Jury Members in 2016

Chaipruck Mekara is a Chiang Mai native. After graduating from Payap University, he received his Masters of Music degree (double major in Music Composition and Clarinet performance) from Roosevelt University, where he studied with Dr. Robert Lombardo. In 2003, Mekara received his DMA in Music Composition from Northwestern University, where is studied with Dr. Stephen Syverud, Dr. William Karlins, and Dr. Jay Allan Yim. Like many Asian composers who went abroad to continue their education, he realized the value of his native culture while in a foreign land. His music attempts to combine the aesthetic philosophy of the East with the compositional techniques of the West. Mekara’s music was performed by the Thai Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Chiangmai Symphony Orchestra and by various artists such as TIMF Ensemble (Korea), TICF artists in resident (Thailand). His composition also was premiered at the World Choir Games, 2012, Cincinnati, OH, International Trumpet Guild, 2011 Minneapolis, MN. Thailand International Composition Festival, Thailand, and Asian Young Musicians’ Connection, Chaipruck also gave series of lecture at several Schools of Music in the US. for example Northwestern University, IL, Columbia College, IL, University of Iowa, California State University, San Bernardino, CA and Illinois Wesleyan University, IL. In Thailand, Chaipruck founded the Chiangmai Youth Philharmonic Band and Symphony Orchestra Foundation. As a conductor, in 2005-2006, he was a music director and conductor of the Musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” Produced by The Voice Studio. In 2005, Mr. Mekara composed and conducted the “Farung Rum Thao” for Symphonic Band and Thai Classical Orchestra for the Princess of Thailand. Mekara was invited as a conductor in resident of China-ASEAN Music Week, 2015 in Nanning, Quangxi, China. He is now the music director and conductor of the Chiangmai Symphony Orchestra and the Chiangmai Philharmonic Band. Mr. Mekara also serves as the Music Composition instructor at the College of Music at Payap University
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In 1977 Atsuko Seta graduated from the Department of Music, Piano Course, Osaka Kyoiku University. In 1978, she completed a Postgraduate Course, starting her career as a pianist, mentored by Argentine pianist Eduardo Delgado. She also studied at the International Academy Friedrich Wilhelm Schnurre in Sion, Switzerland in 1991 and has performed concertos in the country. In 1996, Atsuko won the Top prize of the Masterplayers International Music Competition in Italy. Her talent has been noticed by the president conductor Maestro Schumacher.
“This phenomenal Japanese pianist has played to standing ovations. One of the greatest pianists I have ever heard !” (Richard Schumacher)
Since 1997, she has performed in Europe every year, especially Piano Concertos with Sudety Philharmonic in Poland.
“Extraordinary technique exceptional sound and dynamic impetuous temperament” (Walbrzyski Tygodnik,Poland)

In 2003, Atsuko Seta received the Music Critic Club Prize, which is given to the most active
musician in West Japan. In 2004, she received the IBLA Grand Prize Ginastera Special Award in Italy. In 2003 and 2004, she began performing piano concertos with the Lebanese National Symphony Orchestra, the first Japanese pianist to do so.
In 2005 she visited the United States, performing in Los Angeles and New York City, giving Ginastera recitals at the Yamaha Center and at Carnegie Hall and New York University during which she performed Ginastera Sonata No.1 amongst others.
In 2006, Atsuko performed premiere Ginastera Piano Concerto No.1 with Sudecka Philharmonic in Poland. In 2007, Grieg Piano Concerto with Sofia Philharmonic in Bulgaria.
In 2011, Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 with Osaka Doctor’s Philharmonic in Japan. In 2012
Rechmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2 with Tarnopol Philharmonic in Ukraine. In 2013, Solo
Recital in Italy and Germany. In 2014, Solo Recital in Holland.
Since 2008, she has been living in Thailand Chiangmai with her husband, performing many Solo Recitals and Piano Concertos with CPO. Currently teaching as a guest professor at Payap University Music Department. In April 2015, she organized Japan Concert Tour with her students, this was aired on Japanese TV.
Atsuko Seta Official Website

