THE Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultanah Asma band created history by emerging as the first Malaysian band to win the prestigious World Championship Marching Show Bands Competition 2011.
It was also the first time in the competition’s history that a band won the competition by scoring more than 90 points.
The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultanah Asma band scored 94.2 points in the final to defeat 14 other teams from around the world. Earlier in the preliminary round, they recorded 92.6 points to qualify for the final.
Thailand’s Suphanburi band was second with 91.7 points while Chien Kuo High School of Taiwan scored 90.6 points to take third place. A total of 30 teams had contested in the qualifying round.
This year’s competition was held at the Cheras football stadium in Kuala Lumpur on July 30. Last year’s competition was held in Germany and the next venue will be in Calgary, Canada.
The handsome challenge trophy was presented by World Championship Marching Show Bands chief executive officer Robert Eklund.
The performance of the Sultanah Asma school was well choreographed and rightly received several rounds of applause from the spectators, and the panel of eight international judges were impressed too.
Their appreciation was reflected by two of the judges, Heinz Kroell (Germany) and Al Dicroco (US), who met up with the band director Abdul Samad Abdul Aziz and instructor Tang Chia Hoe to personally congratulate them for the splendid performance.
A day earlier SMK Sultanah Asma emerged as the national champion for the fifth time since their maiden victory in 1999 scoring 82 points for the title which was way below their winning total of 86.1 points during the zonal competition held in Alor Setar on June 23.
Winning the World Championship Marching Show Bands competition is the culmination of the school’s long success story.
For SMK Sultanah Asma, the success surpassed all their other international achievements such as winning the 5th Music Festival in Guiliano, Italy, in 2004 and the Kuala Lumpur World Marching Bands competition in 2009.
The band was given a rousing welcome complete with kompang beats and garlands of flowers on their arrival at their School in Jalan Langgar, Alor Setar.
The triumphant band of 120 members accompanied by teachers were welcomed by the SAS Band Parents Club led by its chairman Zulkifli Hashim at the school premises.
Principal Kartini Zakaria, who was overwhelmed by the school’s unprecedented success, said it was a proud moment indeed for the school, state and Malaysia as a whole when they were declared the champion.
“Credit for the band’s success must be shared by everyone such as the state Education Department for its financial support, parents, teachers, students for their perseverance and persistence for excellence, and trainer Tang for blending the talents into a winning combination.
“As for defending the title next year in Canada, I am not in a position to even say whether we will be there.
The high cost of air fare, consignment of musical instruments, accommodation and food for the band’s 130 members including teachers, is beyond the school’s means,” he said.
Kartini hoped the government would be able to sponsor their trip to Canada to defend the title.
She added that the band members can act as young ambassadors and help sell Malaysia to the world at the international meet.
