Sacramento Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps

"This inspirational group has one of the toughest hornlines and percussion sections in the activity. They are on track to maintain their DCI member corps status with a challenging repertoire consisting of selections from Ghost Train Triptych, (including The Ride, At The Station, The Motive Revolution) and Bullet, an original Taiko work. Once again, the corps will be smaller than most of its competitors. Once again, the corps will perform unfamiliar music. Once again, it will not matter. The Mandarins' staff has developed a formula that pleases both judges and fans that needs to be adopted by many other show designers. Quality means a lot more than quantity." -- Judd Williams, DCWorld Staff

"Mandarins, dressed in their traditional Pavilion uniform of black pants, white shirt (and ties for guys), did their show, "Passport." Selections by this Eric Whitacre composition included "The Ghost Train Triptych", "The Ride" "At the Station" and "The Motive Revolution." The pieces are connected by a repeating opening segment first on soprano, then alto, and finally baritone. Sounds seem to recreate a train motif. Missed seeing the Mandarins' Winterguard." -- Christina Mavroudis, DCWorld Staff

• Division I Finals
• 98.4 - Blue Devils
• 97.6 - Cadets of Bergen County
• 96.9 - Santa Clara Vanguard
• 94.2 - Phantom Regiment
• 93.9 - Madison Scouts
• 93.0 - Crossmen
• 92.8 - Cavaliers
• 90.9 - Glassmen
• 88.2 - Blue Knights
• 85.7 - Magic of Orlando
• 85.6 - Bluecoats
• 85.0 - Carolina Crown

• Top 12 to Finals
• 98.2 - Blue Devils
• 97.2 - Cadets of Bergen County
• 96.6 - Santa Clara Vanguard
• 94.3 - Phantom Regiment
• 94.3 - Madison Scouts
• 92.7 - Cavaliers
• 91.9 - Crossmen
• 88.9 - Glassmen
• 88.8 - Blue Knights
• 87.8 - Magic of Orlando
• 87.5 - Bluecoats
• 85.9 - Carolina Crown
• 84.1 - Colts
• 82.7 - Kiwanis Kavaliers
• 80.5 - Boston Crusaders
• 79.4 - Academie Musicale
• 76.5 - Spirit of Atlanta

• Top 17 to Semifinals
• 96.4 - Blue Devils
• 96.4 - Santa Clara Vanguard
• 95.9 - Cadets of Bergen County
• 93.5 - Phantom Regiment
• 92.5 - Crossmen
• 91.6 - Cavaliers
• 89.3 - Blue Knights
• 88.6 - Bluecoats
• 88.3 - Glassmen
• 87.5 - Magic of Orlando
• 85.4 - Carolina Crown
• 83.1 - Colts
• 82.5 - Kiwanis Kavaliers
• 82.3 - Boston Crusaders
• 81.4 - Acadamie Musicale
• 78.1 - Spirit of Atlanta
• 77.4 - Les Etoiles
• 76.8 - Pioneer
• 73.1 - Mandarins
• 71.7 - Southwind
• 71.3 - East Coast Jazz
• 69.8 - Spartans
• 69.5 - Patriots
• 68.0 - Troopers
• 67.2 - Blue Stars

"What an amazing show Mandarins have. Ghost Train Triptych is quite cutting-edge, the kind of show that would kill most small corps. I don't know how they do it every year, but they manage to stimulate, captivate, and somehow still entertain. This is a corps that makes me always want to run out on the field and hug everyone. Even the minimalist sections of repetitive horn stabs is an attention-getter. The train and crossing sounds are superb. They do more with 14 horns than some horn lines do with three times that number." -- Michael Boo, DCWorld Staff

• 90.8 - 3rd Regiment
• 87.6 - Les Senateurs
• 83.6 - Yamato
• 81.5 - Cinncinati Glory
• 79.6 - Bay Max
• 69.3 - Phoenix
• 68.6 - Coachmen
• 67.3 - The Volunteers
• 65.6 - Mirage
• 63.9 - Emerald Knights
• 62.2 - Edmonton Strutters
• 58.6 - Wabash Crusaders
• 54.6 - Decorah Kilties
• 54.3 - Racine Scouts
• 52.2 - Westshoremen Cadets
• 45.0 - Cadets of 1st Baptist

