Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band 2008 (KLWMBC)

Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band 2008 (KLWMBC) is being held in Kuala Lumpur and sanctioned by the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB). This competition also forms a part of the international circuit of marching band competition.

For this year’s competition, 24 Bands are taking part representing countries such as Denmark, Thailand, Holland, South Africa, Canada, Singapore and Indonesia. The inaugural KLWMBC in 2007 was won by Bodindecha Marching Band from Thailand.

The highlight of the competition would surely be Bicycle Band Crescendo formed in 1922 from Holland and had performed worldwide. They would be a unique attraction combining music, marching and bicycles with performers in traditional Dutch costumes and wooden clogs.

Among the notable marching bands from Malaysia to provide competition to the international cast would be Methodist Girls Secondary School Band from Pahang – silver medal World Music Contest in Kerkrade Netherlands, award winning Sultanah Asma School Marching Band from Kedah - at Festivale Internationale Bande Musicale in Giulianova Italy in 2004 and Victoria Institution Cadet Corps Band from Kuala Lumpur which won the Gold Medal (Parade) and Silver Medal (Show) in WMC 2005 Holland

The bands will take part in multi discipline routines of Show Competition, Parade Competition and Drumline Battle in addition to the public performances in few major shopping complex. The competition culminates with the Grand Final scheduled for 3rd August 2008 at Stadium Merdeka.

In conjunction with KLWMBC, a carnival had been organized to be held at the Merdeka Stadium car park area on 2nd & 3rd August 2008 and will be featuring Indie Rockshow, Shuffle Competition, Street Soccer, Wall climbing and Paintball (target shooting) starting at 12 pm.

While there are plans to bring this competition into few other major cities in Malaysia i.e. Melaka, Penang and Johor Bahru next year onwards, for music lovers of marching bands in particular, this competition promises to be exhilarating.

More information of KLWMBC can be obtained from http://www.klwmbc.com/ and accommodation in Kuala Lumpur from here.