Thai school band competing in China showcasing their musical talents from Korat, Thailand
In the heart of Nakhon Ratchasima province, the Bannon-Udomnoppadon Ooppathump School's melodica marching band faced a challenging funding gap as they prepared to represent Thailand at the prestigious Drum Corps Asia 2025 competition in China. The total cost for the trip was a substantial 2.4 million baht, but the band received only 250,000 baht in government funding.
To bridge this gap, the school turned to the community for help, organising various fundraising efforts such as street performances and T-shirt sales. These efforts, coupled with an online fundraising appeal, managed to raise over 2.1 million baht, leaving a shortfall of 384,700 baht.
The community's response was overwhelming, with messages of encouragement sent to the students and generous donations pouring in. The success in securing public donations highlights both the generosity of the community and the concern over insufficient government support for such cultural endeavours. Supporters praised donors for their generosity while also criticizing the lack of official government response to address the funding gap.
Despite these concerns, the necessary funds were eventually secured, allowing the band to participate in the competition. The Bannon-Udomnoppadon Ooppathump School's melodica marching band will be the only representative from Thailand in Drum Corps Asia 2025, joining a total of 27 teams, including 25 from China and one from Malaysia.
The competition, which takes place from July 17-24 in Baodi, Tianjin, China, consists of four competition categories: Marching Field Show, Indoor Marching Arts - Percussion, Indoor Marching Arts - Concert Percussion, and Indoor Marching Arts - Colour Guard. The band will compete in the Marching Field Show in the Melodica Band category.
The Marching Band Association of Thailand confirmed the band's appointment on July 13, expressing their appreciation for the community's support in helping the band reach their goal. As the band prepares to embark on this exciting journey, they do so with the knowledge that their community has rallied behind them, making it possible for them to represent Thailand on the international stage.
The school, in addition to their fundraising endeavors, also encouraged students to engage in education-and-self-development activities, such as learning more about financial management and creating a successful fundraising campaign, as a way to supplement their funds. In light of this, the students organized a series of football tournaments and coaching clinics, where attendees paid a small fee to participate, generating an additional 60,000 baht towards the band's trip.