• DIVISION III FINALS - Top 5 of Division II/III to Division I Quarterfinals
• 94.8 - Mandarins, (High Brass, Percussion, Visual, Color Guard)
• 94.4 - East Coast Jazz
• 93.8 - Patriots, (High General Effect)
• 87.1 - 3rd Regiment
• 82.4 - Phantom Regiment Cadets
• 82.1 - St. Johns
• 81.1 - Les Senateurs
• 81.1 - Les Senateurs

• DIVISION II FINALS
• 94.2 - Spartans, (High General Effect, Visual)
• 93.4 - Blue Stars, (High Brass)
• 91.9 - Tarheel Sun, (High Percussion, Drum Major)
• 86.0 - Blue Devils B
• 81.1 - Americanos

• 94.2 - Patriots
• 93.8 - Mandarins
• 93.5 - East Coast Jazz
• 87.5 - Phantom Regiment Cadets
• 85.9 - St. Johns
• 85.7 - Golden Lancers
• 84.9 - Knight Storm
• 82.3 - Kips Bay
• 79.5 - Bayonne Raiders
• 73.4 - General Butler Vagabonds
• 72.1 - Spectrum
• 71.7 - Citations
• 63.9 - Emerald Knights
• 55.7 - Phoenix
• 53.7 - Illusions
• 52.1 - Bandettes
• 50.7 - Ridge Raiders
• 44.8 - Royal Cadets

• DIVISION II PRELIMS - Top 5 to Finals
• 93.5 - Spartans
• 92.6 - Blue Stars
• 91.9 - Tarheel Sun
• 87.5 - Blue Devils B
• 83.8 - Americanos
• 81.3 - Pride of Soka
• 81.3 - Jersey Surf
• 77.9 - Allegiance Elite
• 76.6 - Capitol Sound

• DIVISION III
• 93.0 - Mandarins
• 92.4 - East Coast Jazz
• 90.8 - Patriots
• 86.1 - 3rd Regiment
• 83.8 - Phantom Regiment Cadets

• DIVISION II
• 89.9 - Spartans
• 87.3 - Tarheel Sun
• 84.6 - Jersey Surf
• 84.4 - Americanos
• 83.7 - Pride of Soka
• 80.8 - Allegiance Elite

• 95.2 - Cadets of Bergen County
• 91.9 - Phantom Regiment
• 90.1 - Crossmen
• 83.8 - Dubuque Colts
• 82.5 - Kiwanis Kavaliers
• 69.5 - East Coast Jazz
• 69.0 - Mandarins
• 68.3 - Tarheel Sun
• 57.0 - Pride of Soka

• DIVISION III
• 90.4 - Mandarins
• 78.7 - 3rd Regiment
• 77.9 - Delta Brigade
• 75.4 - Lone Star
• 67.6 - Coachmen
• 49.5 - Bandettes

• DIVISION II
• 90.0 - Blue Stars
• 86.6 - Americanos

• DIVISION III
• 91.9 - Mandarins
• 83.4 - Phantom Regiment Cadets
• 80.0 - Golden Lancers
• 80.0 - St. John's
• 74.8 - Lone Star
• 73.9 - Yamato
• 73.1 - Knight Storm

• DIVISION II
• 89.8 - Blue Stars
• 89.8 - Tarheel Sun
• 86.0 - Americanos

"Like the train their show depicts, the Mandarins are unstoppable and even the Division II corps must watch their cabooses as a result. The corps based its victory over the larger units on execution, but in the process managed to snatch even GE Brass away from all challengers in finals.