Prize and Jury

• 1993 Best Soloist Prize of All Japan Musician’s Association Competition<
• 1996 Masterplayers Prize of Masterplayers International Music Competition in Italy
• 2003 Music Critic Club Prize in Japan
• 2004 IBLA GRAND PRIZE in Italy ”Ginastera Special Award”
• 1996 A Jury of Classic Music Competition
• 1997~1999 A Jury of Masterplayers International Music Competition
• 2014 A Jury of Hong Kong International Music Competition for young pianists

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International audiences and critics have consistently recognized the fiery intensity, brilliance, sensitivity and innate musicality in the pianism of Eduardo Delgado. His appearances have taken him to the major music capitals of four continents—Europe, South America, Asia and North America. Through the wide span of Delgado’s repertoire, audiences immediately feel and hear that music affects him very deeply and that he shares these profound and personal emotions freely with every listener.

A few of the international plaudits he has won are:

• “Virtuosity, clean sound, and passion…the best” reports La Capital of Argentina.
  Following an appearance in Tokyo in the Pablo Casals Hall, critics hailed his playing as “a marvelous performance, deeply emotional as well as lyrical” (Musica Nova – Tokyo).
• Norwegian critics described Delgado as “a pianist of a thousand nuances, a fantastic experience.” (Kristiansand).
• In Russia, “Delgado’s Bach had brilliance, a profound meditation and a musical tone rarely heard” (Sovietskaya Kultura – Moscow).

Born in Rosario, Argentina, Eduardo Delgado began his early training with his mother, Amelia, followed by studies with Arminda Canteros in Rosario, Sergio Lorenzi in Venice, Vicente Scaramuzza in Buenos Aires, Dora Zaslavsky at the Manhattan School of Music and Rosina Lhevinne at the Julliard School of Music, New York, NY. Some of his numerous awards and prizes include the Vladimir Horowitz Award, Mozarteum Argentino Award, Martha Baird Rockefeller and the Concert Artists Guild Awards.
Delgado is a notable and sought-after pedagogue, lecturer and teacher of master classes. He has been on piano faculties in various locations in Japan, the United States and Italy. He was a tenured Professor of Piano at California State University, Fullerton for 20 years where he established a scholarship fund for talented pianists in tribute to the renowned artist and his
personal friend, Alicia de Larrocha.
He has been a jury member of international competitions such as the William Kapell, Gina Bachauer, Vega in Japán, the second Martha Argerich Piano Competition in Buenos Aires, San Antonio International Competition, Jose Iturbi Competition, Los Angeles, and Top of the World Competition in Tromso, Norway.
Delgado has performed at the Perugia and Dino Ciano Festivals in Italy, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and the Martha Argerich Festivals in Lugano and Buenos Aires. He has performed with Martha Argerich and Gabriela Montero.
He has appeared with the Pacific Symphony and Chorale at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, CA., and shared recitals and recordings with tenor Jose Cura.
Eduardo Delgado was awarded the Medal of Honor by UNESCO in Buenos Aires and appointed Illustrious Citizen in his native city of Rosario. In 2015 he received the title of Emerita Professor of Music at California State University, Fullerton.
During 2015, Eduardo’s performing and teaching appearances were numerous and world-wide as a partial listing demonstrates:

International:

• Argentina, China, Japan, Recitals and Master Classes
• Italy, performed and taught at the Schlern International Piano Festival and Todi Music Masters Festival in Todi, Italy
• Costa Rica, Festival de Piano Juvenil de Costa Rica, Solo Recitals and Master Classes

National:

• South Carolina, Southeastern Piano Festival, Columbia University
• New Jersey, Montclair University Taubman Festival
• California, Encore Series, La Quinta; Rancho Mirage, Orange, Fullerton

