Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Festival

Juries 2019


Jury members who confirmed their participation in 2019. Click on the names.
 

First to Final Round

Honorable Artistic Director, Head of Judging Committee
Eduardo Delgado (Pianist, Argentina)

Eduardo DelgadoInternational 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.

CLOSE

 

Head of Executive Committee
Chaipruck Mekara (Conductor, Thailand)

mekaraChaipruck 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
CLOSE


 
Artistic Director
Atsuko Seta (Pianist, Japan)

atsukoBorn in Osaka Japan, living in Poland as a Honorable Citizen of Szczawno-Zdrój city.
Artistic Director of Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Festival.
Honorary Professor of Payap University Thailand.
Honorary Chairman of Japan Ginastera Association.
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 Summer Academy of Wien Austria with Prof. Jenner Alexander, at the International Summer Music Academy of Sion Switzerland with Prof. Friedrich Wilhelm Schnurr, at the Summer Master Course in Flaine France with Prof.Pascal Devoyon, at the French Music Academy in Kyoto Japan with Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard.
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 Richard 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.
“ Japanese Pianist Atsuko Seta is one of the true highlights of the evening, she is obviously in love with the music of the 20th Century Argentinean master Alberto Ginastera. She presents his music with such abandon and high-wattage enthusiasm,smiling with such delight in what she is creating.” (Jeffrey James)
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 Ternopil Philharmonic in Ukraine. In 2013, Solo Recital in Italy and Germany. In 2014, Solo Recital in Holland.
In 2016, Ginastera Recital at Leipzig Hochschule“ Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ” in Germany. In 2017 with Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra in Vietnam. In 2018 with Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra, Ternopil Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra.
2008 – 2018 she has been living in Thailand Chiangmai, performing many Solo Recitals and Piano Concertos with Chiangmai Philharmonic Orchestra. She was 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.
In 2016 She founded Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Festival and Competition, now she is continuing to work wonderfully as an Artistic Director.
In 2018 She moved to Poland , living with her husband in Szczawno-Zdroj city where she was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen.
Official Website http://atsuko-pianist.com

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

CLOSE

 

Judges

 
Christian Lavernier (Classical Guitar, Italy)

Christian LavernierChristian Lavernier was born in Imperia July 27, 1979, and took his first steps in classical guitar studies with M° Mario Senise. He graduated from the Conservatory Giuseppe Verdi in Milan, with the Maestro Paolo Chierici. He attended master classes held by some of the most representative teachers of the international guitar scene including Alirio Diaz, Conrad Ragosnig and David Russell. He deepened the study of the contemporary repertoire, with Angelo Gilardino.

He participated to several prestigious national and international competitions winning the first prize in International Competition Joannhes Brahms, Francesco Forgione International Competition, National Competition Borromean Islands, Paul Harris International Competition.

He has performed at major festivals around the world including: London International Guitar Festival (England), Elise Saint-Martin d’Etiolles (Paris), International Academy of Santa Cecilia (Rome), Andrés Segovia International Festival Linares (Granada), Palace of the Guitar in Tokyo (Japan), International Guitar Academy Yokohama (Japan), International Guitar Festival in Sapporo (Hokkaido-Japan), International Guitar Festival of Morelia (Mexico), International Guitar Festival Magnitogorsk (Russia), Clarke Recital Hall in Miami (Florida, USA), XII Festival International de la Guitarra of Burgos (Spain), National Library Rosario (Argentina), International Festival Ciudad de Bolivar (Venezuela), the Centre Festival Guitarra Cordoba (Argentina), Hong Kong International Guitar Festival (Hong Kong-Shenzhen), Istanbul International Guitar Festival (Turkey), Aalborg International Guitar Festival (Denmark).

As interpreter he collaborated with the world leading composers Azio Corghi and Alberto Colla. Since 2013 he has been working with artists of different genres: Tommy Emmanuel, Antonella Ruggero, Sarah Jane Morris, Peter Finger. He carries an intense artistic activity and he world widely teaches Master Class in renowned musical institutions such as Conservatory of Ceuta (Spain), Conservatoire de las Rosa (Mexico), University of Miami Frost School of Music (Miami, Florida USA), Guitar Academy Yokohama (Japan), Conservatoire National de Linares (Spain), National University of Littoral in Santa Fe (Argentina), Conservatoire National de Ciudad Bolivar (Venezuela), Conservatoire National de Ubeda (Spain).

