Department of Physical Education, Ministry of Tourism and Sports held a PongLang Folk Music Competition towards a royal trophy from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in the Isan Recreational Local Wisdom Fair 2020, which was held on August 9-11, 2020 at the lawn in front of Serm Thai Complex Mall, Maha Sarakham Province. Pong Lang Sinsai Band of Khon Kaen University won 7 awards from the competition as follows:
- The first prize award – the royal trophy of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and an amount of 60,000 baht cash
- The outstanding Pong Lang award – a trophy from Department of Physical Education and an amount of 3,000 baht
- The outstanding drum playing award – a trophy from Department of Physical Education and an amount of 3,000 baht
- The outstanding kap kap award – a trophy from Department of Physical Education and an amount of 3,000 baht
- The outstanding Isan Lifestyle Performance award – a trophy from Department of Physical Education and an amount of 3,000 baht
- The outstanding Isan fiddle playing award – a trophy from Department of Physical Education and an amount of 3,000 baht
- The Golden Medal Ability Promotion award – a plaque and an amount of 30,000 baht
Ajarn Sarawadee Phuchomsri, a lecturer of Department of Performance Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts of Khon Kaen University, the trainer of Pong Lang Sinsai Band revealed that this year the student team work is prepared in many aspects. First, they have completed the program and have since time for practicing. Secondly, the faculty administrators have supported in terms of budget. Moreover, lecturers and students of all fields in the faculty have assisted in many things until the performance of the honoring performance for HM Queen Sirikit won the heart of the committee and the audience.
“We haven’t been on this stage for so long. So I talked to the members and said I wanted to create something for which everyone could do their best. When the members agreed, we asked for approval from the dean and the student development unit. We then got an amount of money. One program of study helped us with the scenes and kits. Therefore, we have been very much prepared this year. Then we discussed what we wanted the audience to see. We should present Pong Lang in a new dimension, as Pong Lang usually never deviates from what is traditional. For example, Isan Pong Lang has the silvery attires. This year, we wore something to represent angels. The opening was a story board of ‘Hoop Taem’ which was not the same as anywhere. The first section was the dance of blessing with Brahman and for the second we were inspired by Hoop Taem with angels dancing and blessing HM the former Queen.”
Ajarn Sarawadee added, “We started planning before COVID-19 arose. The students intensively rehearsed for one month. The prizes are our pride, and beside them is that we wanted the form of pong Lan to vary into new styles. Since in Isan, there is no framework, we could therefore create an image for everyone to see that Pong Lang Sinsai has something creative, something that we dare to be different. Many schools asked if they could adopt the style, and how we were able to come up with the idea. The reflection made us proud of ourselves. It was just like we are at the front line in creation that is liked by many, who will use our idea as their guidelines.”
[ Thai ]
