be February 13/14. Auditions for pit and brass will continue at that time. Further information can be found on the audition page at mandarins.org

2010 Mandarins Off to a Great Start!

2009-12-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

The past several weeks have been busy ones for the Sacramento Mandarins. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the corps held their annual dinner. At this dinner, Santiago Sabado was announced as the Joe Fong Award recipient, as voted upon by his fellow corps members. You can read more about this award here: http://tinyurl.com/yd9q7l5

In early December the corps held an audition session in Hawaii, followed the next weekend by the corps main audition camp in Sacramento. You can see reports and photos from the Sacramento camp on our Twitter page here: http://twitter.com/dcimandarins

The corps will have another audition session on Sunday, January 3, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Arroyo High School in El Monte. You can download our flyer through this link: http://tinyurl.com/y8vlzel

Auditions for the 2010 Mandarins will continue at our January Camp, January 16/17 at Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove. Anyone interested in auditioning should check out the corps audition pages at http://mandarins.org/ and make plans to attend the January camp. Please contact the appropriate caption head if you would like to audition.

The 2010 Mandarins season is off to a great start: look for a 2010 program announcement very soon!

2010 Sacramento Mandarins

2009-11-20T09:57:00.001-08:00

Thinking about becoming a member of the Mandarins? Check out our video here: http://tinyurl.com/m7w79z This video page includes a direct link to our on-line camp registration form.

All camp dates and locations are listed here: http://tinyurl.com/lfetok

Your 2010 Mandarins Design Team and Instructional Staff: http://mandarins.org/about/info.html

We hope to see everyone at auditions!

Perfect Start to November

2009-11-01T22:22:00.000-08:00

Great turnout and lots of great people and talent at today's MGA and MBA!

The next session is on December 6th, save the date!

http://mandarins.org/auditions/brass.html

http://mandarins.org/auditions/guard.html

Mandarins Brass and Guard Academy is this afternoon!

2009-11-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

The 2009–10 Mandarins Guard Academy will begin today at 1 p.m.

The third installment of the Mandarins Brass Academy is at the same time, same place!

See you there!

Mandarins Guard Academy begins November 1

2009-10-29T01:12:00.000-07:00

The 2009–10 Mandarins Guard Academy will begin this Sunday, November 1, 2009.

audition dates and locations announced

2009-10-29T01:02:00.000-07:00

Audition dates and locations are set for Hawaii, Northern California, and Southern California!

2010 Visual Design Team Announced

2009-09-11T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Mandarins announce their 2010 Visual Design Team of Myron Rosander, Brian Mar, and George Armenta.

Read the entire story here.

Mandarins 2010 Caption Heads Announced

2009-09-10T10:10:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento Mandarins are pleased to announce caption heads for the 2010 season. Mandarins Executive Director Ray Mar expressed that "we are fortunate to be bringing in caption heads who have a terrific knowledge of their craft and are great educators, motivators and managers as well. Their talent and expertise will be a great benefit to the marching members and the entire Mandarins organization."

The 2010 Mandarins caption heads include:

Sacramento Mandarins Announce 2010 Management Team

2009-09-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

The Sacramento Mandarins recently announced their 2010 management team. Ray Mar will assume the position of Executive Director, responsible for the overall operation, management and direction of the organization. Jim Tabuchi has been appointed to the role of Corps Director. In his new position he is responsible for member recruiting, staff development, facility management, development of alternate funding sources, the Mandarins Scholarship Program and alumni and community outreach. This arrangement will insure the corps' long term success and adherence to the corps' philosophy of "Celebrating Youth, Transforming Lives", while at the same time giving the necessary attention to all the daily tasks that come with running a DCI World Class drum corps. Read the rest of the article here.

mandarins brass academy

2009-09-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

The Mandarins Brass Academy (MBA) held their opening session for the new season on Sunday, September 6th at Cosumnes Oaks High School. Read the rest of the article here.

Another Look Back At The Season

2009-08-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

Rob Stewart, of KVIE Public Television, produces "Rob on the Road", which discovers stories that capture the unique spirit of Northern California.

Rob visited the Mandarins at one of the last rehearsals before our DCI tour, and interviewed brass instructor and Mandarins Brass Academy coordinator Jim Tabuchi. Watch it here: http://tinyurl.com/mqcwb4

Final Days

2009-08-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

On Friday, the corps members spent the morning checking in equipment and uniforms in preparation for sending the trucks and equipment back to California. Corps members also completed the annual member survey. This survey is based on the book "First Break All The Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently" by Marcus Buckingham. The results of this survey are used by the corps staff and administration as a tool to evaluate and improve our operations.

Corps members also cast their ballots for the Joe Fong Award, which is bestowed on the corps member who best exemplifies the values of the Mandarins. The winner of this award is announced at the annual corps dinner to be held later this year.

In the afternoon, the corps attended the opening day of the Indiana State Fair with Pacific Crest. Yes, competitors can be friends and supporters of each other.

That evening, the corps attended the Age Out Ceremony. The Mandarins would like to thank all of this year's ageouts for their tireless efforts and dedication. This year's Mandarins ageouts include:

Mai Adachi, Brass
Jon Boo, Percussion
Juan Crespo, Percussion
Michael Flores, Percussion
Carson Gantt, Percussion
Caleb Kondor, Brass
Rick Mano, Brass
Krobkal (Tami) Petborisooth, Color Guard
Stuart Rosen, Brass
Santiago Sabado, Drum Major
Luis Sosa, Brass
William Winston II, Percussion
Akari Yanada, Percussion

Saturday was spent cleaning up and loading the trucks. The corps would like to thank the administration and staff of Avon Intermediate School East for their support and assistance in making our stay in Indiana a pleasant one.

After attending finals, the corps buses proceeded to the airport. The Mandarins tour fees include airfare to both the beginning point of tour (Denver) and the flight home from the DCI Championships. By Sunday morning, everyone had arrived home.

This has been a terrific season for the corps, and the staff is very proud of the performing members for their resilience and commitment.

While the corps is looking back on this past season with many fond memories, planning has already started for the 2010 season. Keep checking this space, and the corps website at mandarins.org for updates.

