Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps
The Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Sacramento, California, the Mandarins is a member corps of Drum Corps International.. 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.
History
The corps was founded in 1963 as the Ye Wah Drum and Lyre Corps, an activity for youth of Asian-American heritage. Roy Wong, Frank Lim, Thomas Fong, and Yuk Fong had originally approached the Sacramento Chinese community with the intent of starting a drum and bugle corps to perform at the many festivals and parades held each year in the Sacramento area. After struggling to get underway, the corps made its debut on the Fourth of July, 1963. A color guard was added to the corps in 1964 and became a competitive unit in 1965.Entering the field as a competition corps, the group changed its name to the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in 1967. The corps competed only in Northern California until making its first trip to Southern California in 1970. Since that first trip, the corps has represented its community, Sacramento, and California around the country and abroad. Mandarins appeared in the Taiwan presidential inaugural ceremonies in 1972 and '78. In 1974, they went to Hawaii to march in the King Kamehameha Parade. In 1975, they made their first trip to the Pacific Northwest and Canada. They made their first appearance at the DCI World Championships at Denver in 1978.
In 1983, under the leadership of Executive Director Ray Mar, the corps began working toward becoming a highly successful competitive corps, and they have been regular competitors in DCI since 1986, winning Class A60/Division III championships in 1987, '88, '92, and '96 through '99 and the Division II title in 2001. Mandarins moved into Division I in 2003, and their highest finish has been 10th place, earned in 2018.
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.
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 musical organization. As such, it has a Board of Directors, director, and staff assigned to carry out the organization's mission. JW Koester is the corps director, Jim Tabuchi is the Executive Director, and Raymond Mar is the organization's advisor and Director Emeritus.Show Summary (1978-2020)
Source:Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates DCI semifinalist.
| Year | Theme | Repertoire | Score | Placement |
| 1978 | Repertoire unavailable | 43.250 | 12th Class A | |
| 1979–83 | Repertoires unavailable | Did not attend | ||
| 1984 | Legacy by Bob James / Light on my Life by Bill Sharpe and Roger Odell / Loisita by Bill Sharpe snd Roger Odell | --- | Did not attend | |
| 1985 | Ponteio by Edú Lobo and Jose Carlos Capinam / Rainmaker by Earl Klugh / Dark Orchid by Sammy Nestico | --- | Did not attend | |
| 1986 | Dark Orchid by Sammy Nestico / Rainmaker by Earl Klugh / Bossa Netti by Vic Cionetti / Copacabana by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman, and Bruce Sussman | 64.80 | 10th A60 | |
| 1987 | Storm at Sun-Up by Gino Vannelli / Celebration Suite by Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea / Voyager by Derrick Graves, Dexter Wansel, George Howard, Herb Smith, and Steve Gold / Sweet Cheryl Lynn by Chuck Mangione | 85.30 61.90 | 1st A60 20th | |
| 1988 | The Sorcerer and the Latin by Vic Schoen / In Her Family by Pat Metheny / Celebration Suite by Chick Corea / Voyager by Derrick Graves, Dexter Wansel, George Howard, Herb Smith, and Steve Gold / More Than the Stars by Eddie Cole | 80.20 53.70 | 1st A60 19th | |
| 1989 | Dreams of the Sirens by Russ Freeman / In Her Family by Pat Metheny / Minuano & The First Circle by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays | 87.10 64.70 | 3rd A60 18th | |
| 1990 | The First Circle by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays / Letter From Home & Third Wind by Pat Metheny / Minuano & Flight of the Falcon by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays | 88.20 63.90 | 2nd A60 19th | |
| 1991 | Let There Be Praise & In His Presence by Dick and Melodie Tunney / So Much 2 Say by Cedrick Dent and Mervyn Warren / Miracles can Happen by Brent Henderson and Craig Patty / Make His Praise Glorious by Bill and Robin Wolaver | 92.60 | 2nd A60 | |
| 1992 | Joy / Jubilee Variations, Appalachian Spring & The Red Pony by Aaron Copland | 89.50 90.00 67.80 | 1st DIII 4th DII/III 26th | |
| 1993 | Episode Five for Brass by Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen / Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber / Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson | 92.60 67.20 | 2nd DII 26th | |
| 1994 | Voices of a Planet | Black Forest by Brian Slawson / Dance of the Hunter's Fire by Airto Moreira, Babatunde Olatunji, Flora Purim, Sikiru Adepoju & Vikku Vinayakram / Minuano by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays / Bones by Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Babatunde Olatunji, and Flora Purim / Udu Chant by Sikiru Adepoju, Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, and Airto Moreira / Appalachian Morning by Paul Halley | 90.80 | 3rd DIII |
