PATTAYA, THAILAND – Pattaya hosted a student concert band competition where school orchestras played for a royal trophy and cash prizes.
Royal trophy at student band contest
The “Pattaya Concert Band 2026” competition officially began on Friday afternoon at the Royal Garden Plaza shopping mall on the beach promenade. School orchestras competed for the coveted royal trophy of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The opening ceremony took place at 1 p.m. in the mall, with Mayor Poramesr Ngampichet joined by city council chairman Banlue Kullavanij, council member and Pattaya Music Association president Banjong Bandurprayuk, Boonngam Lekcharoen from the Education, Religion and Culture Promotion Department, and Nitikorn Nilsak, marketing director of Royal Garden Plaza.
City and civic groups back two-day event
The two-day event on 13 and 14 December was jointly organized by the City of Pattaya and the Lions Club Pattaya Taksin. Representatives of relevant authorities, school administrators and members of Lions Club International District 310C were also present. The competition offered total prize money of 32,000 baht in addition to the royal trophy, with performances held on both days from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the mall’s fountain area and free entry for the public.
Two school levels compete
The contest was divided into two categories. On 13 December, seven ensembles from lower secondary level took the stage, while eleven teams from upper secondary level were scheduled for 14 December. The event covered a large share of the region’s secondary schools and was intended not only to showcase musical quality but also to strengthen cooperation within school orchestras.
Music as youth policy tool
Mayor Poramesr Ngampichet highlighted the importance of supporting young people through music. He said the city administration and council regarded backing different musical branches as a key tool to enhance learning and the potential of children and adolescents.
“Funds for such activities are specifically earmarked in the 2026 budget,”
said Poramesr Ngampichet, mayor. He stated the goal was to motivate young people to use their free time meaningfully, keep them away from drugs, give them space for creative artistic expression and raise the local musical level so it could compete regionally and nationally.
Education, prevention and culture
According to the mayor, the administration recognized the value of these programmes for education, prevention and cultural development. The competition underlined that Pattaya was increasingly positioning itself not only as a tourist destination but also as a venue for cultural and education-oriented initiatives. With events like the “Pattaya Concert Band 2026”, the city strengthened its reputation as a platform for young talent while bringing schools, government, private sector and civil society organizations closer together.