Finally, thank you also to all the families, friends, parents, supporters and alumni who have helped out in countless ways. The corps could not have done it without you. We hope you are as proud of the 2009 Mandarins as we are.

Quarterfinals

2009-08-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

DCI Quarterfinals day. Had a great rehearsal block in the morning. As is tradition, the brass line arched up around the ageouts to play the adagio section of "Year of the Dragon" to acknowledge their contributions and our respect for the 13 members of the Mandarins who will be aging out this season.

After rehearsal, some down time to prepare for our appearance at DCI World Class Quarterfinals. The staff felt that the corps members were ready to go, and well prepared for Championships Week.

Guard and pit warmed up at the stadium, while brass and battery bused to a nearby park for warm ups. Lucas Oil Field is a magnificent stadium; everything is state of the art and seemed to be by far our largest venue, even compared to stadiums such as Invesco Field in Denver and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Today's performance was by far the best of the season. A large standing ovation at the end of the show indicated the quality of the performance. The corps has overcome a few obstacles over the course of the season (as have all drum corps to be fair); however, this edition of the Mandarins can be very proud of their efforts and accomplishments.

After the performance today, the corps was treated to a bbq at the Star of America facility in Bloomington. Everyone had a great time, and it was a chance for the members, staff, parents and drivers to unwind.

DCI Championships Week

2009-08-05T19:31:00.000-07:00

Arrived at our housing at Avon Intermediate School East early Tuesday morning. The corps slept in until noon, which was fine since a driving thunderstorm rendered any idea of an outdoor rehearsal impractical until the late afternoon.

Wednesday morning, started with the annual "Breakfast by the Pit". Every year, during DCI week, the front ensemble will wake up early and make breakfast for the corps members, instructional and support staff. It was delicious!

Most of the day was spent on the opener and closer, to provide a great first impression and a lasting statement at the end of the show. This was the emphasis on both sectional and ensemble work. It paid off in this evening's runthrough as both of these sections are much more consistent from a performance and projection standpoint.

One rehearsal block tomorrow and then off to Lucas Oil Field for quarterfinals.

Canton OH

2009-08-04T07:41:00.000-07:00

The corps had a couple of rehearsal days in Canton OH. A lot of attention work was done refining both the beginning of the opener and end of the closer. A number of the design team is now traveling with the corps, so there are a number of program refinements being made.

Monday evening's performance in Canton went very well. The work on the closer paid off, as it was much more under control than had previously been the case. The Football Hall of Fame Festival show is always, well run, with plenty of support staff on hand to make sure everything is taken care of. They are very supportive and courteous as well.

Today we arrived at Avon Intermediate School, east campus, where we will be housed during DCI Championships week. This is the same housing location as last year, and the staff and facility are terrific.

It may be a day for music sectionals and ensemble however, as thunderstorms are predicted throughout the day, although tomorrow should be fine. We are looking forward to a couple of productive rehearsal days before Quarterfinals on Thursday.

August 1 - Free Day in New York City

2009-08-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

Free day in New York City. The corps took a well deserved day off and spent 8 hours in "The Big Apple". Shopping and sightseeing - Central Park, SoHo, Times Square, Rockerfeller Center, Yankee Stadium, Staten Island Ferry and the like. Several corps members and staff took in Broadway shows including "In The Heights" and "Next to Normal". Getting in and out of Times Square was a bit of a challenge for our bus drivers, but our drop off and pick up occurred without incident.

While many members and staff spent time shopping, fortunately no one bought a watch from a street corner vendor, as has been the case in the past; these watches usually stop running before the end of DCI week!

The corps is now in Canton OH, with a rehearsal day today on Sunday the 2nd, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival show inn Massillon OH. After that, off to Avon IN where we will be housed during DCI week.

Allentown PA - July 31

2009-08-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

One rehearsal block today. We beat the thunderstorms that came in the afternoon. These thunderstorms wound up delaying the start of show by an hour.

Everyone performed this evening, with the exception one guard performer who suffered an ankle injury in Centerville. Full brass line for the first time since Atlanta.

The performance tonight was terrific. A very genuine, enthusiastic standing ovation from a very knowledgeable drum corps audience.

Back to housing for some sleep and free day tomorrow in New York City.

Things are looking up

2009-07-30T16:00:00.000-07:00

Bus 1 replacement is now on the road and eta in Downington PA is 10 p.m. After extensive conversations with the officials here at United Sports Center, they have reluctantly agreed to allow us to tape some yard lines and hashes on one of the soccer fields. They are sympathetic to our needs, and willing to work within the confines of what is possible at the facility

This afternoon was spent in musical sectionals. This evening is music ensemble to lock in tempos and interpretations. We will do ensemble on the field tomorrow morning in an attempt to beat the predicted thunderstorms in the area.

We still have some folks under the weather. It may have been due to the rainstorms encountered at rehearsal and yesterday's show. As a precaution, all buses will again be cleaned and sanitized while the corps is rehearsing. Everyone's condition has stabilized, which is a plus for us, but we are still taking this precautionary measure.

Will keep an eye out on the weather and see what happens tomorrow.

More Challenges - Thursday, July 30

2009-07-30T12:11:00.000-07:00

After leaving Centerville, Bus 1 (mainly guard bus minus those who are on bus 3) had some mechanical problems, so a replacement bus was dispatched. Buses 2 - 4 continued to our housing in Downington PA. Unfortunately, the replacement bus also developed a problem, so a third bus was sent and the folks on Bus 1 are now on their way. We have been using Star of America (Star of Indiana previously) ever since the corps started in the 1980's. It is extremely rare we encounter any difficulties. The last time was in 2005. The Star company has been extremely efficient and great to work with, and they immediately took care of these issues as soon as possible.

Of course, it is not that easy. Buses 2 - 4 have arrived at United Sports Center in Downington PA. It is a good facility with plenty of space. There are acres of grass area to be used which is great. Unfortunately, the management here refuses to let the corps paint any lines on the fields. Akin to "water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink", we have plenty of grass, but no practice fields.

We have been allowed use of the turf soccer field, unfortunately it has no yard lines and again we are prohibited from using masking tape to mark any yard lines or hashes.

Director Ray Mar has been in touch with DCI and is actively seeking some solutions, as the corps is preparing for tomorrow night's show in Allentown.

stalled somewhere between Ohio and Pennsylvania

2009-07-30T10:14:00.000-07:00

stayed tuned for more info...