For 2016, selected listings of Delgado’s many engagements where he will be performing, lecturing, adjudicating and giving master classes are:

• January 18, Southern California Junior Bach Festival, Jury
• January 31, Pasadena Conservatory, Master Class
• February 7, Imperial Empire Piano Festival – Riverside, CA, Jury
• February 10, Claremont College, Lecture Demonstration, Alberto Ginastera 100th Birthday Celebration
• February 21, Pasadena Conservatory Mansions and Music Concerts, Fauré Piano Quartet Op. 15, Ravel
• March 13, Cal State Fullerton, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel, Ginastera
• April 3, Blue Skies of Texas, San Antonio, Recital
• April 5, Music Teachers National Association Convention, San Antonio, TX., Ginastera 100th Birthday Presentation
• June 5 – 12, San Antonio International Competition, Jury
• July, Italy, Schlern International Music Festival, Performing and teaching
• August 9 – 25, Italy, Todi Music Masters Festival, Performing and teaching
• September, Argentina, Solo Recital Tour
• October 10 – 15, Chiangmai Festival, Thailand
• October 16, Chiangmai, Thailand, Beethoven Emperor Concerto
• October 20, China

Some of Delgado’s recordings include:

• The complete solo piano music of Alberto Ginastera in two volumes for MA Records in Tokyo.
• A CD of romantic works of Schumann, Chopin and Mendelssohn, IRCO Records, Buenos Aires.
• A CD with tenor Jose Cura for ERATO Records
• Anhelo (Songs by Argentinian Composers), Jose Cura, tenor, Ernesto Bitetti, guitar, Eduardo Delgado, piano, Paris

Eduardo Delgado is a Steinway Artist.

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Daniel Pittman’s career has reached across four decades of service to various universities in the United States. His concluding affiliation was sixteen years at Georgia Southern University where he was a fully tenured Professor Music, Director of Bands, and Interim Director of the University’s Center for International Studies. With a commitment to internationalism, he led the University’s innovative Studies Abroad Program in Music, combining European concert tours by the performing ensembles with academic music instruction offered in overseas locations in its European Academic Residency. Additional to engagements throughout the U.S., Dr. Pittman has conducted ensembles and notable performances in England, Germany, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Thailand. Most recently, Dr. Pittman was a recipient of a Fulbright Senior Specialist Grant for academic service to Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Daniel Pittman now resides in Chiang Mai where he has guest conducted with the Chiang Mai Youth Philharmonic Band and Orchestra Foundation and continues to offer consultation and support for the growth and expansion of musical arts in the city and province.
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Ilona Krzywicka is a young Polish soprano gaining recognition on stages at home and abroad.
In 2008, while studying, Ilona debuted as Halka in the homonymous opera by S. Moniuszko in the open-air stage in Radziejowice Palace, Poland directed by Teresa Żylis- Gara. The Polish orchestra Iuventus, conducted by Tadeusz Wojciechowski, accompanied the project. Subsequently she embodied the role of Tatiana (E. Onegin). In the following year she completed her studies with distinction at the I. J. Paderewski Music Academy in Poznan, Poland.

Also in 2009 Ilona was selected from 350 candidates to participate as a soloist in the Opéra National de Paris’s development programme for young artists – ‘Atelier Lyrique’. During the period 2009-2012 she participated in the following opera productions: La finta giardiniera, W. A. Mozart (Arminda; MC 93 Bobigny), Street scene, K. Weill (Ann Maurrant; Amphithéatre Bastille), Orpheus and Eurydice, C.W. Gluck, arr. H. Berlioz (Eurydice; MC 93 Bobigny and the National Theatre Bordeaux-Aquitane), Mirandolina, B. Martinu (Mirandolina; MC 93 Bobigny), Rigoletto, G.Verdi (Contessa di Ceprano; Opera Bastille), Madama Butterfly, G. Puccini (La Madre di Cio-Cio-San; Opera Bastille), La répétition interrompue/Les Troqueurs, A. Dauvergne (Julie; Amphithéatre Bastille) and Faust, P. Fenelon (Suschen; Palais Garnier). She has received the “Prix Lyrique AROP 2012” that rewards the best young singer of the season. She is the winner of many national and international competitions.
In 2013 Ilona performed the part of Donna Anna from Don Giovanni together with Capella Cracoviensis conducted by Tomasz Adamus and in 2014 Erste Dame from Magic Flute during Rheinsberg Festival in Germany.

