Ministry of Education in collaboration with Ministry of Defence is organising a National School Band Competition at an All-India level for Republic Day Celebrations 2024. Hundreds of schools have participated every year since 2017 when the competition was introduced. The competition is organized at three levels viz. state/UT level, Zonal level and National level. All competition levels have the following 4 categories:
• Brass Band Girls
• Brass Band Boys
• Pipe Band Girls
• Pipe Band Boys
State and zonal level competitions have been concluded and the National Level (Final) Performance will be held at National Stadium, New Delhi on 21st and 22nd January, 2024. Out of 73 schools which participated at the zonal level, four teams have qualified from each Zone (Eastern Zone, Western Zone, Southern Zone, Northern Zone) i.e., a total of 16 band teams will participate in the National Level Band Competition at National Stadium, New Delhi. At the National level, the winner teams in each category will be given a cash prize, a trophy, as well as certificates.
From the East Zone ,MIzoram Govt Mizo High School , Aizwal has been selected. The Govt. Mizo High School Pipe Band was established in 2000 and has appeared in many national important days since 2001. Its first appearance was in NCC RDC Delhi in 2007 to march and display in Prime Minister’s Rally,There are a total of 25 boys in the band members and they have won the eastern zonal school band competitionin December 2023 .They have been practising for about 8 months for the coming National School Band Competition 2024.
From the East Zone , St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School Pathaliaghat, Tripura has been selected. St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School Pathaliaghat, Tripura is a Girl’s Brass Band which consists of 25 girls aged between 11 to 16 and from class 6-8. They hail from different interior villages of Tripura. The band team is just 8 months old and they have performed at three different places and bagged First Prizes in all these three events. Their band classes were held for 15 days and they have mastered the instruments within a short duration of time.
Wing Commander, Sreeprakash J,PRO Defence , Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura stated this in a press release.