Wednesday July 29

2009-07-29T19:52:00.000-07:00

The corps had a couple of productive days in Dayton OH. We stayed at Northridge School, great facilities, plenty of rehearsal space. Ken Hoffman, our host, was very hospitable and made sure everything was taken care of.

The show in Centervfille was delayed by 15 minutes due to a brief rainstorm. However, the show was held in a stadium with artificial turf so drainage was not an issue. The performance tonight was better than Sevierville, although the brass line did have a bit of a rough run. Plenty to work on in the next brass block.

Brass visuals were added in the ballad and will be refined tomorrow.

We did have 5 brass players out tonight, again, primarily as a precaution. Two of them were featured as part of a duet or a soloist. As a result, Louie Sosa did double duty tonight in playing through all these parts.

A long bus ride tonight (including bus 3, which has everyone who has had or presently has a fever -2 people), some floor time and rehearsal in preparation for Allentown and DCI East.

Monday July 27 - Sevierville Tenn

2009-07-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

Arrived at our housing shortly after midnight. We are staying at the show site, which makes things a bit easier from a logistics standpoint. Unfortunately, we could not get on to the practice field until 1 p.m. due to football practice, in the a.m. we are using the band field which is a striped parking lot.

We still have a couple of members out with a fever. In addition, several members are not feeling well, although there are no flu like symptoms. As a precaution, all were held out of tonight's performance which resulted in us marching 6 brass holes and 1 guard hole.

The performance was not one of our best. Execution errors made for a rough show all the way around. The guard did have a good run however.

Off to Dayton OH for a couple of days and a show in Centerville.

scenes from the south

2009-07-28T13:20:00.001-07:00

Georgia Dome - Saturday, July 25

2009-07-26T17:09:00.001-07:00

Atlanta Regional today. we are almost fully recovered. We did hold out a couple of members as a precaution. The show was one of the best of the season. A great crowd, and tremendous venue. Staff and members were very pleased with both the effort and performance. The corps did a fine job of dealing with the acoustics which come with performing inside a dome.

Upon leaving the show, we found out that our housing in Sevierville would not be available until Monday. As a result, Mr. Mar called Pat Gallagher, the Band Director of Pickens High School in Jasper where we had stayed the night before. Through his generosity, we were able to stay overnight again at Pickins High School and rehearse during the day before leaving for Sevierville. It turned out to be a fortunate series of events, as it rained most of the day in Sevierville and we would not have gotten much outside work.

Many times in drum corps life, people will lend a hand without hesitation. In this case, the Mandarins wish to thank Pat Gallagher for all his assistance and support.

We are presently on our way to Sevierville, and should wind up there shortly after midnight.

Show day tomorrow!

On The Way Back

2009-07-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

Family, friends, boosters and supporters,

Thank you for your best wishes and support. As previously mentioned, we have had a number of members exhibit flu-like symptoms. In addition to the care and support of local health officials, the corps is fortunate to be traveling with a registered nurse and a pharmacist. Steps have been taken to reinforce sanitary practices, and the affected individuals have been isolated.

At this time, we have 3 cases remaining with a slight fever. All others have recovered and are participating in corps activities. All members who return to rehearsal must be okayed by our traveling medical personnel, and are monitored upon their return.

The corps returned to the DCI tour at Murfreesboro on Friday, July 14 and eagerly looks forward to the rest of the season.

Mandarins members ‘under the weather’

2009-07-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

A number of members of the Mandarins have taken ill and are currently receiving medical treatment. Corps and staff members are taking precautions to contain the illness and help the approximately 20 members of the corps it has affected recover as soon as poosible.

As a result, the Mandarins will be taking a break from tonight’s scheduled DCI Tour event in Monroe, La., moving onto their next destination for much needed rest.

stormy weather

2009-07-20T18:17:00.001-07:00

Rehearsing despite the stormy weather... Lightning crashes in the distance.

absolute sunset

2009-07-20T11:28:00.001-07:00

Alamodome

2009-07-19T16:34:00.000-07:00

The San Antonia regional was today. The Mandarins had a great run; all of the show changes came through nicely. The members were happy with their performance and the enthusiasm was evident when we circled up after the show in the Alamodome.

After the show we returned to the housing site and ate dinner. The color guard and percussion had sectionals during the evening while the horn line took advantage of the time to do laundry. Clean socks equals clean feet. Guard and percussion will do laundry on Monday while the horn line is in sectional.

Tomorrow is a free day in San Antonio. Is it possible that many members will go see the new Harry Potter movie? A free day is a time for the members to relax and spend time with each other without the responsibilities of rehearsal. It is also a chance for members to see some of the sights of places they have never been.

After free day it's off to Monroe LS for a rehearsal day and show day.

Captains Log - 717.09.0440:

2009-07-17T04:38:00.000-07:00

Just arrived in Dallas, Texas. It appears it has been raining for quite some time. Nice cloud cover, puddles of water, great temperature, and random flashes of lightning. We're staying @ the show site. Last season, Lake Highlands High School Wildcats had so many cockroaches, but I've only seen one so far! I believe we have 4 hours of floor time, which means yardlining gets 3. Time to set up the sleeping area. Dallas show tonight.

Postdate: Well, as it turns out, the fields are already striped, courtesy of the Troopers, who stayed here yesterday. Field crew gets extra floor time!

Another Day

2009-07-17T03:43:00.000-07:00

The sun will come out tomorrow.

The show went well tonight. The members pushed through their show in the 100+ heat in full uniform and proved to us that they can do anything asked of them. Our score did not represent what we would have liked given the effort, however, that's the way things sometimes turn out. Tomorrow is another day and another show. We are going to dust ourselves off and keep moving forward.

Just a few notes about the pictures tonight. The star was in the middle of our asphalt rehearsal field in Houston today and in honor of the lone star state we give you a lone star. The stadium tonight is a shared school district football stadium and basketball arena. Football is kind of a big deal down here. The last is one of Brianna Johnson and her marching shoe. After the show she realized she had a shoe blow out!