Ilona has participated in vocal and interpretation master classes in many different countries with such distinguished artists as Joanna Kozłowska, Irene Kremling-Domański, Helena Łazarska, Ann Murray, Sylvie Valayre, Natalie Dessay, Ruggero Raimondi and Klaus Haeger.
She continues to study with Teresa Żylis- Gara.

She performed in concerts with the Orchestra of the National Opera of Paris at the Palais Garnier and also in UK, Italy, Greece, Russia, Austria and Lithuania. Her concert repertoire covers oratorio and symphonic works such as: Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Requiem, Shostakovich’s 14th Symphony, G. G. Gorczycki’s Completorium, Stabat Mater by J. Haydn, G. Rossini, A. Dvorak, G. B. Pergolesi and L. Boccherrini, La Vierge by J. Massenet etc.
She has worked with conductors including: Maurizio Benini, Semyon Bychkov, Daniele Callegari, Geoffroy Jourdain, Micheal Helmrtath, Antony Hermus, Vladimir Kiradjiev, Bernhard Kontarsky, Kevin McKutcheon,Alexendre Myrat, Marius Stieghorst , Paul Weigold, Tadeusz Wojciechowski; and stage directors: Laco Adamik, Irene Bonnaud, Kay Kuntze, Jarosław Kilian , Dominique Pitoiset, Pia Partum, Ryszard Peryt, Stephen Taylor and Robert Wilson.

In the season 2015/16 she debuted as Flowermaiden at the Royal Opera Madrid in Wagner’s “Parsifal”. She sang Cio-Cio-San at the Opera in Szczecin and Musetta at The Krakow Opera. In the season 2016/17: Micaela from “Carmen”by G.Bizet and Cio-Cio-San from”Butterfly” by G.Puccini at the Opera in Szczecin.
 
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Prof. Gino Carbonaro graduated as Doctor of Philosophy at Rome University, “La Sapienza”. During his working career, he lectured Italian and History, and later he became a High School Principal.
He is involved in many activities.
As a writer, he contributes articles on various subjects to the ‘Culture Page’ of a national newspaper called “La Sicilia”, he also wrote and published a book on Sicilian Proverbs and Traditions called “The Woman in Sicilian Proverbs”. To promote local writers, he has edited and published various books. He is also an Art Critic and Musician.He studies and collects worldwide folk music. He plays the piano accordion, which he has studied since the age of eleven.He has recorded many CDs, including “The County of Modica”, containing traditional Sicilian Accordion Folk Music.
In his Blog Page, he has published essays on various subjects such as “The lives of Salieri and Mozart”, “Canova, the sculptur” and “The Argentinean Tango and its History”.
On YouTube, he has recorded some of his piano accordion interpretations including some of the most famous Argentinean Tangos.
In 2006 he was invited to visit Japan by the Osaka Cultural Centre to promote Sicilian folk Music in eight different schools.
During his visit there, he gave several concerts. 1. “Kubo” Auditorium & Museum of Ethnography. 2. “Jubel Hall Theatre”. 3. “Madama Mura”, a place of spiritual meditation, and 4. A private Theatre in Kobe.
For 12 years, from 1994 to 2006, he was a member of the jury of the International Competition “Ibla Grand Prize” in Italy.
He lives in the countryside, just outside the town of Ragusa, Sicily with his Scottish wife, Claire, and their three sons.

