Singing for a cure
Upcoming charity concert "Maithai Sirindhorn" sets out to raise funds for treatment of poor patients that would otherwise be denied to them
PROMINENT THAI composer and chamber musician Dnu Huntrakul will be on stage at the Chulalongkorn Amphitheatre on March 28 and 29 with charity concert, “Maithai Sirindhorn” to mark Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 60th birthday.
“We’ll be presenting the timeless songs everyone knows as well as numbers, old and new, that reflect His Majesty the King’s kindness to the Thai people,” said the 65-year-old composer during the press conference for the concert recently at Siriraj Hospital’s Siammint Building.
Dnu has spent a full year preparing for the concert, rehearsing regularly with members of his Maithai Orchestra, which was founded in 1987, and also with the country’s leading vocalists and musicians such as Surasee Itthikul, Jirapan Ansvananda, Kittinant “Kit The Voice” Chinsamran, Teeranai Na Nongkhai and Siripong Paetwong.
The songs being performed include “Nai Nam Mee Pla Nai Na Mee Khao”, “Pa You Kab Nam”, and “Yad Petch”, as well as re-arrangements of the late folk artist Jaran Manopetch’s hits such as “Ban Bon Doi” and “Luk Khao Nueng.”
“It’s a great honour to be part of this charity concert and I’m proud to be singing two new songs penned by Dnu especially for the show,” Teeranai said.
“Not only will the audience be able to enjoy numbers that are rarely heard these days but they’ll also be helping underprivileged patients receive the proper care.”
Several well-known personalities turned out for the press conference, among them Suriyon Sriorathaikul, managing director of the Beauty Gems Group in Thailand, Surasa Suebsaman, chief executive officer of Bangkok Anti-Ageing Centre, Sven Philip Sorensen, Dr Apichart Intrawisit of Assumption University, Dr Anucha Thirakanont of Thammasat University, Dr Arunee Huntrakul, Tharathorn Aksaranuwat, executive vice-president of Siamnuwat, Somkid Rujeepakorn, Wannaros Tantaranont, Suparada Shinwattana, and Benjawan Burman.
Surasee gave everyone a taste of what to expect with “Yad Petch” while Teeranai performed “Chan Ja Fun Thueng Ther”.
Proceeds will go to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 60th Birthday Anniversary Celebration Project, which aims to provide poor patients with access to expensive and advanced technology treatments. Launched on the Princess’s birthday last year, it has so far helped 112 patients.
“Their diseases require high technology and expensive medical treatment. One of the ones we have been able is a five-year old boy who required a bone marrow transplant costing more than Bt4 million. And there are many other cases,” says Dr Wisit Wamwanich, director of Siriraj Hospital and the chairman of the committee.
A WORTHY CAUSE
n The charity concert “Maithai Sirindhorn” takes place on March 28 and 29 |at 6pm
n The venue is the Chulalongkorn Amphitheatre at Chulalongkorn University.
n Tickets costing for Bt500 to Bt2,000 are available at Thai Ticket Major |outlets, online at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and by calling (02) 262 3456.