Houston, Texas

2009-07-16T14:10:00.000-07:00

Captains Log - 716.09.1515: Today is the Houston show and the Mandarins are ready to unveil many changes we have made over the last few days. The corps was up at 7 am after 8 hours of sleep in order to get the most rehearsal out of our day. The focus of today has been to review and refine all the changes made. With the new attitude the corps has taken on we are looking forward to the show tonight.

Fantastic last runthrough, the members are having fun performing! Rehearsal today was snificantly hotter, though we were fortunate enough to have roaming cloud cover. Some ensemble work on the opener and drum solo. Houston show tonight - step off at 7

We Aren't In Kansas Anymore

2009-07-14T23:19:00.000-07:00

The corps made it through the long bus ride and arrived in Houston, TX at 11 a.m. There were two rehearsal blocks today, one in the late afternoon and one in the evening. During the evening block the full corps worked on the ballad portion of the show. There were substantial changes made in staging and use of the "pillows". These changes will address some of the major visual design comments we have been receiving and clarify the intent of the "Joy" production and enhance performance qualities.

Tonight's runthrough was fantastic. The members are starting to push themselves through the show from start to finish. This was an exciting run for the staff as well, as once the members push themselves to elevate the performance, it will grow past the point the staff alone can take them.

The walls came down

2009-07-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

The show tonight was not our best. Maybe it was the heat or the wind. Any number of things could be blamed. The prop walls blew over on one side. The other side stayed better but the wall closest to the middle managed to be pushed from running along the sideline to vertical like a yard line. Then, like a magic trick, resting with one corner on the ground and another corner on the next wall allowing it to rotate like a pinwheel for the second half of the show.

Tomorrow we march on. Members are already in the parking lot practicing those tosses and licks that did not go as planned in the show tonight. Up next is the 15 hour marathon drive into Houston.

Good bye Rose Hill

2009-07-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

We had a nice rehearsal this morning. The horns and guard finished learning the revisions to the opener for the show tonight. This afternoons run of the show was stronger than last nights with many of the changes coming through.

A big thank you goes out to our kitchen staff and all of their hard work. The "un" air-conditioned snack shack they have been working in the last couple days reminds me that the hardest working people in DCI rarely see the field or the shower.

captain's log - 713.09.1545

2009-07-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

Captain's Log - 713.09.1545: Kansas was hot! Lol. We enjoyed the privilege of turf and were able to make some changes in the Opener drill. We're heading to the show site right now, about an hour and a half ride. Tonight, we have a 14 hour bus ride to Houston, Texas.

Bring On the Heat

2009-07-12T22:37:00.000-07:00

Today was hot! After a long bus ride we arrived in Kansas. It reminded all of us that there is no place like home. The air temperature hovered around 102 with high humidity. We had access to an AstroTurf field today which means that 10 degrees of heat was reflected back to the members. We took water breaks every 15 minutes and every hour took a shade break.

Our evening ensemble block was fantastic. The stadium lights were turned on allowing us to practice until 10. A breeze picked up and the temperature dropped down to a comfortable 77 with thunder storms off in the horizon.

Too close for comfort

2009-07-12T01:17:00.000-07:00

The show tonight was not set up for success. Our buses were stopped at a weigh station and the airport for longer than expected. The warm up was extremely short, which can lead to problems for the members. The members of the Mandarins rolled up their sleeves and dug deep to perform one of the best shows of the season.

We are leaving Denver now to travel into Kansas. 476 miles to go. Tomorrow's goal is to clean up the opener and change drill for a couple sections.

the bus

2009-07-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

The drum corps bus is a unique place. Everything in drum corps changes daily but the bus is the only consistant thing we have. For the people who ride the bus it is our home. Once on the bus we can relax and forget about the trials of the day.

The Mandarins buses are rented from Star of America. In our buses this summer we have a DVD player, VHS player and a 6 disc CD changer. As if that wasn't enough for entertainment each bus has it's own Wi-Fi network. I am curious as to what the members will be more agitated about, no Wi-Fi or no ac?

There is no mistaking who in entering the parking lots with these buses either. Each bus says "Sacramento Mandarins" along the side. The banner also includes a flourish design that can be seen in the show on all of our flags.

Colorado swing

2009-07-11T13:57:00.000-07:00

Our time in Colorado is coming to an end. We had our last rehearsal day here in Brush, CO which contained work on the opener and closer. Whew, the air is thin up here. Tonight - Mile High Stadium! Then headed to Kansas.

DCI's Field Pass: Absolute Mandarins

2009-07-09T18:33:00.000-07:00

When it comes to the 2009 Mandarins, nothing but the "Absolute" best will do. In today's Field Pass, Dan Potter has a parking lot chat with five Mandarins drummers and listens to highlights of the corps' show.

http://bit.ly/IOvf2

Vista CA 7/5/09 - Last California Show

2009-07-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Arrived at John North High School in the early a.m. Had two short, but very productive rehearsal blocks today. The runthrough was very good, the staff was impressed! We did have a bit of a drive in front of us, as our housing was about 65 miles from the show site.

The performance that night was definitely the best of the weekend. One indication: "Partita" which is the Absolute Velocity portion of the program, held together from a music ensemble standpoint and the visual book looked more under control. The changes in the guard staging during the ballad also came across tonight. Overall, the corps members seemed very happy with their show when we circled up after the performance.

One last meal (of course) at the show site, then back home for a short week. Monday - off; Tuesday - rehearsal and load the trucks; Wednesday - off; Thursday - fly out to Colorado and start the Sacramento Mandarins 2009 DCI Tour!

4th of July in the Rose Bowl

2009-07-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July was spent in Pasadena. Upon arrival at Pasadena High School in the early morning we encountered a bit of difficulty as the janitor (new to the job) had a key ring with dozens of keys, but none that would open the main gate to the campus. As a result, we loaded in the gym through the locker rooms until the day janitor arrived at about 9 a.m.

The pit spent the day with Tony Nunez who is with us the entire weekend. Tony has extensive drum corps, marching band, and house band experience with electronics and front ensembles. Since electronics are new to drum corps, having an expert work with the corps over the weekend will enable us to insure that we are making the most out of this new aspect of the drum corps idiom.

