The Druk School’s marching band will represent Bhutan in the upcoming Asian Marching Band Confederation (AMBC) competition to be held in Thailand from the 19th of this month.
A group of 22 students from Druk School in Thimphu will be Bhutan’s representative in its first appearance at the competition.
“We are very excited and a little bit nervous as well but we are ready for the competition. We have been practising for the last three weeks and we also practised during our summer break. And now I think we are ready for the big competition,” said Pema Yuden Dorji, a participant.
“I am really excited to be getting this opportunity to represent Bhutan in Thailand for such competition. Actually we are the first group to represent Bhutan in such a competition. I feel it will be a very great learning experience for us and we are really looking forward to it,” added Tenzing Dhendup Dorji, also a participant.
AMBC competition is a marching band competition organized to assist in the development of music and marching band arts in different regions. The president of the AMBC, Kosin Suebprasitwong introduced the trend of marching band in Druk School in 2015.
“Druk School was chosen as the leading school. And they also gave instruments to begin with, like drums, melodeons, flags and so many other things. So that is how we got into the marching band,” said MB Mongar, the Deputy Principal of Druk School.
He added there are plans to make marching band available in other schools as well. But the lack of modern musical instruments in the country could be one major challenge to overcome.
Druk School received the invitation for the competition in April this year. Marching bands from 8 different countries will take part this time. The team will leave for Thailand tomorrow.
Passang Dorji
