George Miles served as the Mandarins' brass caption head from 1994 through 2004. During this period, he turned the brass performance for members of all experience levels into a championship ensemble. He was a major contributor to the corps’ five DCI championships in Division II and III and eventual move into DCI World Class in 2003. His years of experience as the band director of John F. Kennedy High School influenced his approach to instructing. George was always willing to challenge the members to reach beyond their comfort zone to achieve the complex musical and visual challenges presented to them. He often insisted on leaving challenging musical passages alone (rather than simplifying them) because he valued the educational benefits of doing so. After stepping down from the brass caption head position in 2004, George remained on the brass staff for several more years, providing an invaluable presence.