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Esti Rofé, described as one of the most talented flutist of her generation, was born in Israel.
She recently made her Carnegie hall debut as a first prize winner of the 2012 Alexander & Buono international flute competition. Her wide international career has taken her over the world, giving concerts in leading halls, such as “Cité de la Musique” and Salle Gaveau, Paris, The “Berliner Schauspielhaus” and the Tel Aviv Museum.
Esti Rofé was among the very few flutists to be accepted to the prestigious “Cycle de Perfectionnement” soloist program in the Conservatoire National Superieur de Paris, where she studied with Maurice Bourge and Shopie Cherrier. She studied at the Musikhochschule in Munich under the direction of Professor Andras Adorjan and received her second degree with highest distinction. Esti Rofé graduated the Rubin Academy of Music, Tel Aviv.
Esti Rofé is a prize winner of many prestigious international competitions, including the Rampal international flute competition, Paris, the “Leonardo de Lorenzo” international flute competition, Italy, the international flute competition “A Puncielli”, Italy, and the Tel Aviv Academy woodwind competition.
Rofé has been a soloist with many orchestras, among them: the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, Roma Academia Philharmonia Orchestra, The Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Israel Camerata Jerusalem and “Orchestre de Prix” du CNSM, Paris.
She leads a very active musical life, participating in various festivals including the Danish Chamber music festival, the “Stars of Tomorrow” festival in Paris, the “Santander” festival in Spain, the Pablo Casals festival in France and the “Rising Stars” festival in Berlin.
Esti Rofé was a member of the Villa Musica Ensemble in Germany and she was supported by the “Yehudi Menuhin” Live Music New Foundation for encouraging young artists. She has won an outstanding award from the Meyer Foundation and the Marc Rich Foundation for artistic achievements and was supported by the American-Israeli Cultural foundation.
She has recorded for television and radio, including the SWR radio, Germany, the Polish National Radio, the Israel Broadcasting Authority and the Danish radio and television.
She played as a solo flutist with the English National Opera, The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and The Moscow Chamber Orchestra, among others.
She is currently the principal flutist of the Israel Camerata Jerusalem.
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Pianist, Ricky Tsang has performed in local, mainland China, the USA and toured Australia with engagements from Qantas Airways and Jayday Music as presented as Winner of International Inter-School Performance Challenge Award of Australia and also was featured as guest artist in 39th St. Cecilia Music Concert and gave a solo recital at Albert Hall in Australia where he received a fellowship from St. Cecilia School of Music, Australia. His other notable performance also includes the New Year Concert by the government of Xinjiang, China and 7th Icy and Snow Cultural Festival to perform “Yellow River” Piano Concerto as soloist with orchestra and has been broadcasted widely in Xinjiang, China and he has been highlighted as guest artist in the Grand Opening Ceremony of Zendai Himalayas Art Festival and the first pianist to perform Daguan Theatre in Shanghai, China, the masterclass series of Hong Kong Arts Festival and the closing concert of 10th Piano Duo Competition in Shenzhen, China.
Ricky received his professional music training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and later at Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he became a committee member of International Piano Festival and Academy. His main piano teachers include Li Ming Qiang, Franz Mo Cheung Yu, Gabriel Kwok, Zhou Keng and Angela Cholakyan.
Presently, Ricky is the Artistic Director of Hong Kong International Music Competition for Young Pianists and a faculty of Summer Piano Festival, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and also has also adjudicated in numerous competitions in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

