Greetings all,
I hope all is well with you and your families and all is back to normal. Fall football season and marching band are both back in full swing across the country and many of our corps members and staff are busy participating in those activities. We are happy to see Facebook updates from everyone as they gear up for game day and competition day activities as we know that the Mandarins will be well represented. We do stress to everyone that when they return to their other groups that they need to be respectful of what those programs do and how they do their activities. And, to fully engage as amazing members and staff. That way those groups look at the Mandarins as a good place to be because of the values that they live and breathe. As we start to move into the recruiting season, I believe that our values are important to new potential members as one of the aspects that they look at when deciding which corps they want to audition for.
Speaking of auditions, we have posted our audition dates. We are offering both in-person and virtual audition options to reach the largest number of potential members for the 2022 season.
In-person dates/locations:
Sunday, November 21, 2021 – Texas (location & times TBD)
Sunday, November 21, 2021 – Indiana (location & times TBD)
Friday – Sunday, December 3 – 5, 2021 – Sacramento, CA (location & times TBD)
Friday – Sunday, December 10 – 12, 2021 – Southern CA (location & times TBD)
Virtual auditions:
Early October thru mid-December 2021 (times TBD)
The design team is already discussing potential program ideas for 2022 and I have no doubt that whatever we decide it will be another exciting and challenging program that our fans and members have come to expect and enjoy.
Keith Sanpei, our tour director, and the tour administration team is already at work on finalizing audition and regular camp locations as well as spring training and tour planning. DCI has already developed the initial 2022 tour schedule. Of course, it IS preliminary, and it IS a long time until we get to June 2022 so changes certainly could happen.
If you hadn’t realized it, drum corps is truly a year-round activity. No more taking a month or so off to decompress and relax. Nope! Maybe take a day and then jump into the next season. Exhausting – yes. Crazy, yes again. Exciting and enjoyable, YES!!!
Till the next time-
Ciao!
JW Koester
Corps Director
