The Syracuse University Mandarins

As Syracuse University's premier all-female a cappella group, The Mandarins are a talented group, with a storied history. This Saturday, The Mandarins will sing at an International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella quarterfinal at Lafayette College, participating in this prestigious competition for the fifth consecutive year.
Mandarins co-director Katherine Dee took the time to answer questions from A Cappella Blog co-founder Mike Chin.

A Cappella Blog (ACB): Describe a typical Mandarins rehearsal. How often do you practice and what do you do to achieve such success by the time you hit the stage?

Katherine Dee (KD): We rehearse 3 times each week for approximately 2 hours per rehearsal. We spend our rehearsal time not only learning and practicing notes and choreography, but also working on developing a uniform sound and a balance between the voice parts. We also work on other musical aspects such as dynamics, intonation, and articulation. We also work to capture the stylistic character of each song.

ACB: In what ways have The Mandarins changed and evolved over the last few years?

KD: Every year the Mandarins lose strong singers to graduation, however, we have learned as a group to step up to the challenges that meet us every year. Each year we learn to work with new voices and to accommodate and love new personalities and styles.

ACB: What can we expect to see from The Mandarins in the future?

 KD: The Mandarins are known for their consistency as performers. We are lucky to have many willing arrangers this year, as well as wonderful musicians. We are looking forward to a strong year.

ACB: What is the audition process like for your group?

KD: The audition process includes exercises in ear training as some solo singing. We look for good intonation, blend, presence, and a strong solo voice.

ACB: How does your group go about deciding which songs to add to its repertoire?

KD: We choose songs based on the interest of our members.

ACB: What would you say is the most important element to having a successful collegiate a cappella group?

KD: The most important element in a sucessful collegiate a cappella group is dedication to the group and a willingness to work hard.

ACB: What drew you, personally, to collegiate a cappella in the first place?

KD: A love for the genre of music and a chance to create lasting friendships were what really drew me to a cappella.

If you would like to learn more about The Mandarins, you can visit the group online at http://students.syr.edu/mandarins.