El Paso TX - Monday, July 19

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

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

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!

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!

“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

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

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!