The Mandarins are pleased to announce their 2021 Drum Major Team.
Marcus Holifield-Helm will begin his fourth year as Drum Major with the Mandarins and has experienced the Mandarins’ rise to top ten DCI finalist. He was Drum Major at El Dorado High School and attends Sacramento State, studying music education. He plays euphonium and hopes to student teach next year. Marcus returns to the Mandarins each year because of the family atmosphere and connections with members and staff.
Matty (Matthew) Frierson joined the Mandarins in 2019 as the Field Assistant on the Drum Major Team. He was the Drum Major for his high school band during his junior and senior years. Matty has played several instruments, including alto sax, baritone sax, and tuba. After watching the Mandarins perform in 2017 and 2018, he knew that the Mandarins was the corps for him, and is looking forward to the 2021 season.
Brendan Lockie grew up in San Diego and is currently attending UCLA as a music education major. His involvement in band during 6-9th grade and experience as an ASB president taught Brendan many communication and leadership skills, enabling him to serve as Drum Major during his sophomore through senior years. He auditioned with Mandarins because the focus is on more than only the performance results. As a future music educator, Brendan looks forward to learning from the staff.
Justin Nguyen will begin his first year in the Mandarins as a Field Assistant on the Drum Major Team. He attends Sacramento State as a music education major with a concentration in clarinet. Justin was a Drum Major in high school and auditioned with the Mandarins because of the educational aspect and the high expectations of excellence. He’s excited to meet new people and experience the upcoming season.
Carson Kimber is a freshman and music education major at Fresno State. In high school, he focused on conducting as well as the leadership and teaching aspect of being a Drum Major. Carson has friends in the corps and a high school marching instructor who spoke highly of the Mandarins, which he’s followed for the past couple of years before successfully auditioning for the Drum Major Team. His favorite part about being in the Mandarins is how welcoming the corps members are, and having an excellent staff which loves to teach and share information.
