Si Feng DBC

**Si Feng Drum & Bugle Corps** is a Division One competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Zhangjiajie, China. They are commonly referred to as just 'Si Feng' and are led by director Dreems2

## History

Si Feng Drum and Bugle Corps is the first proper drum corps to form in China, the corps consists of members mainly from China, but also from around Asia, sporting a vast multinational membership spanning from Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, and even Nepal. Si Feng has been encouraging the formation of a Chinese Drum Corps circuit since its formation, however, it still remains the only competitive Chinese Drum Corps. Si Feng currently holds auditions and has pre-season training held in schools around Zhangjiajie, though are often found rehearsing at Helong Sports Center Stadium during the competitive season. Si Feng's motto is 驕傲. 尊. 表演. ("Pride. Honor. Performance").
Si Feng's formation came with much strife, as finding a suitable home ground in mainland China was proven to be a very difficult task. At that point, the directors of the corps considered moving to Taiwan, as the island had suitably held a Drum Corps previously; Taipei Yuehfu. As the group had nearly submit everything needed to house itself in Taiwan, Helong Sports Stadium in Zhangjiajie spoke up and invited the group further into mainland China, which is where the group still remains to this day. However, many speculate that if Si Feng loses it's right to housing in China, they will move to Taipei, under the formerly trademarked name and logo: "The Formosan Black Bear Regiment" (Pictured Below The Info Box).

Season 105-107 was taken off due to Si Feng's division one application process. The D1 board of directors had found it much more difficult to accept the group due to their international status and travel costs. However, after two seasons of deliberation and much anxiety throughout the corps membership and leadership, Si Feng was formally invited to join division one, and has competed at a top level within finals ever since.

Si Feng's namesake comes from the windy mountainous area of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, where the winds are much faster on average, thus giving inspiration to the groups name "Four Winds" or: "Si Feng". The name is also attributed to the four voices of the corps instruments, Soprano, Tenor, Baritone and Bass - Trumpet, Mellophone, Baritone/Euphonium and Tuba.

## Formation & Beginnings in Division 2

Si Feng was officially formed December 28th, 2021 in Zhangjiajie, China. Founding member and current director; Dreems2 was unsettled by the lack of competitiveness of Asian Drum Corps, more specifically, of Chinese drum corps. No official circuit or corps for that matter had been established in China, few attempts had been made as well. Dreems has seen the success of China's military marching bands and wanted to bring more to the table. Especially after the folding of Taipei Yuehfu, there was a void in China's marching scene, and thus, looking to expand upon China's incredible youth talent, the search for a home in China had started. Unfortunately, every housing site that Dreems and Co-Founder Hongbing had visited ended in rejection. The two slowly became weary and looked at the possibility of moving outside of mainland China, due to the lack of interest in a Drum Corps. The two immediately turned their eyes to a few different places; Seoul, Taipei, Da Nang and Luang Prabang. Unfortunately, the only place to garner interest in a drum corps was Taipei. The two had picked out a housing site and even a stadium to perform in, as the two were working on paperwork to house the newly founded corps in Taiwan, the ministry of culture and tourism spoke up, specifically, the sector in Zhangjiajie, a place in China known for it's natural beauty and tourist attraction. The ministry in that sector had come to believe a drum corps would help increase tourism substantially, which would bring in new life and money to both the national park, town, and eventually the soon-to-be corps.

After it's official formation, many former military band members auditioned at Si Feng, which provided a great challenge for the staff, who were all mainly international staff from other countries that had marched drum corps before. Most notably, Tipp Croft, who is still at the corps now. Most new members to the corps had not marched in a relaxed and artistic style similar to what Si Feng staff were expecting, despite the complications however, the audition process for their first year was a great success, the corps able to field 139 total members. As the audition season closed, Si Feng copyright staff and leadership had officially made their agreement with the Chinese company Hoyoverse (Formerly MiHoYo) to perform a Genshin Impact themed show. Si Feng was excited to perform the show, as in the video game, parts of the landscape had been modeled after Zhangjiajie national park.

Si Feng's first season was nearly perfect, only ever placing second at one competition, the group was able to win gold their first season which furthered the corps financial status as well as reputation in China. Seasons 102 and 103 provided significantly more difficult competition overall, leading the group to it's first and second silver medals. By seasons 102 and 103, as more and more alumni filled the Si Feng Alumni Association (SFAA), many began to offer volunteer help to keep as many staff positions in the corps local, in order to reduce costs. These volunteers eventually became the first of what is now the Alumni-Staff Exchange (ASE), an organization operated by Si Feng to allow for alumni members to apply directly to the corps as staff members. This program would lead to the eventual internationalization of Si Feng staff and subsequently the internationalization of Chinese Drum Corps membership and staff.

In season 104, with around half the staff of Si Feng now Chinese, the group reorganized and rewrote it's guidelines, rules, and policies, as well as fixed tuition issues which had plagued the corps early on. Si Feng was able to get licensing and permission from Kadokawa and Bandai Namco to the rights for the music and outfits of the Love Live! School Idol Project name. The group then went on to perform at the time, their highest scoring show, as well as record their first perfect season, placing first in every single competition. The group wasn't able to break their highest score from their debut season, however, it was the final reason for the directors to apply for Division one competition. And after a long 3 seasons of performing only in China for exhibition, the group was given the green light to officially be recognized as a top flight, division one drum corps

## Strife, Rebuilding & Fitting in in Division One

Si Feng throughout its competitive history has struggled with travel costs and finding housing sites abroad. Due to the corps coming from China, it has the strict disadvantage of not having as many connections in the United States with high schools, colleges and universities. There was a lot of uncertainty during Si Feng's 3 seasons out of competition, those three seasons saw many staff members leave towards other groups that were performing competitively at the time. Around 65% of Si Feng's staff, both backroom and on-the-field had ended up leaving the corps, causing uncertainty about the corps future, and whether a show could be put on the field at all. Though, by late season 107, Si Feng's last out of competition, the corps was able to bring in enough staff to compete, which had aligned perfectly with the groups acceptance in division one.

## Si Feng DBC

Si Feng's old logo before rebranding

Si Feng's first season in competition was a show of rebuilding, while they finished in a respectable 6th place, director Dreems had been quoted saying "It's not the kind of show we as a group identify with, and while I think this kind of show is wonderful and well written, it doesn't feel like us." Soon after the end of Season 108, most of Si Feng's design team had been reworked, many new faces having been brought on in order to better personify the corps identity within their shows. In season 109, Si Feng performed their show "Affection", which was then Si Feng's highest scoring show at the time, and the group had clearly found their groove, they continued working alongside their same design team until Season 112, where they once more parted ways with some of the main components of their design team, once more looking for a more modern identity and one that could continue to compete within division one. In season 113, Si Feng's design team was still undergoing some rebuilding, and was evidently shown with their 11th place finish that season, though the next season, season 114, Si Feng had most of their original design team from Seasons 101 and 104 rejoin, many of their originally prominent staff from their division two success rejoining. Since then, Si Feng has only undergone minor staff changes, most the staff remaining the same since then.

In late October of 2023, the Si Feng board of directors underwent a vote on the option of changing their logo, to which passed near unanimously. While the old logo is still used often in flags and on parade uniforms, the new logo is what would be soon represented on their audition forms, wikipedia, etc.