After the morning block, it was off to the Rose Bowl. This event is a drum corps exhibition show, capped by a fireworks display. The corps' performance was much improved over the previous evening. Tempos were more under control, guard enhancements added during the week came across well, and the entire performance was more solid.

As an encore, the brass and battery performed American Salute for the vast audience in the end zone. Why do they sit in the end zone? - for a better view of the fireworks! After the last corps performed, all of the brass lines combined for a rendition of America the Beautiful. Then, the fireworks display - it was impressive, dazzling, awe inspiring and more. The fact that the Rose Bowl sits in a valley and that the display was centered on the Rose Bowl made the fireworks quite spectacular.

After the show, it's off to John North High School in Riverside.

Santa Barbara Friday July 3

2009-07-06T17:14:00.001-07:00

We spent the entire day in Santa Barbara. Rehearsal went well, with two blocks which allowed the staff to focus on the opening and closing productions. The school is in a fantastic setting with a view of the surrounding hills. The weather was very cool, in contrast to the heat of Stockton last weekend. The performance this evening was off and on. Some things better, some not. However, several of the show additions, such as the brass line/battery movement in drum solo came off well. Another couple of performance opportunities this weekend as the corps will be at the Rose Bowl on the 4th and further south in Vista on Sunday the 5th.

SoCal Trip #2

2009-07-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

After a productive few days of rehearsal at home, the corps left for Southern California Thursday evening. The trip was uneventful and the corps arrived at scenic Santa Barbara High School around 4 a.m.

Two rehearsal blocks today and show tonight. Rehearsal today will be a challenge as our field consists of an area that includes two softball fields (including the infields). On the plus side, we are only about 20 minutes from the show site, Harder Stadium at UC Santa Barbara (and walking distance from State Street and Starbucks!).

During the last week, we have picked up a couple of horn players and guard to fill our remaining spots. However, we are down a couple of mellophone players this weekend due to health issues and are hopeful they can be resolved as the corps flys out on tour next week.

After the show this evening, the corps will be headed to Pasadena for the 4th of July Celebration at the Rose Bowl.

Stockton

2009-06-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

Sunday was hot. In fact, the start of the Stockton show was delayed an hour due to the heat. As a result, we went on at 8:15 instead of 7:15. We had the advantage in that the entire field was in shade by the time we went on, also the temperatures had cooled down a bit by then.

In contrast to Stanford, the Stockton show didn't seem to bring out the same energy. Some things we worked on in rehearsal improved, however, overall the show did not seem to have the same quality as the previous evening. Consistency is something we will definitely be looking to further develop with future performance opportunities.

Today, Monday, is a day off for everyone. Then, a few days of rehearsal, and off to Southern California for our last west coast appearances. This week we will be working on completing the guard book and adding some movement for the musicians.

NorCal Weekend

2009-06-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

Friday was a short rehearsal day, then on the buses for a few days, staring with the Clovis Show. Musically, the show went well, although visually it was not our best. However, a definite improvement over the Riverside show.

After a bit of driving, we arrived at Independence High School in San Jose, our housing for the week. Many of the older staff members remember when Independence High School was the major location for west coast winter guard, as many WGI West Regionals and California Color Guard Championships were held there.

Saturday rehearsal was a bit of a struggle, as temperatures were near record highes in the south bay. Lots of water breaks and constant reminders about sunscreen and hats.

The Stanford show was clearly the best of the season. Musically, the show continues to improve; tonight the guard took a major step forward in their performance qualities. There were a couple of ensemble issues in the opener, but the corps settled down and the rest of the show flew by. A great audience response to the performance!

Today, Sunday, one rehearsal block, and then on to Stockton for the show at UOP. This is a home show of sorts, as it is closest to the Sacramento area and we also have a good number of members from the Stockton/Lodi area. The corps is presently finishing up the clean up and loading operations, and will be on the road.

Blast from the Past

2009-06-25T23:36:00.000-07:00

In this week's DCI weekly email updates—a pic of Mandarins first DCI A-60 World Championship win in 1987. The person on the right is the original executive director of DCI, Don Pesceone. Who's the guy on the left???

Commander's Log - 625.09.1934:

2009-06-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a great three days of hard work back home in Sacramento after a day off on Monday.

Tuesday—Absolute Velocity. Awesome drill changes for the end of the show, faster, tighter, louder. Guard choreography almost complete! First run-thru on actual grass since May, we've been spoiled with great facilities and stadiums for almost a full month.

Wednesday—New music edits from Scott Johnson and a new tag to the end of Absolute Rhythm. New choreography from George Armenta. What are those "jing-jing" sticks???

Thursday—Cleaning dots, cleaning music ensemble, cleaning choreography to the opener, Absolute Fanfare.

Tempos are much more solid and stable without the metronome this week, performers are more comfortable every day and trusting each other more and more, which is all resulting in some ENTERTAINING performances.

We're all anxious to get back on the performance field this weekend to show off all the hard work. See you in Clovis, Stanford, and Stockton!!!

pix from the weekend

2009-06-22T23:19:00.000-07:00

courtesy of corpsreps.com. thanks for the great shots!

Back Home

2009-06-22T09:40:00.001-07:00

Sunday we were in Riverside for the second show of the season. The performance was not quite at the same level as Saturday night's, although some individual segments of the show showed definite improvement. A bit of energy seemed to be lacking, and we didn't appear to be clicking on all cylinders. However, every performance is a learning experience for us, and we are now looking forward to this coming week.

The corps arrived back in the Sacramento area around 7:45 Monday morning. Today is a day off, then a full week of work here at home leading to three NorCal shows this weekend. This week we will be revising the end of closer drill, adding more guard work and choreography, adding movement for the musicians in Libertango, making some revisions to the drum solo and of course cleaning the show!

On Tuesday, a film crew from KVIE TV will be at rehearsal to film for a segment featuring the Mandarins.

All the corps members, instructional staff and volunteer support staff put in a tremendous effort over the past 10 days of training camp and then our first trip of the season to Southern California. The performers' work ethic and effort has resulted in major strides in performance, and we are certainly looking forward to another week of progress.

