Classical cuts and ‘Rhymes of Fire’
Delta David Gier will conduct the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra in two performances of “Rhymes of Fire” on September 15 and 16 at Prince Mahidol Hall of Mahidol University.
For the concerts, which are part of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra 2017 series, the American conductor will lead a programme that includes Chinese composer Chen Yi’s “Rhymes of Fire”, Manuel Ponce’s “Concierto del Sur” featuring up-and-coming Thai guitar virtuoso Chinnawat Themkumkwun, and Robert Schumann’s “Symphony No 3”.
Chen began studying the piano with Li Su-xin and the violin with Zheng Ri-hua at age three. She later studied composition with Wu Zu-qiang at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where she earned her MA. She then moved to the states to study with Chou Wen-chung and Mario Davidovsky at Columbia University from 1986-93 and earned her DMA with distinction. She holds honorary doctorates from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music, the University of Portland in Oregon and The New School in New York.
She has served as a composer and concertmaster of the Beijing Opera Troupe and as composer-in-residence to the Women's Philharmonic, the male chorus Chanticleer and the Aptos Creative Arts Program in San Francisco.
Chinnawat started playing guitar with Eakarach Kaewkeaw and Nuttawut Sasisakulrak at ACT Music Centre when he was 10 years old. In 2010, he was admitted to the Young Artist Music Programme at College of Music, Mahidol University and studied classical guitar with Nalin Komentrakarn. The youngster has also attended master classes with renowned classical guitaristS including David Russell, Shin-ichi Fukuda, Eduardo Fernandez, Roland Dyens, Judicael Perroy, Aniello Desiderio, Marco Tamayo, Marcin Dylla, Francisco Bernier, Dr Angelo Favis, Tomonori Arai, Sachiko Miyashita and Ekachai Jearakul and has performed solo in the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia as well as at home. This is his second year as soloist with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.
The concerts start at 7pm on September 15 and at 4 the following day. Tickets are Bt500 and Bt300 (Bt100 for students up to bachelor’s degree at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com. A Salaya Link shuttle bus runs from BTS Bang Wa Station.
