Sacramento Mandarins Drum & Bugle Corps

2010 Program: "To Dream of Far Away Lands"

Extending 4,000 miles from the Mediterranean through Arabia and Persia and on to India, China and Indonesia, the Silk Road blazed a path of discovery and commerce for almost 3,000 years. No explorer along this route became more famous than the one chronicled in The Travels of Marco Polo, written in the late Thirteenth Century and covering 24 years of travels.

In To Dream of Far Away Lands, the Mandarins capture the wonder instilled in readers as they soaked up the poetic images of the exotic locales. The Caravan lays out the great expansiveness of the journey, fraught with unknown perils. To Dream of Far Away Lands depicts the anticipation and expectations of what may be found along the way.

The Himalayas/The Threat of Mongols portrays an arduous uphill battle, the voyagers fighting against both the rugged terrain and the hoards of attacking natives. Discovering India celebrates the merriment of the South Asian Subcontinent, delivered in festive Bollywood fashion. After years of journey, Arrival in China rejoices in the success of reaching the long sought after destination, fulfilling the dream.

The Caravan
Meetings Along the Edge, Ravi Shankar/Philip Glass

To Dream of Far Away Lands
The Mountain of Fruit and Flowers, David Buckley

The Threat of Mongols / The Himalayas
Samudra Manthan, Shivkumar Sharma

Discovering India
Quiet, Sheila Chandra
Ever So Lonely, Monsoon

Arrival in China
Ambush from Ten Sides, Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Yo-Yo Ma

When your child decides to be part of a Drum Corps International corps, he/she is making a choice that requires a deep personal commitment that will require strength and focus. Facing new levels of responsibility, discipline and self-knowledge, they will gain values that will help them succeed in life.

Many of your questions about the Drum and Bugle Corps activity may be answered on an "Answers For Parents" page, on the Drum Corps International website.

Select Name for Email or Biography

RAYMOND MAR: Executive Director

JIM TABUCHI: Corps Director

Founded in 1963, the Sacramento Mandarins provide the ideal balance of education, family values, personal time, and the blending of Asian traditions with drum corps. The Mandarins are committed to the growth of the lives of young people through a commitment to youth development and performance excellence while providing enjoyment for the Sacramento community and audiences worldwide.

Recent honors and awards of distinction: two-time recipient of the prestigious Spirit of Disney award, signifying outstanding achievement in educational and entertainment programs for youth; Drum Corps International Division III World Champions in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999; Drum Corps International Division II World Champions in 2001; Drum Corps International Pacific Division III Champions in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, and DCI Pacific Division II California State Champions in 2000 and 2001; and Drum Corps International Division I Semifinalist in 2001, 2005, and 2006.

Look for the Mandarins to appear in a full slate of West Coast shows and a nationwide tour, including appearances at the DCI regionals in Palo Alto, San Antonio, and Atlanta on the way to Bloomington, Indiana for the DCI World Championships.

Executive Director is Mr. Ray Mar. Corps Director is Jim Tabuchi. The Mandarins are sponsored exclusively by their Parent Booster Club. For additional information about the corps, please contact Mandarins Public Relations.

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