Show Day

2009-06-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

First show of the season! The Stadium at Mt. Sac is a great venue, with a very high press box. The show went very well. There was a lot of energy, and a very appreciative audience—a definite spontaneous standing O in the middle of the stands at the conclusion of the show. Is there a lot of cleaning to do? Were there a few cases of jitters? Are there things that need to be improved upon? Yes. However, did the members have a terrific time performing, was the performance a positive start to the season, did the corps get a lot of kudos from the audience and adjudication community—a definite yes!

A two block rehearsal day then off to Riverside for the last show of the weekend. After the show, a long bus ride home and then… a well deserved day off!

Getaway Day

2009-06-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

The last day of training camp at Antelope High School. The last ensemble block was devoted to timing issues primarily in the closer and a bit in the opener.

Then eat, shower, clean up and load. Buses are loaded by seniority, the only time that seniority of corps members is considered. However, with four buses, it is not as difficult as it would otherwise be.

Arrived here at West Valley High School around 5 a.m. Members (except the field lining crew) and instructional are sleeping, but of course the food crew volunteers are up. This is a terrific set up for us, a turf stadium (see photo), 2 other fields, a double large gym, home ec room and plenty of rooms for all the staff. Our host band director "TJ" Hepburn, has been very gracious, and is a drum corps alum from the 1990's (Limited Edition out of Columbus OH).

Rehearsal today, then off to the first show of the season at Mt. Sac in Walnut. We are still looking for tuba players and a guard person or two. If you are interested, please see us at the shows this weekend or drop by West Valley High in Hemet.

Thursday - Family Night

2009-06-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Family Night! Two rehearsal blocks, then a dress rehearsal performance for family, friends, boosters and alumni. Several hundred people were in the stands this evening. Alumni attending included former marching members representing every decade since the corps' founding in 1963, including Baldwin Wong, a charter member!

Terrific crowd response tonight, and the members were grateful for the opportunity to get the show in front of a live audience. Certainly, a number of things to work on, and the staff will be using tonight's performance as a gauge to determine rehearsal priorities for the next couple of days. However, the terrific support from everyone in attendance was gratifying.

After the performance. everyone gathered in the cafeteria for a dessert pot luck. There was plenty of food for everyone in attendance. The evening concluded with Mandarins History Night as hosted by Mandarins alumni, and brass arranger Dan Fong. Scott Jow, the corps webmaster and videographer prepared a dvd which included interviews with past members and clips of previous Mandarins shows.

Two rehearsal blocks on Friday, then eat, shower, clean up and load the buses. Plenty of water for everyone since temperatures have been rising this week. While the artificial turf of the stadium has been a boon for us, it gets very hot on the field. Hope to be posting from Southern California this weekend, wifi connection permitting.

Wednesday - Last Full Rehearsal Day

2009-06-18T07:19:00.000-07:00

Today was our last full rehearsal day as Thursday will include our Family Day performance and Friday evening we will be leaving for Southern California.

Today was a good day for us; yesterday not so much. Tuesday's rehearsals were somewhat unfocused and scattered, and the runthrough was reflective of that. Today, every rehearsal block went well, and the runthrough was very much improved.

The corps is continuing to work on Absolute, reviewing drill and music, adding guard work. We have also managed to get most everyone in the show, as there were a large number of high school grads who had to be worked in after attending graduation ceremonies.

The corps is looking forward to this evening's performance. Hope to see all of you there.

clip of Absolute Joy

2009-06-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

Absolute Mascots

2009-06-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Choreographers

2009-06-17T15:32:00.000-07:00

Choreographers (left to right) Edmer Lazaro, George Armenta, and Suko Quan with a prototype of one of 28 large "pillows" for the Absolute Joy production.

Tuesday - Some Guests

2009-06-17T06:42:00.000-07:00

Wayne Downey and Dan Fong dropped by during the evening ensemble block. Dan is the long time Mandarins brass arranger, and Wayne has been on board as a music consultant, reviewing drafts of musical scores, suggesting changes and giving further input on revisions as they are written.

Brass caption head Chris McCoy and percussion caption head Blair Williams have been working the music ensemble throughout the week. Wayne did offer several constructive comments for enhancing the show's soundtrack, and was very complimentary of both the written book and initial implementation.

The week continues on here at Antelope High School; had a couple of birthdays yesterday, and one of the parents brought by a birthday cake! Having three fields, including use of the stadium, has really been an asset for us. Ray Mar has indicated how lucky we are to have the support of the school administration (he actually said this during a midnight run to the grocery store for some last minute breakfast items).

Another full day of rehearsal tomorrow and then Family Night on Thursday!

Monday - Settling In

2009-06-16T06:42:00.000-07:00

The corps has settled in to training camp after our initial weekend. The daily whiteboard gives everyone the information for the day, while our tireless volunteers work around the clock to keep the corps well fed, healthy and happy. Mr. Mar works to coordinate everyone's efforts.

We have had a couple of mishaps, a fire alarm inadvertently went off one day when our cooking was located in the vicinity of a smoke detector and one of the fields has been a bit wet due to a lot of watering (which the school folks have been very kind in addressing). We have had a couple of passersby offering encouragement - one yelled out "amazing dedication" while watching our morning basics block.

Monday was "Festive Day" as all rehearsal blocks were devoted to the opener. Made a lot of progress today; the plan to take a production a day for the remainder of the week. Reminder: come out to Antelope High School for our Family Day performance this Thursday night, June 18. Details on the news page at mandarins.org

Corps members got to sleep in today until 9 a.m. We are working in a couple of new brass players this week, but are still looking for a couple of low brass players - where are you tuba players?

More good news: our charter bus company was able to free up another bus: four buses for the SoCal swing this weekend!

cleaning Absolute Fanfare drill

2009-06-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

Sunday - And the drill is done!

2009-06-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

Finished the show on Sunday. We now have 10:54 on the field. The members were extremely excited to do the first "full run" this evening. Is there a lot of work to be done? Of course, and the work starts over again on Monday morning. But so far, we have been able to keep on track with the program goals set for the week.

The weather has been terrific, in the low 80's during the day, and cool enough in the evening to need a sweatshirt.

Sunday evening concluded with our members intro session. We will have small groups stand in front of the corps and arrange themselves in some type of order: by age, by birthplace, by length of hair! This is intended to get everyone talking together, as these small groups are mixed, with all sections of the corps represented.