| 1995 | Cinematic Impressions | Theme Song by Howard Shore / The Wedding Night by Bernard Herrmann / A Perilous Direction and The Honeymoon & The Creation by Patrick Doyle | 91.50 69.10 | 2nd DIII 22nd |
| 1996 | To the Edge | Taiko Drumming / Rhythm of the Saints by Paul Simon / Cirque du Soleil by René Dupéré | 94.00 69.30 | 1st DIII 21st |
| 1997 | Passport | Ghost Train / The Ride / At the Station & The Motive Revolution / Bullet All by Eric Whitacre | 94.80 73.10 | 1st DIII 20th |
| 1998 | Dragon Dance - Tan Dun | Dragon Dance by Tan Dun / Happy Valley by Vanessa-Mae / The Butterfly Lovers by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao | 93.80 71.50 | 1st DIII 23rd |
| 1999 | Transformations | Overture & Make Our Garden Grow / Symphonic Suite All by Leonard Bernstein | 93.70 73.90 | 1st DIII 20th |
| 2000 | Katachi-- The Essence of Design | Heroes Symphony & V2 Schneider by Philip Glass / Anakin's Theme, The Droid Battle, Panaka & Duel of the Fates by John Williams | 94.30 74.35 | 2nd DII 18th |
| 2001 | Festival of Music | Music for a Festival, Variations on an Enigma, Mountain Song & Partita by Philip Sparke | 97.80 79.30 | 1st DII 16th |
| 2002 | Year of the Dragon | Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke / Montage by Peter Graham / A London Overture & Diversions by Philip Sparke | 95.80 78.05 | 3rd DII 19th |
| 2003 | Black Market Bazaar | Symphony No.2 in B Minor, Polovetsian Dances & In the Steppes of Central Asia by Alexander Borodin / Bacchanale by Camille Saint-Saëns | 80.30 | 18th |
| 2004 | Samurai | Red Warrior by Hans Zimmer / Ouverture Solennelle by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Tabidachi, Nishi he by Joe Hisaishi / Bullet by Wong / The Way of the Sword by Hans Zimmer | 77.75 | 20th |
| 2005 | Loves Me... Loves Me Not... | Adagio from Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff / Vibraphonissimo & Nuevo Tango by Astor Piazzolla / Symphonic Dances, Mvt. III by Sergei Rachmaninoff | 78.10 | 17th |
| 2006 | Rhythm Nation | Martillo by Luis Garay Percussion World / Egyptian Danza by Al Di Meola / Back Home by Nando Lauria / Din Daa Daa by George Kranz / Rhythm Nation by James Harris, Terry Lewis. and Janet Jackson / Clapping Music by Steve Reich / Episode - Prelude by Nando Lauria/ Tell it All & The Way Up by Lyle Mays and Pat Metheny | 77.875 | 17th |
| 2007 | Dragon Dance | Tea in Chinese Camp, Call of the Mountain & Shadow and Light by Joseph Curiale / Battle in the Forest by Shigeru Umebayashi / Jubiliation Dragon Dance by Tan Dun | 75.20 | 21st |
| 2008 | River | Wind River by Joseph Curiale / Cajun Folksong by Frank Ticheli / Sunrise by Ferde Grofé / Inferno by Robert W. Smith | 77.925 | 19th |
| 2009 | ABSOLUTE | Absolute Fanfare: Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovich / Absolute Passion: Libertango by Astor Piazzola / Absolute Joy: Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven / Joy / Christmas Anthem by Robert W. Smith / Absolute Rhythm & Absolute Velocity Partita by Phillip Sparke | 79.65 | 18th |
| 2010 | To Dream of Far Away Lands | Meetings Along the Edge by Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar / The Mountain of Fruit and Flowers by David Buckley / Samudra Manthan by Shivkumar Sharma / Quiet by Sheila Chandra, Steve Coe, and Martin Smith / Ever So Lonely by Steve Coe / Ambush from Ten Sides | 78.10 | 19th |
| 2011 | The Forty Thieves: An Ancient Tale of Spices, Toxins, and Perfumes | Octabones by Adi Morag / Spices, Perfumes, and Toxins by Avner Dorman | 75.70 | 21st |
| 2012 | Prophecy | Prophecy by Key Poulan | 71.60 | 23rd |
| 2013 | DESTINATION AMERICA: Journey of the Paper Sons | The Promise of a Better Life, Journey to America, Interrogation, and Freedom by Key Poulan | 79.750 | 18th |
| 2014 | UnbreakABLE: The Human Spirit is Limitless | Original compositions by Key Poulan with Tony Nunez and Kevin Shaw | 78.150 | 21st |
| 2015 | RESURRECTION | I. The Awakening / II. Warrior / III. The Dynasty of the Emperor / IV. Forever in Stone by Key Poulan with Sean Womack and Mark Hunter | 76.425 | 20th |
| 2016 | Forbidden Forest | I. Into the Forest / II. The Calling / 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 |
| 2017 | Inside the Ink | Flow by Key Poulan, Darren Van Derpoel, and Bryan Nungaray Drip by Key Poulan, Darren Van Derpoel, and Bryan Nungaray Allure – The Sound of Silence by Paul Simon Ink – Crazy by Willie Nelson Inside the Ink by Key Poulan, Darren Van Derpoel, and Bryan Nungaray | 85.550 | 13th |
| 2018 | Life Rite After | String Quartet #8 in C minor Opus 110 by Dmitri Shostakovich / Spiriti by Thomas Doss / True Colors by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg | 88.150 | 10th |
| 2019 | subTerra' | Ritual and Discovery by Key Poulan and Ike Jackson / On the Shoulders of Giants by Peter Graham / Truman Sleeps by Philip Glass / Allure by Key Poulan / Run, Boy, Run by Yoann Lemoine and Ambroise Willaume / Sacrifice by Key Poulan and Ike Jackson | 89.300 | 10th |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic'' |