Visual was a different story, as the corps swept all visual captions in both rounds of competition with very fast-moving drill, stunning guard work and a mastery of fundamentals so dramatic that a single horn snap or turn seems more effective than the entire programs of several other units. This level of deadly skill has not been seen since the Mandarins of the late 80s and early 90s." -- Ken Mason, DCWorld Staff

• DIVISION III PRELIMS
• 89.5 - Mandarins
• 88.9 - East Coast Jazz
• 86.2 - Patriots
• 83.8 - St. John's
• 81.9 - Phantom Regiment Cadets
• 80.4 - Knight Storm
• 77.7 - Golden Lancers
• 77.7 - Lone Star
• 76.5 - Senateurs
• 73.2 - General Butler Vagabonds
• 72.8 - Delta Brigade
• 66.9 - Stentors
• 65.2 - Mirage
• 63.9 - Conqueror II
• 62.8 - Coachmen
• 62.6 - Emerald Knights
• 61.8 - The Volunteers
• 54.0 - Wabash Crusaders
• 52.5 - Dutch Boy
• 50.4 - Ridge Raiders
• 48.3 - Squires

• DIVISION II PRELIMS
• 88.2 - Tarheel Sun
• 76.3 - Allegiance Elite

• DIVISION III FINALS
• 90.1 - Mandarins
• 88.5 - East Coast Jazz
• 87.8 - Patriots
• 83.1 - St. John's
• 82.4 - Phantom Regiment Cadets
• 77.7 - Knight Storm
• 76.6 - Golden Lancers
• 75.5 - Lone Star

• DIVISION II FINALS
• 88.5 - Tarheel Sun
• 78.5 - Allegiance Elite

• DIVISION III
• 83.1 - Mandarins (High Visual, General Effect)
• 71.9 - Vanguard Cadets
• 75.0 - Earthquake (High Percussion, Brass)
• 60.2 - West Coast Sound

• DIVISION II
• 81.9 - Blue Devils B (High Percussion, General Effect)
• 81.5 - Pacific Crest (High Brass, Visual)

• DIVISION I
• 86.6 - Blue Devils (High Visual, Brass, General Effect)
• 84.1 - Santa Clara Vanguard (High Percussion)

• DIVISION II/III
• 81.1 - Mandarins
• 77.8 - Pacific Crest
• 77.5 - Blue Devils B
• 71.4 - Vanguard Cadets
• 62.2 - West Coast Sound

• DIVISION I
• 85.7 - Blue Devils
• 82.7 - Vanguard

"The Mandarins are flexing their experienced muscles this week, giving Pacific Crest a taste of a nearly four-point gap between them. Their show, like the locomotive it seems to represent, drives from moment to moment without aggression, but definitely with a purpose and a relentless quest for their destination." -- Stefanie Kressaty, DCWorld Staff

• DIVISION II/III
• 78.3 - Mandarins (High Visual, General Effect)
• 78.1 - Pacific Crest (High Brass, Percussion)
• 73.9 - Blue Devils B
• 67.8 - Vanguard Cadets
• 67.6 - Earthquake
• 56.5 - West Coast Sound

• DIVISION I
• 85.8 - Blue Devils (High Brass, General Effect, Visual)
• 83.2 - Santa Clara Vanguard (High Percussion)

• DIVISION II/III
• 75.8 - Mandarins
• 75.2 - Pacific Crest
• 74.1 - Blue Devils B
• 65.3 - Vanguard Cadets
• 65.2 - Earthquake
• 54.7 - West Coast Sound

• DIVISION I
• 84.4 - Blue Devils
• 81.5 - Santa Clara Vanguard

• DIVISION II/III
• 74.5 - Pacific Crest (High Percussion)
• 74.4 - Mandarins (High Music, Visual, General Effect)
• 73.0 - Blue Devils B
• 66.9 - Earthquake
• 55.2 - West Coast Sound

• DIVISION I
• 83.8 - Blue Devils (All Captions)
• 79.3 - Santa Clara Vanguard

• DIVISION II/III
• 72.6 - Mandarins
• 70.6 - Pacific Crest
• 64.5 - Vanguard Cadets
• 63.3 - Earthquake
• 54.9 - West Coast Sound