Once that is squared away (setting the order can sometimes take a while), each corps member will introduces themselves to the entire corps: name, age, section, favorite movie (at least that is what we did last night), and a few interesting facts about themselves.

It is sometimes fun to see the seemingly quietest person become the next great standup comic when presented with an audience. The one constant heard throughout the evening was laughter. The staff on hand also participated, and certainly did not lack for laughs!

The rest of the week will be spent solidifying the show. We do have a few folks to work in as they have had graduation and other school commitments.

We have picked up a couple of brass players, but still have a few low brass spots, so come by Antelope High School and check it out.

Training Camp - Friday Night and Saturday

2009-06-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

Friday night was spent in sectionals. Suko Quan was in to look at the opener and further refine the choreography and flag work. Music sections spent quite a bit of time on Partita. Some parts were thinned for clarity purposes, the brass section feature was added back in. The camp facility is fabulous and we are very lucky. A full gym, auxiliary gym, music rooms, turf stadium and soccer field. Great start to the week!

Saturday morning was spent on the first half of the closer; Saturday afternoon more sectional time was spent refining music. Everyone is anxious to get the rest of the closer on the field and finish the show!

George Armenta flew in from Southern California and will be with the corps for most of the week. George was with the corps last year, and we are very glad to have him back writing for us once again. He will be spending time on the guard work for the drum solo and closer, as well as offering comments on the rest guard book.

Bobby Moffett was in for a guard costume fitting; they should look terrific on the field.

Full staff meeting tonight after the last rehearsal block to review staff policies and procedures, and talk about the coming week. Okay, people did also swap some stories at the same time!

Drill will be done tomorrow.

We Have Some Open Brass Spots

2009-06-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

As is typical for drum corps this time of year, we have had a couple of drops in the brass line (in addition to some tuba spots we are trying to fill). If you are a brass player, we’d love to see you here at training camp. Now is the time to do it! Directions to our training camp here at Antelope High School and links to email contacts are available on our audition page here: http://mandarins.org/auditions/detail.html

New Drums

2009-06-13T02:33:00.000-07:00

Training Camp 2009 has started!

2009-06-13T00:59:00.001-07:00

Training camp 2009 has started and is well under way. On Friday evening, guest choreographer Suko Quan was here to put some finishing touches on the first production Absolute Fanfare. Here's a short video clip on the evening's rehearsal.

Urgent — Help Wanted for Training Camp!

2009-06-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Parents and supporters — we urgently need your help in the kitchen crew for our upcoming Training Camp, during the period of June 13–19. If you're able to assist — even if only for one or two days — this would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the Corps Director Ray Mar for details, at (916) 395-8310.

2009-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

The corps now has 133 pages of drill on the field, with the last production Absolute Velocity to be added this weekend. Rumor has it that with the concept of speed and velocity, the closer drill will be close to another 45 pages! Fasten your seat belts!

June Camp - Sunday

2009-06-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday was spent on the drum solo drill for the Absolute Rhythm production. It is apparent that as the corps members have gotten used to learning drill, the learning process is now much faster and retention is much better than when we first started learning drill back at the April camp. The drill for this production is now complete. This bodes well for training camp next week.

Ray Mar confirmed that training camp will be held at Antelope High School in Antelope, CA. Thursday evening June 18 will be Mandarins Family Night, which will include a full dress rehearsal performance, recognition of scholarship recipients, and a dessert potluck. Check for details on the corps' web site at mandarins.org

We will provide periodic training camp updates on this blog, so keep watching this space!

June Camp - Friday Night and Saturday

2009-06-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

Set up went fine upon arrival; thank you to Ritchie Hodge and Oakmont High School for making our stay here possible. Friday night spent on music, with a number of minor edits being made. Choreographer Edmer Lazaro was in town to work with the color guard and the production of Absolute Passion.

Saturday, the corps learned the drill to the Absolute Joy Production, and the transition leading to the percussion feature, Absolute Rhythm. The evening block was devoted to an ensemble rehearsal on this production, with the full corps on the field. The color guard also made major strides as the equipment work and choreography for this number is nearly complete.

The percussion section spent considerable time on the Rhythm production. The most substantial revision was made in the end of the number. Originally, the brass line reentered with a reprise of the Joy theme; however, the percussion feature now ends… with percussion. This change was done to allow for a definitive rhythmic statement and conclusion to punctuate the end of the number. Percussion arrangers Vince Oliver and Scott Johnson along with percussion caption head Blair Williams put these changes together.

Saturday evening concluded with the arrival of our final member from Hawaii! The corps now includes seven members from Hawaii, four of whom are returning after marching with the corps last season.

Another full day of work tomorrow with the percussion feature drill being the main focus.

June Camp

2009-06-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

Our seventh and final weekend camp is this weekend! Come and check out our final run-thru of the weekend, as we are putting the third and fourth productions Absolute Joy and Absolute Rhythm onto the field. Sunday's run-thru is at 3:30 p.m. at Oakmont High School in Roseville.

All performer spots have been filled except for one tuba spot and one colorguard spot. E-mail us at information@mandarins.org if you are interested.

will we finish production before game 1 of the NBA finals?

2009-06-03T20:15:00.001-07:00

top left picture - colorguard instructor Jackie Wong stencils flags, while Tara cuts fabric for the unitards.

top right picture - Bobby Moffett and house mascot Shimmy mind the studio.

bottom picture - one down, 143 to go... at least we had cupcakes all day!

work in progress...

2009-06-02T22:00:00.000-07:00

Production is well under way for our 2009 show Absolute. The pic above is a sneak peek at one of the 150 different costume pieces in the show this season. Measurements have been taken, costumes are in production, and flags are being painted. If you are available to help with sewing, painting, carpentry, etc., please contact our program coordinator Gregory Mar at gregory@gmartdesign.com. We're doing some work in San Francisco this week, at corps camp at Oakmont HS in Sacramento this weekend, and back in San Francisco next week.

Family Day is Thursday, June 18th, stay tuned for more details.

First competition is Saturday, June 20th in Walnut, CA!

May 31st

2009-06-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

This morning the corps spent time consolidating portions of the opener drill for Absolute Fanfare. The session was observed by Florin Band Director Robert Holmes and members of the Band Leadership Council.We are very grateful to Florin High School for their support.