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Officially formed in 2009, Song Hong Chamber Music was named after the river that flows through Hanoi. Regarded as a leading chamber ensembles in Vietnam, the Song Hong chamber music – Pham Truong Son, Phan Thi To Trinh (Violins),
Dao Tuyet Trinh (Cello), Pham Quynh Trang (Piano), Khuc Van Khoa (Viola) – has built a comprehensive repertoire of critically acclaimed concerts. “The Spring”, their main concert has become an annual even. The ensemble has devoted following across the country.
Individually, each member of the Song Hong Chamber Music has studied in Vietnam National Academy of Music and abroad such as: Pham Truong Son has studied in Barratt Due Music Institute Norway, Phan Thi To Trinh has studied in Mozarteum University of Salzburg, Pham Quynh Trang has studied in Franz List University in Weimar Germany, Khuc Van Khoa has studied in Bucharest, Rumania.
Song Hong has studied with legendary violist Nobuko Imai (Michelangelo string quartet) , Grammy award winner Jan Karlin (South West Chamber Music), Ulrike Danhofer (University for Music and Performing Art of Vienna)
They has performed with Asies string quartet from Austria, with Edith Salzmann from Germany, and with numerous famous soloists in Vietnam.
In 2014, Song Hong ensemble was a recipient of Wes Benson scholarship to attend iPalpiti Chamber Music Master Course in Los Angeles, coached by Professor Eduard Schmieder (Boyer Music College, Temple University, USA) and Martin Chalifour, (concertmaster of LA Philharmonic), culminating in a public concert in Beverly Hills in April 2014.
In 2015 Song Hong starts their concert tour from Nanning, China to Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from VNAM Grand concert hall to L’Espace, Old quarter cultural exchange, and Manzi in Hanoi.
For the last 6 years, they have been giving hundreds of concerts in most major cities in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, China, USA and performing various master pieces by classical and new music composers.
Recently, Song Hong is a founding member of Hanoi New Music Ensemble.
Because of the intensity of their interplay and communication, they believe that chamber music is one of the most effective ways of spreading an enthusiasm for “classical” music to “new” audiences.

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Alessio Monti, guitarist and composer, began his first musical experiences in 1966, playing electric guitar in some famous pop Italian groups and writing many songs against the war.
Some years later, after his “rock experience”, he started to study classical guitar, and in 1983 he completed his formal studies in music at the L. Cherubini Conservatory of Florence, obtaining the diploma with the highest marks and honour. Extensive touring of the Orient has greatly influenced Alessio’s style and his research of Eastern philosophy leaves an indelible mark on the
 composer’s consciousness and music explorations.
His style is extremely innovative and will be of great interest to lovers of many genres, from minimalist to jazz, to Eastern and Western classical traditions. Alessio has truly penetrated a creative space within himself that reframes what can be done with guitar.
He is involved in intense artistic activity, participating in the most noteworthy international orchestras and festivals throughout all the Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, with rave reviews from audience and press alike.
He has been invited to live record for many Radio and Television broadcasting
 in many countries.

Often is invited to be part of the Jury of many International Guitar Competitions.

Alessio’s ingenuity has him in high demand for teaching master classes, workshops and conferences abroad and in his native Italy.
The compositions on all 25 Alessio’s CDs, feature sitar, flute, clarinet, soprano sax, violin viola, violoncello, contrabass, percussion and electronic devices
as well as solo guitar.

His biography with some of his works and his recording are now included in the “Encyclopaedia of the contemporary composers”, edited in Italy by Pagano Editor.
Actually he lives in Thailand and teaches at Music College of Payap University in Chiang Mai.

