Champions again? Thai all girl marching band

Four years ago they won the world championship in the Netherlands, now they are struggling raise money to defend that title.

Suranaree drummers are practicing their skills for the big day. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)

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MUSIC

Korat band seeks funds to defend world title

27 Mar 2013
Prasit Tangprasert

The Marching Band of Suranaree Wittaya School from Nakhon Ratchasima province may withdraw from defending its championship at the 17th World Music Contest in the Netherlands in July due to lack of funding.

In 2009, the school's all female band topped more than 200 competitors in the field music category at the 16th World Music Contest, with a score of 1,330.50 or 95.03% and broke the record of the World Music Contest.

Adul Pluengsanthea, the trainer of the marching band, said the school is now about 90% ready for the contest that will be held on July 28 but the band is worried about the funding needed to participate.

He said around 12 million baht will be needed to take 140 person team and staff members to the Netherlands for seven days. They must arrive on July 27 for the contest, and to perform in several Dutch cities.

The band currently has around two million baht so needs another 10 million. Mr Adul is not certain that he can get sufficient funding in less than four months.

Though the prospect of competing at the event is still at risk, the 120 band members and staff are practicing their routines to ensure the best performance. There are only 10 members from the 2009 championship tour, with all others from a new generation of the band.

Kanyanat Ekatchariya, 18, a Mattayom 5 (11th year) student who plays trumpet, said she was not selected to join the band four years ago, so is working extra hard to bring out her best, determined to help the band win again this year.

The school is well known for its marching band, which has won many national and international prizes.

The band will compete for the Asean championship at Supacharasai National Stadium on April 4 of next year.

The video clip below, uploaded to YouTube by nattanon1992, shows the Marching Band of Suranaree Wittaya School performing at the 16th World Music Contest in the Netherlands in 2009.

(Source: Bangkok Post, MUSIC, Korat band seeks funds to defend world title, 27 Mar 2013, Prasit Tangprasert, link)

Marching Band Vocabulary

marching band - a group of people playing marching songs on instruments, typicall at sports events and at parades wearing uniforms กลุ่มนักดนตรีที่เล่นในขณะเดินแถว (See Wikipedia)
band - 1. a group of people who play music together (musicians); 2. a group of people กลุ่มคน

female - of a woman สำหรับผู้หญิง
all female band

field -  an area with a lot of grass and flat สนาม
field music - music played on a field

drum  - กลอง
drummer - คนตีกลอง

trumpet - แตร
plays the trumpet

skills - a type of work or task requiring special training and knowledge ทักษะ ความสามารถเฉพาะทาง
practicing their skills

the big day - the important day

Suranaree drummers are practicing their skills for the big day.

title - the position of a winner in a sports competition ตำแหน่งแชมป์
world title

defend - protect, prevent someone else from getting something ปกป้อง 
defend title
defend world title

championship - Same as "title"
defending its championship

funds - money needed or available to spend on something เงินทุน
seeks funds

Korat band seeks funds to defend world title

withdraw - withdraw from a competition or contest; to take away; to stop taking part in something ถอนตัว ถอนตัวจาก
withdraw from defending its championship

lack - does not have ขาดแคลน
funding - money given to a program so it can operate การให้เงินสนับสนุน
lack of funding.

Marching Band of Suranaree Wittaya School from Nakhon Ratchasima province may withdraw from defending its championship at the 17th World Music Contest in the Netherlands in July due to lack of funding.

topped - beat...; was ranked higher...; did better than ...
the band topped more than 200 competitors in the competition

category - a group of people or things that have similar qualities หมวดหมู่ ประเภท
the field music category

record - the best or most ever achieved สถิติ
broke the record
broke the record of the World Music Contest

In 2009, the school's all female band topped more than 200 competitors in the field music category at the 16th World Music Contest, with a score of 1,330.50 or 95.03% and broke the record of the World Music Contest.

contest - to take part in an election or other competition ลงแข่ง, ลงรับเลือกตั้ง
hold a contest
the contest will be held on July 28

participate - to take part in or become involved in an activity มีส่วน
funding needed to participate

trainer
the trainer of the marching band

Adul Pluengsanthea, the trainer of the marching band, said the school is now about 90% ready for the contest that will be held on July 28 but the band is worried about funding needed to participate.

staff - employees of a company, people who work for a company พนักงาน
staff members

He said around 12 million baht will be needed to take 140 team and staff members to the Netherlands for seven days. They must arrive on July 27 for the contest, and to perform in several Dutch cities.

sufficient - enough พอเพียง
sufficient funding
not certain that he can get sufficient funding

The band currently has around two million baht so needs another 10 million. Mr Adul is not certain that he can get sufficient funding in less than four months.

prospect - the possibility that something will happen in the future ความคาดหวัง ความหวังข้างหน้า อนาคต
the prospect of competing at the event

risk - a danger, the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
the prospect of competing at the event is still at risk

practice
routine
practicing their routines

performance - how well or badly something works (or whether an investment provides a reasonable return)
the best performance

ensure - to make certain that something happens or is done รับรอง ให้ความมั่นใจ ให้การยืนยัน
practicing their routines to ensure the best performance

the 120 band members and staff are practicing their routines to ensure the best performance.

generation - a group of people in society who are born and live around the same time รุ่น (คนรุ่นต่างๆ)
a new generation of the band

There are only 10 members from the 2009 championship tour, with all others from a new generation of the band.

select - choose one person or thing from a group or collection of things เลือก
selected to join the band

work hard - ทำงานหนัก, ทำงานมาก
working extra hard

bring out her best - when a person or their teacher helps the student do the best they can
working extra hard to bring out her best

determined - wanting to do something very much and not letting anyone or any difficulties stop you ตั้งใจจริง, ซึ่งมุ่งมั่น
determined to help the band win again this year

Kanyanat Ekatchariya, 18, a Mattayom 5 (s11th year) student who plays trumpet, said she was not selected to join the band four years ago, so is working extra hard to bring out her best, determined to help the band win again this year.

well known - famous มีชื่อเสียง
the school is well known for its marching band

national - inside this country
international - outside this country and between countries ระหว่างประเทศ

prize -  some special thing that you get when you win a competition รางวัล
national and international prizes
won many national and international prizes

the marching band has won many national and international prizes.

The band will compete for the Asean championship at Supacharasai National Stadium on April 4 of next year.

The video clip below, uploaded to YouTube by nattanon1992, shows the Marching Band of Suranaree Wittaya School performing at the 16th World Music Contest in the Netherlands in 2009.