The Mandarins Experience
Staff
Milt Gee
Mandarins Academy Director
Milt was a trombonist through college and a Lead Baritone with the Sacramento Freelancers, and has been a trombonist with the Elk Grove Community Concert Band since 2010. He has been on the brass staff of the Sacramento Mandarins drum corps since 2004 and was previously on the brass staff from 1990 to 1993. Additionally, Milt was on the Brass Academy staff from its first year in 2008 through 2014, and has been the Mandarins Academy Director since 2015. Milt is a Technical Associate Director of a project management team at AT&T and is married to Floree, whose uncle Yuk Fong was one of the 4 who founded the Ye Wah Drum and Lyle Corps in 1963 that became the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps in 1967. Milt and Floree have 2 sons, Madison and Cameron.
Marvin Reed
Mandarins Academy Assistant Director and Drum Major Academy Director
Marvin Reed resides in the Bay area, where he works as a Third Grade Teacher at Thousand Oaks Elementary School (Berkeley Unified School District). He holds a B.A. in Sociology, an M.A. in Higher Education and Leadership Policies, and a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential from California State University, Sacramento, where he was the Drum Major of the Hornet Marching Band. Marvin has worked with many prestigious Marching Band programs around California (Granite Bay, Fairfield, John F. Kennedy, Ayala, American Canyon, Elk Grove, Laguna Creek, Foothill, California and Ponderosa High Schools). Marvin has been part of the Concord Blue Devils organization (Blue Devils 'B' and the Blue Devils ‘A’ Corps). Marvin has also been the Drum Major coordinator for Blue Devils 'B' and the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently the Assistant Director and Drum Major Academy Director of the Sacramento Mandarins Academy.
Chris Langton
Brass Academy Director
Chris is an experienced music educator with a wide range of musical experience. Chris earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education at the University of Nevada, and completed his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance in 2015. In addition to his experience with bands throughout Nevada and California, Chris has worked on the brass staff of the Sacramento Mandarins drum corps for 6 years. He is thrilled to join the staff at Mandarins Academy and bring his experience to developing rising musicians.
Jeremiah Wade
Guard Academy Director
Jeremiah's commitment to the arts is remarkable. From performing in his high school's Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, and Color Guard came a passion for performing that would encompass his next few years. From 2014 to 2018, he has performed in Sacramento State University's Color Guard as a captain and a soloist, and was announced as co-director of the Sac State Color Guard. He has also performed with the Sacramento Mandarins Color Guard in their historic 2016, 2017, and 2018 seasons, being a captain for 2 seasons, and also with the acclaimed Imbue Winter Guard beginning in 2018. Aside from performing, he has also been teaching various color guards at the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels and joined the Mandarins Academy Color Guard staff in 2016. He is looking forward to helping the Mandarins Academy continue their success in bringing the gift of the arts to youth in Sacramento in returning as the Guard Academy Director for the 2018 season.
Kalei Cablay
Woodwind Academy Director
Born and raised in Hawaii, Kalei Cablay has been part of the Sacramento Mandarins since 2008. She joined the drum corps as a member of the Color Guard. Kalei "aged-out" in 2013 as the Color Guard Captain and joined the instructional staff for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Kalei has been involved with the corps Admin team since 2016. After graduating from high school, Kalei attended Sacramento State as a Music Education and Clarinet Performance double major. She later went on to complete the California Credential program with a single-subject certificate in Music. In 2017, Kalei graduated with her Masters in Music: Conducting. Kalei is now a second-year teacher in the Lammersville Unified School District. She teaches elementary general music, beginning band, advanced band, and advanced choir. Kalei is very excited to serve as the Mandarins Woodwind Academy Director this year and looks forward to building a strong woodwind program to supplement the organization.
Ryan R. J. Lee
Percussion Academy Director
Ryan is an in-demand marching arts instructor, clinician and percussionist from Sacramento, CA. He is also a drill designer and consultant for competitive field marching bands, indoor percussion ensembles and winter color guards. Ryan has an extensive background in the field of percussion and pageantry, having worked with over thirty programs at the middle school, high school, collegiate and independent levels. He also adjudicates for several competition circuits and associations in Central and Northern California. Ryan has had the pleasure and opportunity to learn from and teach alongside some of the best minds and authorities in the activity, including Drum Corps International, Bands of America and Winter Guard International judges and instructional staff. This will be his second year as the Mandarins Percussion Academy Director and is excited to provide its students the opportunity to learn and grow as musicians as a result of the program.