He just composed the background music on the Italian translation of “Bhagavad Gita”, the holy Hindu book that will be published in three Cd (acting and music) by “Esotheric Librairy” in Milan, Italy.
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Miss Annette George was born and raised in Indiana, USA. She began playing flute at age 8 and followed a music education path from that time. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music, (both Music Education and Music Therapy) at the University of Georgia and then worked as a music therapist in North Carolina. During her years working as a music therapist, she also earned a Master’s degree in Special Education at North Carolina State University.
Aj. Annette came to Thailand in 1991 and has been in ChiangMai ever since that time, teaching at Payap University’s College of Music. She has taught private lessons on all the woodwind instruments, Introduction to Music Therapy, Introduction to Woodwinds, Western Music Literature (Master’s level), and various ensemble classes and English classes.
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Judith Utley began her harp study at the age of 12 in South Dakota, USA. She earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in harp performance from The University of Northern Colorado under the tutelage of Suzann Davids. During her University years, she played principal harp for 4 summers with Central City Opera Company in Colorado.
Judith earned her Master of Music degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Alice Chalifoux. She also did post-graduate study and master classes with Suzanne McDonald.
While traveling in Asia with a touring ensemble, Judith met her husband, Paul, a career missionary. After marrying in the Philippines, they were asked by their mission to relocate to Bangkok in 1983. While living in Bangkok, Judith performed often with various orchestras and ensembles, most frequently with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. In 1997 the Utleys moved to Chiangmai and Judith continued to commute to Bangkok for orchestra appearances. She has also been honored on several occasions to perform for members of the Royal Family.
In 2005, Payap University became the first University in Thailand to offer harp studies, and Judith has been a faculty member of the College of Music on a part time basis since then.

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Duo-Scherzo(Primo / Megumi Nakao, Secondo / Miho Matsuo)
Megumi Nakao and Miho Matsuo studied with Hiroko Nakagawa in Osaka College of Music where both of them recieved bachelor degree as piano performance major.
They have started “Duo-Scherzo” since 1984 and they have been performing variety of piano duet performances（4-hands and　2-pianos）.
In 2012, they performed at “Duo Recital” by Thailand.
In 2009, they performed at Music Institute of Nanjing Normal University, and also performed the 10th Osaka International Music Competition Grand Final = Gala Concert, the 24th Asian International Cultural Art Festival, and a lot more concerts.
Every year they hold duo recitals in Kansai area.
They also uniquely collaborate with puppet theater “La Clarte”, and moreover they had many concerts in different schools and in homecare institutes, and also held the charity concert for the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
They are eager to perform contemporary music for premier concerts too.
They have participated master classes with Atsuko Seta, Claus Verner, Ikuko Ivanovic.
They are also a member of International Piano Duo Association, China Council of Music, Sakurai Music Association, and Supporting group of Osaka College of Music （Kogakukai）.
They are also a member of International Piano Duo Association, China Council of Music, Sakurai Music Association, and Supporting group of Osaka College of Music.

Record of Awards:

• The 23th Asia International Cultural Arts Festival Gold Prize (Ranked #1)
• The 10th OSAKA International Music Competition　FOUR HANDS Ranked #1
• The 3th YOKOHAMA International Music Competition FOUR HANDS Ranked #2

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Raised in northern Minnesota, Deborah started studying the piano at age five. She was active in the children’s choir at her church and has sung in several choirs since then. She was selected to attend a summer program called “America’s Youth in Concert” and had the privilege of performing at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with one of the choirs in that program. The group then went on to perform in Paris, Salzburg, Venice, Milan and Rome. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and her Master of Music in music performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She has taught voice lessons full time at Payap University for the last six years.
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Ayu Namtep first studied piano with her mother, Agnes Po then with Sister Gemma Finney and Bruce Gaston. She finished her Bachelor Degree in Music from Payap University in 1978. She led the Payap University Choir from 1985 till now. In 2006 she attended the 4th World Choir Games in Xiamen, China, leading the Payap Sacred Music Singers and won 2 bronze medal in 2 categories; Sacred Music and Mixed Chamber Choir. And again in 2012 attended the 7th World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A. and won a silver medal in Mixed Chamber Choir category.
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Krit mekara was born in Chiang Mai. He began studying violin with Assistant Professor Sompong Wongdee and Mr.Samuck Kajaikum. After high school; he continued studying music at Payap University where he studied violin with Assistant Professor Sompong Wongdee and Mr.Pana Nackwatchara. During that time he passed Trinity College of music violin grade 8 with Merit. Krit used to be member of Kad Youth Orchestra, Chiang Mai String Ensemble as well as Payap Symphony Orchestra’s Concert Master. After graduated from Payap Univesrsity, he taught violin at Payap music school and private student.
Krit received his Master degree in Violin performance from the College of music, Mahidol University, where he studied violin with Mr. Juris Madrevich and Mr. Sittichai phengcharoen. During he studied he was a member of Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO), Chiang mai Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) and make the recordings included film music.
Krit is now a concert master of Chiangmai Symphony Orchestra. He also a part time teacher for Chiang rai Rajaphat University, Substitute teacher at Chiang mai international School and Pik’s studio (his own studio).

