Hamengku Buwono Cup 2017

Marching band has been being part of Yogyakarta. The most obvious fact supporting this statement is that is part of the Kraton's 'bregada'/soldiers. Everytime they need to go for a parade, there might be at least a person whose job is to play a drum and another one to play a trumpet.

The second fact is that almost all large universities in the region, public or private, have their own marching band teams. They're Drum Corps Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (DC UMY), Marching Band 'Citra Derap Bahana' Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (MB CDB UNY), Marching Band Universitas Gadjah Mada (MB UGM), Marching Band Universitas Islam Indonesia (MB UII), Marching Band Universitas Pembangunan Nasional 'Veteran' Yogyakarta (MB UPN V), Marching Band Universitas Atmajaya Yogyakarta and last but not least, 'Saraswati' Drum and Buggle Corps Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta.

Then, the third fact is that almost all kindergartens have their own marching band/drum band teams as well. There's no wonder that there are always marching/drum band championships organized in this region, varying from kid's level up to the adult's, regional to national.

The most reputable marching band championship in Yogyakarta, because it's of national level, is the 'Hamengku Buwono Cup' (HB Cup). It used to be organized around July, but for the last recent years it's always in September or October.

This year's HB Cup was organized on 28-29 October. There are always two kinds of activities in this championship: a street parade and an indoor display. The street parade always takes place on Jl. Malioboro, as it is the center of Yogyakarta City, and in the afternoon, then many people are expected to show up and watch the parade. Then on the next day, there is the display which in recent years has been conducted in GOR Among Raga.

There were 36 participants this year, ranging from primary school to university students, even working people. They came from different institutions and regions, e.g. Bangka Belitung, West Java, Central Java, East Java, East Borneo, Bali and Yogyakarta. They competed for different categories.

Regardless who won and who lost, it is more important to note that such a championship signals that Indonesian youths still do something positive in their lives. They can get many benefits from joining such an activity: not to mention sportsmanship, struggle, hardwork, team work, caring, loving and last but not least, knowing what they want to do. Another thing to note is that Yogyakarta is definitely a City of art and culture, because such an event always adds up to calendar of events in the City. There's always a thing to watch and see in Yogyakarta: the City of culture, art and education. Jogja Istimewa!