From exhilarating K-Pop dance tournaments to wildly imaginative cosplay parties, Ipoh Parade has always been at the forefront of introducing new and thrilling experiences. This time, the mall proudly introduced another first to Perak with its second “Sekolahku Berbakat” event in collaboration with the Perak State Education Department, the Drumline Battle. The event pitted different bands against each other from schools across Perak, bringing together rhythm, coordination, and showmanship in a spectacular display of musical excellence.
There were only a scarce few moments of silence at the Drumline Battle, most notably when the colourful troops, brandishing their polished cymbals and marching snares, readied themselves against their opponents. That fleeting silence was deafening compared to the raucous cheers of faculty, friends, and alumni gathered around the mall’s Main Court, and it only amplified the cacophony of sound and music that followed.
Ten teams participated in this first-of-its-kind event at Ipoh Parade, and it was obvious from the audience’s reaction that the favourites to win that Sunday afternoon were SMJK Sam Tet’s Tofu Drumline, decked in suits of blue and silver, and SMK St. Michael’s MMB Drumline, imposing in flashes of green and black, complete with feathered tricorns. As ordained by fate, both teams would face off against each other in the finals, where the blues stunned audiences into silence with their tight choreography, impeccable footwork, and suspenseful cadences before erupting into a lush melody while rushing towards the greens, as if in an ambush.
The greens responded immediately at the end of the blues’ two-minute display with an aggressive array of beats and taps, losing an emerald feather or two in the process as they rattled their toms and twirled their drumsticks. Their charisma was infectious, and having successfully executed a crisp rhythm and tempo as a team, the judges were unanimous in their decision to announce St. Michael’s MMB Drumline as the very first champions of Ipoh Parade’s debut Drumline Battle. The floor erupted in cheers immediately after the announcement, with friends breaking past the performance perimeter to embrace the victors, and the greens celebrated by singing their school’s anthem in unison.
“To be a witness to these students’ passion is a privilege and an honour, and we couldn’t be happier to have been the facilitators for such an occasion,” comments Lim Huey Tyng, Manager for Ipoh Parade’s Advertising & Promotions (A&P) Department. “We are proud to feature the immense amount of talent that resides in Perak through our Drumline Battle, and we hope that we will be able to continue working with the Perak State Education Department to showcase unbridled talent, such as these teenagers, to a wider audience.”
While SMK St. Michael’s MMB Drumline was the ultimate victor for the day, winning RM2,500 in cash prizes, first runner-up SMJK Sam Tet’s Tofu Drumline proved not to be a pushover either, having cleanly swept the other two awards available, namely the Most Popular Band award and the Most
Creative Costume award. The latter team invested heavily in new costumes costing around RM9,600, which shimmered at every step, and they took home winnings totaling RM2,500.
The Avengers Drumline from SMK Menglembu secured the second runner-up position. After winning silver in the showcase round, they came back strong in the battle round to claim third place, earning a prize of RM1,000. The fourth and fifth places went to the Dark Knights from Malay College Kuala Kangsar and the OMB Drum Corp from SMK Raja Permaisuri Bainun respectively, with each team receiving RM500.
In the primary school category, the Anthonian Band from SK St. Anthony Teluk Intan delighted audiences with a solid percussive rendition and winning smiles that could easily place them on par with their older peers, scoring higher than the slightly jittery Adikarianz Marching Band from SK Sri Adika Raja.
“Opportunities like this allow schools to expose their drumlines to competition, helping them improve their skills and stage presence,” remarked one of the judges, Jimmy Wong from Persatuan Kesenian Pancaragam Malaysia (MAMA).
In his closing speech, Dr. Nor Haslan Bin Nor Zaman, Unit Head of Student Talent Development (Co-curriculum) at the Perak State Education Department, praised the excellent performances by the schools’ teams. Dr Nor Haslan declared that the Perak State Education Department will fully endorse this program to be held annually, ensuring continued opportunities for students to showcase and develop their talents. Also present was Assistant Director En. Wan Muhamad Huzairi bin Shukri.
“We are already beginning to plan the next iteration of our ‘Sekolahku Berbakat’ activity, and we hope this Drumline Battle will be a prelude to greater things to come,” remarked Lim.
Ipoh Parade Sekolahku Berbakat 2.0 “Drumline Battle” Edition Results
Showcase – Primary School Category (SK)
Gold Medal
- Anthonian Band – SK St. Anthony Teluk Intan
Silver Medal
- Adikarianz Marching Band – SK Sri Adika Raja
Showcase – Secondary School Category (SMK)
Gold Medal
- Tofu Drumline – SMJK Sam Tet
- OMB Drum Corp – SMKRP Bainun
- MMB Drumline – SMK St. Michael
Silver Medal
- Anthonian Drumline – SMK St. Anthony Teluk Intan
- Avengers Drumline – SMK Menglembu
- Dark Knights – Malay College Kuala Kangsar
Bronze Medal
- SYS Cadet Band – SMK Sultan Yussuf
- Cannon Drum – SMJK Sam Tet
Drumline Battle – Primary School Category
Champion (RM500)
- Anthonian Band – SK St. Anthony Teluk Intan
First Runner-up (RM300)
- Adikarianz Marching Band – SK Sri Adika Raja
Drumline Battle – Secondary School Category
Champion (RM2,500)
- MMB Drumline – SMK St. Michael
First Runner-up (RM1,500)
- Tofu Drumline – SMJK Sam Tet
Second Runner-up (RM1,000)
- Avengers Drumline – SMK Menglembu
Fourth (RM500)
- Dark Knights – Malay College Kuala Kangsar Fifth (RM500)
- OMB Drum Corp – SMKRP Bainun
Special Awards
Most Creative Costume (RM500)
- Tofu Drumline – SMJK Sam Tet
Most Popular Band (RM500)
- Tofu Drumline – SMJK Sam Tet
Judges
- Zahrein Mustaffa from ZmuzikZ
- Boojae Fadzil from Funky Fresh By Floor Fever
3. Jimmy Wong representing Persatuan Kesenian Pancaragam Malaysia (MAMA)