During the afternoon sectionals, more work was done on the back half of the musical program. Vince Oliver, the front ensemble arranger, was here to work out some revisions to the percussion book.

Vince, Scott Johnson (battery arranger,) caption head Blair Williams and Program Coordinator Greg Mar have been looking at revisions to the percussion feature, Absolute Rhythm. Look for the changes to be implemented at camp this coming weekend.

The color guard spent the day on the latter half of the opener leading to staging in Libertango. A lot of progress has been made, as the opener guard book is complete and a good chunk of Libertango taught.

During the evening block, ensemble time was spent on the field working music and drill for the first two productions. This will set the stage for the next movement, Absolute Joy, to be put on the field next.

On the personnel front, it appears that most of our spots have been filled. Still need to fill a guard spot and two tuba spots however! If you are a tuba player or guard person, you could be part of this blog instead of reading it! Check out all our information here: http://mandarins.org/auditions/detail.html

Watch for our next blog update from camp, June 5–7 at Oakmont High School in Roseville.

Jo Ann Tabuchi — a parent’s perspective

2009-05-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Jo Ann Tabuchi. I am a parent/chaperone/cook and I went on tour for the first time in 2008 for 10 days. I wanted to see what it was like, since my two boys had expressed interest in the Mandarins. This year, it is Nick and Tim's first year as members and I am excited for them as they embark on this wonderful life changing experience that I've seen other young men and women go through. Although I have seen the Mandarins perform at different times in the past, this year will be wonderfully different for a number of reasons. By volunteering at the camps, I have been lucky enough to see the start and forming of the 2009 Mandarins from the Fall of 2008. It will be exciting to see the corps progress all the way to championship week.

It is such a rewarding experience being able to support such a fantastic group of kids and staff. Working in the kitchen to help provide nutritious meals during the camps is a lot of work, but it is soooo rewarding when the corps members and staff come through the food line with big, grateful smiles on their faces, after a full and hard day of rehearsal. I look forward to helping Mr. and Mrs. Mar out where and whenever I can.

Emily Tsunekawa — guard captain

2009-05-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

My name is Emily Tsunekawa, I am the colorguard captain, and this is my fifth year with the Mandarins. I am excited for the show this season because it is just so fast and fun and I can't wait untill we get it all on the field. It is going to be a challenge and it will definitely take a lot of endurance and stamina.

I really like all the new people that I met this year and I thought Memorial Weekend camp was a great way to get to know new people. I felt we got a lot done and I am excited to have finished opener and the libertango drill. I can't wait to learn more and I think family day will definitely be an exciting one this year.

2009-05-27T23:25:00.000-07:00

ABSOLUTE

ab⋅so⋅lute [ab-suh-loot, ab-suh-loot]

–adjective

total; boundless; ultimate; unconditional

The Sacramento Mandarins present the purest and most unrestricted brand of entertainment for their 2009 production entitled, "ABSOLUTE.".

"Absolute Fanfare"—Dimitri Shostakovich's Festive Overture, proclaims the corps' regality and brilliance, while "Absolute Passion"—Astor Piazzolla's Libertango legitimizes the Mandarins as a sultry, sexy tour de force. "Absolute Joy" is delicately yet dramatically combined and portrayed through Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Closing with the playful and quirky Partita by Philip Sparke, the Mandarins reprise their 2001 performance and wrap up the show in a whirlwind of flair with "Absolute Velocity". Without a doubt, the Mandarins' 2009 production of "ABSOLUTE" will be undeniably and absolutely entertaining.

ABSOLUTE

Absolute Fanfare

Festive Overture, Op. 96 - Dmitri Shostakovich

Absolute Passion

Libertango - Astor Piazzolla

Absolute Joy

Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, "Choral") - Ludwig van Beethoven

Absolute Rhythm

Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, "Choral") - Ludwig van Beethoven

Absolute Velocity

Partita - Philip Sparke

Memorial Day Camp Report

2009-05-27T23:04:00.000-07:00

Friday May 22/Saturday May 23

The corps settled down for a long weekend of work at Grace Davis High School in Modesto, CA. While we have number of corps members who will be arriving late over the course of the weekend due to graduation, the corps is moving forward with music, drill equipment work and choreography.

By the way, congratulations to all of our graduates, we are very proud of you!

Our corps members from Japan arrived on Wednesday and will be here for the rest of the summer: Akari Yanada, pit: Mai Adachi, trumpet; and Nanami Ida, bass drum. Welcome! The Mandarins have had members from Japan since 2001, in fact, Akari is returning to the Mandarins after having been a member of the pit in 2007.

In addition, Kallen Asao, a guard member from Hawaii is in camp. The remainder of our quite sizeable Hawaii contingent will be arriving in June.

Saturday morning was spent on the completing the opener drill, and the afternoon reviewing the earlier portions of the drill. We are fortunate as the temperatures are quite moderate, especially compared to the 100 degree weather we had in Sacramento last weekend.

Much of the evening hours were spent in music sectionals as work was completed on Partita, the piece being used for the “Absolute Velocity” portion of the program.

Sunday May 24/Monday May 25

Sunday morning started with a conditioning session lead by Chris DaPrato. Chris is a former Mandarins marching member and also served on the percussion staff. In his present job, Chris currently works with NCAA Div. 1 athletes at Cal Berkeley in their Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy departments.

Over the course of the weekend, the corps completed the drill and staging for the second number, Libertango, which is used to portray “Absolute Passion”. As a result, the corps now has the first 5 minutes of the show on the field.

The evening ended with a music ensemble run of the entire 2009 program Absolute. While much work remains to be done, and the inevitable changes yet to be made, the soundtrack for this year’s show should certainly have widespread crowd appeal.

You can see video of the entire weekend at the corps’ website, mandarins.org And yes, the Mandarins do tweet: http://twitter.com/dcimandarins

Coming Soon

Our next rehearsal will be on May 31 at Florin High School in Sacramento. The day will be spent tightening up the opener drill and sectional time will be devoted to refinements of the music book.

June camp will be June 5 -7 at Oakmont High School in Roseville. We presently have a tuba and guard opening, so if you’re thinking about marching, now is the time to make your move. See our audition page for details: mandarins.org/auditions/detail.html