• A positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• All musicians: three ring binder with plastic sleeves and a pencil.
• Change of clothes for the weekend. Plan to dress in layers. It will be warm in the gym. Since we are in California, where the climate is good, we will also likely be outside, so you will need to have warm clothes for that as well.
• Comfortable marching shoes.
• Your own instrument / guard equipment (in particular brass) if possible, to ensure you have something to use throughout the audition weekends.
• (Note: Overnight housing is NOT provided for Mandarins Experience events. meals will be provided for the entire weekend).
• Block Items:

  – Backpack

  – Binder – WITH ALL MUSIC

  – Pencil (bring multiple)

  – Gloves for Brass and Color Guard

  – Mouthpiece and horn

  – Water jug

  – Tennis shoes (be checking the weather, you may want to bring 2 pairs in case one gets soaked)

  – Baseball hat!!! (Don’t be afraid to bring extras)

  – Sunscreen

  – Hair ties (for guys too, it’s for the horn)

  – Rain Jacket

  – Black towel (to put horn on)

  – Fold-up music stand

  – Tuner

  – Metronome
  Non-block Items:

  – Air mattress

  – Sleeping bag/blanket

  – Pillow

  -Sweatshirt/Sweatpants

  – 2-3 outfits (shorts/pants/leggings, shirts for block. pro tip: sleep in your block clothes for the next day, not pajamas)

  – Extra socks! 4-5 pairs

  – Underwear

  – Sports bras

  – Flip-flops/shower shoes

  – Toothbrush

  – Toothpaste

  – Hair brush/comb

  – Deodorant

  – Chapstick

  – Advil

  – Feminine products

  – Shampoo and conditioner

  – Body wash

  – Loofa

  – Towel

  – Phone charger

  – Pro tip* bring a small bag to carry your shower stuff in so that you don’t drop anything on the way there. Also, it’s easier to carry especially if showers are a bit of a walk.

• A positive attitude and willingness to learn.
• Three ring binder with plastic sleeves and a pencil.
• Plan to dress in layers. If the weather is good we may spend part of the day outside.
• Comfortable marching shoes.
• Your own brass instrument as the corps will not provide instruments.  Percussion equipment will be provided.
• Food is not provided.

Auditions will give the staff an idea of your music, marching, movement, and equipment handling skills.

Think of your first rehearsal as a chair placement for an honor band rather than an “audition”.

We will also be looking at several other factors, including:

• Positive attitude.
• Work ethic.
• Commitment to effort.
• Ability to focus and follow directions.
• Ability to learn exercises.
• Ability to process information and instruction and apply it to exercises.
• Ability to handle constructive criticism in a positive manner.
• Interaction with other audionees.
• Ability to attend all camps and move into Spring Training in the Sacramento area on May 26, 2022 (some flexibility is allowed due to school commitments but this IS our expectation).

In addition to an audition in a rehearsal setting, each prospective member will also be interviewed by the appropriate caption head.

Our marching member Code of Conduct can be found here. This will give you an idea of our organization’s expectation for its members.

Oh yes, in case you think we forgot to mention this: enjoy yourself! Stay positive and don’t lose sight of your goals and objectives. You are here because you enjoy doing this, and the staff does recognize your effort in coming to be here with us.

Commitment, dedication, and teamwork are the cornerstones of our organization. The Mandarins are rich with 55 years of tradition and pride. We encourage your participation, and look forward to seeing you soon.

“This is long overdue, but I just wanted to share my gratitude towards Mandarins and everyone that’s involved in it. I feel blessed to have been part of something so special. I never thought that I’d be able to feel the way I did after quarterfinals/semifinals because I couldn’t stop smiling after those shows. When you feel like giving up, just remember to hold your head up high and be proud of what you do. We’ve all literally poured our blood, sweat, and tears into this show. I’ve met the most amazing, talented, and kind hearted young adults. Although we’ve gone our separate ways, I’m constantly reminded that Mandarins will always be my home. I’m glad that I chose to age out with Mandarins, and I feel honored to be an alumni. I hope to see everyone again in the future. Until then, just remember………..GET IT! – Van Anh Tran”

For one day camps;

We will not be providing meals, so please be sure to bring your own snacks.

For three day weekend camps;

We will provide a snack after rehearsal Friday night, all meals on Saturday (breakfast, lunch, dinner & snack) and breakfast Sunday morning.

For those with dietary restrictions, please email jwkoester@sbcglobal.net

The Audition materials are included when registering for an Experience Camp.  You will receive a confirmation email, after completing the registration process, with a link to download the materials.

If you are not planning on auditioning, you can purchase audition materials at the Mandarins Marketplace here for an additional cost.
Navigate to the Audition Materials and select the materials you’re interested in purchasing. After your purchase is complete, you will receive an email with a download link to the materials. Make sure your email address is correct when completing the checkout process.

If you have been offered a position in the Corps you must take care of your paperwork and membership payments confirming your acceptance of your contract offer immediately.  You must pay $900.00 of your 2022 Tour Fees within 10 days of receiving your contract offer.

If you have any questions about the application process or fees, contact our director, JW Koester.