Oct. 3 2016, 7:58 p.m. – THE UST Drumline Team went home with three awards in the International Jember Open Marching Competition (JOMC) held last Sept. 23 to 25 in Jember City, Indonesia.
Drumline members Marko Raquiza placed second in the marimba solo competition while Gabriel Hidalgo Zagala bagged bronze in the tenor solo category.
UST placed third in the marching street parade (percussion) category but faltered early in the drumline battle competition.
“Na-culture shock lang din kami sa drumline battle [‘pag dating doon],” band master Isaac De Alva III told the Varsitarian.
“Nakausap ko ‘yung Thai judge. Sabi niya noong night na ‘yun, ‘Clean is better than difficult.’ Kahit gaano kahirap ‘yung piyesa mo kung mas malinis ‘yung kalaban, matatalo ka pa rin.”‘
The Drumline Team was formed in 2010 and was originally composed of Yellow Jacket members only. Students from the UST Conservatory of Music were added to raise the group’s level as a marching band.
Now on its fifth year, the JOMC is an annual open marching competition composed of the following categories: drumline battle, brass battle, individual, street parade and color guards. Jan Carlo Anolin
