On the 14th of March 2023, Stadium Likas played host to FMA World Tour: Kota Kinabalu, a competition organized by none other than the Petaling Jaya Sound group. It was held from 1pm to 8pm, and featured performances from talented and skilled performers who mostly flew in all the way from the United States of America.

The competition started off with Division II corps, and Red Thunder (now renamed Thunder Blue) was the first to perform with its nostalgic Beatle-themed show, Beatlemania. A total of 8 Division II corps participated in the competition, and the results are as follows:

1st: Lonestar Regiment (LGDC) — 70.565
2nd: Serpentine Brigade (LGDC) — 65.115
3rd: Silver Drum & Bugle Corps (LGDC) — 64.255
4th: Knoxville Knights Drum & Bugle Corps (UNSP-C) — 63.180
5th: Knights (HPA) — 57.510
6th: Queen City Crusaders (DCL) — 57.190
7th: Thunder Blue (DCL) — 51.620
8th: Illinois Silver (AADC) — 51.515

Eric Yee Best Brass Performance Award: Serpentine Brigade
Nabil Syaiful Best Percussion Performance Award: Lonestar Regiment
Thera Minn Best Visual Performance Award: Lonestar Regiment
Harumi Hashiguchi Best Color Guard Award: Lonestar Regiment
Nurshahila Amzah Best General Effect Award: Lonestar Regiment
Petaling Jaya Fan Favourite Award: Lonestar Regiment

The top spots of Division 2 were all swept by LGDC, who had a strong showing, with the up-and-coming Lonestar Regiment leading the pack. There were 6 awards up for grabs during the competition, and Lonestar Regiment managed to clinch 5 out of the 6 (NSBPPA, TMBVPA, HHBCGA, NABGEA, PJFFA), only missing out the Eric Yee Best Brass Performance Award to second-place Serpentine Brigade. Their show "The Golden Hours" managed to wow the audience with intricate storytelling and beautiful music, which also managed to inspire many members of the audience, some of which are Petaling Jaya Sound members themselves. In fact, PJS members believe that Lonestar Regiment is very well on their way to achieve yet another DII Championship!

Serpentine Brigade’s show "Everything Bagel" was a light-hearted and overall fun show, but the powerful Brass managed to overpower Lonestar Regiment’s own, which allowed them to clinch the Eric Yee Best Brass Performance Award. Overall, they had the cleanest Brass in Division II. Elsewhere, Silver Drum & Bugle Corps’ "Sanctus" was a show full of mystique and enigma, with a strong musical performance and professional choreography, allowing them to lay claim to 2nd Runner-Up in Division II. It is worth-noting that they had the 2nd Best Percussion Performance overall, only losing out to Lonestar Regiment.

http://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1076718182171160677/1085602066912780418/FMA_World_Tour_KK_Results_D2.png?width=1440&height=313

*There is a mistake in the picture, this refers to Division II not I.

Division I competition started at 4pm and continued all the way to 8pm, featuring 12 different corps and a special guest performance by Petaling Jaya Sound during the break. With a majority of DCL corps, some CLASS and LGDC corps came to participate in the competition as well. Results of Division I competition are as follows:

1st: Legacy Drum and Bugle Corps (CLASS) — 86.035
2nd: The Panthers (CLASS) — 85.965
3rd: High Desert Vanguard (LGDC) — 85.760
4th: Si Feng DBC (DCL) — 83.395
5th: Spirit of the Raiders (DCL) — 79.040
6th: Central Symphony (DCL) — 76.880
7th: Empire of the South Drum & Bugle Corps (CLASS) — 74.870
8th: Eternal Glory (DCL) — 73.975
9th: Echo Drum and Bugle Corps (DCL) — 70.875
10th: Wildcat Pride Drum Corps (DCL) — 70.735
11th: The Seawolves (LGDC) — 67.500
12th: Kingdom Crusaders DBC (DCL) — 60.575

Eric Yee Best Brass Performance Award: High Desert Vanguard
Nabil Syaiful Best Percussion Performance Award: High Desert Vanguard
Thera Minn Best Visual Performance Award: Spirit of the Raiders
Harumi Hashiguchi Best Color Guard Award: High Desert Vanguard
Nurshahila Amzah Best General Effect Award: The Panthers
Petaling Jaya Fan Favourite Award: Si Feng DBC

Seasoned veterans of Fantasy Marching Arts Legacy Drum and Bugle Corps once again managed to win another competition with a score of 86.035. However, The Panthers came at a close second with 85.965 (a mere 0.07 difference!), while High Desert Vanguard came at 3rd place with 85.760. The distance between 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places are not far apart at all, how shocking! Interestingly enough, first-placed Legacy did not win a single caption award.

High Desert Vanguard clinched three awards in total: the EYBBPA, NSBPPA, and the HHBCGA. Being the best in Brass, Percussion, and Color Guard is no easy feat, and if High Desert focused more on their General Effect, perhaps their standings could’ve been much higher. Second-placed The Panthers received the Nurshahila Amzah Best General Effect Award, whereas fifth-placed Spirit of the Raiders had the best visual performance overall, receiving the Thera Minn Best Visual Performance Award. Si Feng DBC’s Porter Robinson-themed show "shelter." was an instant hit among audiences, which allowed them to win the Petaling Jaya Fan Favourite Award.

All of the Divison I shows were performed extraordinarily and told great stories, such as Legacy’s "The Impossible Dream", The Panthers’ "Dark Side of the Moon", and Central Symphony’s tribute to Frank Kafka "Kafkaesque" was a favourite among audiences as well.
Division I’s best of the best came to perform, and it is clear as day why they are deemed the best of the best based on the sheer quality of their shows. Audiences in the crowd simply yearned for more! It was a great event overall, and all performing corps were invited to an afterparty hosted by Petaling Jaya Sound.

Award-winners were all given standing ovations and plenty of praises, not to mention the good food and hospitality of Malaysia. (The directors of Lonestar Regiment almost started a food fight but thankfully the situation was defused quickly and efficiently.)

Now, the question remains: can Legacy achieve their impossible dream?

http://media.discordapp.net/attachments/1076718182171160677/1085603216231780482/FMA_World_Tour_KK_Results_D1.png?width=1440&height=381

It’s not MY fault that KATE decided to THROW pie at ME…

Jokes aside Lonestar and it’s members thank Petaling Jaya for their amazing hospitality and amazing memorable experience, overall we had a great performance, (and excellent pie.)

Great recap! I always love reading these.

Glad you enjoyed it!

lol, I haven't rehearsed in a week and still medaled