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Apirat Praphanwong was born in May 30, 1981. He started to learn music at the age of eight years old, first piano, later changing to violin. He studied with Sompong Wongdee, Samak Gajaikam, and Phana Nagavagara and studied conducting with dr. George Mcdown, Sompong Wongdee and dr. Chaipruk Mekhala . He received an undergraduate degree from Payap University with honors in 2003 and master degree in music performance at College of Music, Mahidol University with A. Inga Causa in 2007. Now, he works as a violin instructure and conductor for many ensembles in Payap University.
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Eri Nakagawa, a native of Osaka, Japan, has been on the piano faculty of College of Music, Mahidol University in Thailand since 1995. Previously to her appointment at Mahidol she was Assistant Professor of Music Performance at Ball State University, Indiana, USA.
She graduated from Osaka Kyoiku University and continued with her postgraduate studies at Mukogawa Women’s University in Japan. She completed her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in piano performance at Ball State University. Among her principal teachers were Koji Tanaka and the late Naoyuki Inoue, Mitchell Andrews and Pia Sebastiani.
She has been invited as a guest pianist and professor at the University of Northern Colorado in USA, Bruckner Conservatory in Linz, Bösendorfer Saal in Vienna, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore, Corfu Festival in Greece, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth, Moulin d’Andé International Masterclasses in Normandy, France, Piano Plus Festival in Corfu, Greece, etc. She has performed concertos with numerous orchestras. She has been a frequent soloist with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. She also enjoys working as a collaborative pianist and accompanist with distinguished musicians in Thailand and abroad.
Many of her students have won top prizes in national and international competitions, and have received scholarships in prestigious schools such as Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, the University Mozarteum Salzburg in Austria, the Royal College of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music in UK, Oberlin College in USA, etc. She received the Trinity Guildhall Award for Excellence in Music Teaching in 2010 and the Teaching Award in the 13th Chopin International Piano Competition in ASIA in 2013.

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Born to a musical family (his father was a renowned traditional Uzbek Makom singer), Mr. Bakhtiyor Allaberganov started piano studies at the Special Music School for gifted children in Khorezm region, and shortly thereafter won the Young Pianist Competition of Uzbekistan. Later on he again won recognition in the International Piano Competition in Ashgabad, Turkmanistan. Mr. Allaberganov holds diplomas from the Tashkent State Conservatoire where he fulfilled his college and graduate studies as piano performer, piano teacher, chamber music major, concertmaster. Mr. Allaberganov has participated in several festivals and competitions such as the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and the International Piano Competition in Sao-Paulo, Brazil in 2001. His experience as a piano teacher and collaborative pianist is extensive, having been staff accompanist at several musical institutions such as the Tashkent state Conservatoire,, the Mannon Uygur Tashkent State Institute of Arts and the The Glier Republican Music Academic Lyceum, as well as an assistant director and staff accompanist at the College for Stage and Circus Performers. Mr. Allaberganov has supported and coached numerous singers and string players through recitals and competitions in the former Soviet Union, Uzbekistan, as well as in Thailand. His main teachers have been Sarimsakova Rimma, Ofelia Yusupova, Marat Gumarov, and Nargiz Polatkhanova. Currently, Mr Allaberganov is a piano teacher at Mahidol University College of Music and a member of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.
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