• DIVISION I
• 84.7 - Blue Devils (High Brass, General Effect, Visual)
• 80.9 - Cavaliers (High Percussion)

• DIVISION II/III
• 71.3 - Mandarins (High Visual, Percussion, General Effect)
• 67.9 - Pacific Crest (High Music)
• 59.7 - Vanguard Cadets
• 58.2 - Earthquake
• 50.5 - West Coast Sound

• DIVISION I
• 82.8 - Blue Devils (High Visual, Music, General Effect)
• 79.6 - Cavaliers (High Percussion)

• DIVISION II/III
• 68.0 - Blue Devils B (High Percussion)
• 67.6 - Pacific Crest (High Brass)
• 66.7 - Mandarins (High Visual, General Effect)
• 57.1 - Vanguard Cadets

• DIVISION I
• 80.7 - Blue Devils (All Captions)
• 74.4 - Cavaliers
• 71.2 - Santa Clara Vanguard

"Changing to new Asian-style uniform jackets, Mandarins marched 14B/18P/10CG/1DM. Playing music from Eric Whitacre's Ghost Train Triptych, Mandarins open with a backfield mellophone solo as the train slowly pulls away from the station and heads down the tracks. The train theme carried throughout the show at varying tempos. Some timing problems between brass and percussion were evident tonight, but marching technique is solid.

The musical book is demanding on each player in the line and each carries themselves well at this early point in the summer. Taiko drumming returns for the drum feature and was a hit with the crowd." -- Pat Chagnon, DCWorld Staff

• DIVISION II/III
• 63.9 - Mandarins (High General Effect)
• 63.7 - Pacific Crest (High Percussion, Music)
• 63.6 - Blue Devils B (High Visual)
• 53.3 - Vanguard Cadets

• DIVISION I
• 78.5 - Blue Devils A (All Captions)
• 73.2 - Cavaliers
• 69.0 - Santa Clara Vanguard

"Mandarins - came on first and went on to BE first. What a fabulous new uniform! The first in almost a decade from what I understand. Like a cross between Cadets and a Shogan. They are dark plum with gold trim, black pants, and a gold apron (somebody let me in on what it's called?) that hangs in front and back - loin cloth look for a better choice of words. The shoulder seams fall below the actual shoulders giving them a broader visual. I was told they're working for an Asian Warrior look. The guard is also sporting a new look based on last years' costume, but gold lame, silver apron, and black boots. It's very tight and I had to keep Rich and pals in check. Breakdown: 13 horns, 10 guard, 9 pit, 5 bass, 3 snare, 2 tenor. Sound and look much bigger. Interesting show: Passport (music from "The Ghost Train Triptych") by Eric Whitacre.

They open with "The Ride" which begins with a solo snare drum in an excellerondo and mellophone. The horn's phrase becomes the segue between each of the movements carried on next by a soprano, mallets, and then contra. All the guard flags (and there are several) are in metallics which I believe would be connected to the train theme. A unique drill move this year is horn passes through the pit. It gets crowded and the judge got caught on more than one occasion between a xylophone and a gong.

The subsequent pieces are "At the Station", "The Motive Revolution" and "Bullet". This last bit has a guard member running through the back ranks with an old fashion fire fan (accordion style with two handles) billowing what looks like smoke into the air but is probably baby powder. Great idea. West coast folks will be pleased to hear that the popular taiko drum solo from last year is back - brush sticks on tenors and snares, plus six wooden drums on the front and one big one to the side. They got a great ovation. They have a great show, but also great competition...it really is tight out there." -- Christina Mavroudis, DCWorld Staff

"Tonight's first-place award went to the four-time world champion Sacramento Mandarins. This corps continues to prove again and again that good things come in small packages; they always sound like a bigger corps. Everyone plays all the time. This year's production is both dynamic and entertaining. New uniforms are deep plum-colored ancient warrior-looking jackets with wide shoulders -- a very interesting and different look from the pink and black we've been accustomed to for so many years. The multi-talented guard is standout beautiful in form-fitting lame." -- Sue Johnson, DCWorld Staff