Mandarins entering new territory, enjoying early steps of '22 tour

Mandarins’ 2022 production — like any drum corps show — could be described in many ways.

Members of the Sacramento corps utilized words like “crazy,” “energetic,” “futuristic” and best characterize their program, “The Otherside.” They described the show as one in which members seek to cross a barrier and enter a new world or dimension.

Simply, both in their production and in their 2022 tour, Mandarins are continuing to break through this summer.

“I love the growth of the corps,” veteran tuba player and vocal soloist Charles Henderson III said. “I love how much we want to be the best versions of ourselves."

The Sacramento corps spent the back end of the 2010s rising through the ranks of DCI’s World Class corps, jumping from 20th place in 2015, to 17th in 2016 and 13th in 2017, before earning the corps’ first- and second-ever DCI World Championship Finals appearances in 2018 and 2019.

The last time competition was brewing on the DCI Tour, Mandarins were fresh off of their strongest competitive season ever, with a 10th-place finish in 2019 and an all-time top high score of 89.300.

 

Mandarins’ competitive success, though, has underlined deeper organizational growth about which members have been raving. For those with the corps, 2022 — the first full-summer touring experience in three years for DCI corps all across the country — has been a positive experience in all aspects, both on and beyond the scoring sheets.

“Since I've been here for so long, I’ve seen the corps change and grow,” Henderson said. “It's very encouraging as well, because it shows that the work that we've done, and what the alumni have done in the past, is paving a new path for us.”

Competitively speaking, Mandarins made multiple forms of “history” in the first two weeks of the DCI Tour, scoring within an all-time-close margin of the highly-competitive Santa Clara Vanguard, and outsourcing the perennial DCI finalist Blue Knights for the first time ever.

Organizationally, Mandarins’ recent growth is no better highlighted than by the corps’ July 8 home show in Sacramento. As noted by Mandarins executive advisor and former president Jim Tabuchi, this event marked the organization’s first time as the official host of a World Class DCI Tour event in its 59-year-history.

 

Mandarins played host to an octet of California ensembles at the show hosted at one of 23 NCAA Division I football stadiums utilized on the 2022 DCI Tour, Hornet Stadium on the campus of Sacramento State University. It’s the stomping grounds of several corps members, including Henderson and drum major Justin Nguyen.

“It's really exciting,” Henderson said. “I've always dreamed of having a big home show like this.

On the football field, Mandarins’ 2022 production sets a new tone for the corps. Recent competitive seasons saw their shows feature a darker theme, followed by a lighter-feeling program for 2021’s non-competitive season. This summer’s production takes on a modern and futuristic style.

The program, titled, “The Otherside,” depicts two “worlds” — one of strict order and structure that carries a digital feeling, and one of freedom and expression. The two are, in a variety of ways, presented as being separated by the corps’ large, bright turquoise prop structure; throughout the production, the corps seeks to break from the former to the latter.

 

With music inspired by Pink Floyd, the soundtrack to Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” and more — as well as the talents of Henderson as the corps’ featured vocalist — the show follows an intense and engaging musical and visual arc to portray its story.

“People seem to really want to come see our show, and not only see it once, but also to come see it multiple times and see what's different, what's changing, and how our show is evolving,” Nguyen said. “To be able to perform and see the crowd reaction is one of the best feelings in the world.”

With two weeks of the 2022 DCI Tour in the books, it’s yet to be seen what will fully be in store for Mandarins in the weeks to come leading up to the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.

But one thing’s for sure, the corps has fully broken onto the scene, and at the end of an exciting two weeks in the Golden State, members have high hopes for where their tour is headed next.

“Having the full, 80 days compared to last year’s shorter season, it’s just nice to be able to really refine our show and put as much focus and energy into it as we really want to,” Lockie said.

“This summer,” Nguyen added, “I think the whole corps is much more driven.”

View Mandarins’ 2022 DCI Tour Schedule