After the prize awarded in Burgos in 2009, in 2013 Christian Lavernier was awarded the International Prize for Artistic Trajectory by the University CUI Ixtlahuaca. In July 2014 he performed the Concerto de Aranjuez with the C.D. Bolivar Orchestra as opening concert of the Festival International de Guitarra de Angostura (Venezuela). On this occasion he received his third prize for his artistic career. He has recorded concerts for major television and radio broadcasters in Italy, Spain, Argentina, France, Venezuela, Russia, Japan, USA, Mexico. Since 2001 Christian Lavernier has been Artistic Director of the International Music Festival ”Piani Musicali”. Currently, he is Artistic Director of “Rovere D’Oro” International Music Competition.

Christian Lavernier plays Josè Ramirez Guitars and is an official endorser for Aquila Corde Armoniche. In 2016 the Master luthier Carlos Gonzales Marcos forged the first and unique guitar “tiorbata” imagined, created and dedicated to Christian Lavernier for his new vision and interpretation of music.

From 2018, starts the new project Contemporary Futurebased on “La Soñada”. The project involved some great italian and international composers (A. Gilardino, A. Talmelli, F. Chaviano, F. Iannitti…) who have create innovative pieces dediceted to this new instrument and to Christian Lavernier.

Always in 2018, the meeting with M° Nicola Campogrande has given rise toa very productive collaboration. As reseults, a publication of « 12 Preludi a getto d’inchiostro » re-thoughts “La Soñada” and edited by the major Universal Music – Ricordi with revision and fingering by Christian Lavernier.

The Universal Music – Ricordi edit also the new composition Redobles y Consonancias dedicated to Christian Lavernier and to “La Soñada” by M° Azio Corghi. Revision and fingering have been entrusted to Lavernier himself.

CLOSE

 

Karolina Mikołajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki (Violin and Accordion, Poland )

duoDuo Karolina Mikołajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki are one of the most interesting chamber ensembles of the young generation. They have claimed Grand Prix and 1st prizes at international music competitions in France, Italy, Austria, Croatia and Poland. They have performed i.e. at the Warsaw Autumn festival, in the New York Carnegie Hall, as well as played recitals in France, Switzerland, Spain, Georgia, China, United States, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. In May 2017 they performed a sold-out debut recital at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw. In July 2018 they went on a concert tour in China, performing in venues such as Guangzhou Opera House and Jinan Shandong Grand Theatre.

The Duo’s performances are described as perfect and mature, yet luminous and filled with youthful vitality. Many pieces gain new interpretations and original sounds thanks to Iwo Jedynecki’s accordion transcriptions. Both artists boldly venture into renowned works of chamber music literature giving them new quality and delightfully diverse colouring. Eager to perform contemporary music, the ensemble collaborates with leading Polish composers who dedicate their works to the Duo. In 2016, Marcin Błażewicz composed the first ever double concerto for violin, accordion and symphonic orchestra. The composer dedicated his work to Karolina Mikołąjczyk and Iwo Jedynecki, who premiered the piece. The Duo’s vast repertoire spans from baroque to contemporary music.

In 2016 the debut CD „Premiére” by Duo Karolina Mikołajczyk & Iwo Jedynecki was published courtesy of Requiem Records’ „Opus Series” dedicated to contemporary music. The album contains pieces for violin and accordion written between 1952 and 2015 by three generations of composers. Most of these pieces have never been recorded before. This is the first ever album with new music by a duo violin-accordion.

Karolina Mikołajczyk plays a Duke London violin from 1776. Iwo Jedynecki plays a Pigini Sirius Millennium accordion. Both musicians are graduates of The Frederic Chopin University of Music. Karolina Mikołajczyk also studied under the guidance of prof. Zakhar Bron at Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne (Germany) courtesy of „Erasmus” programme. In 2019 Iwo Jedynecki completed a prestigious „Konzertexamen” postgraduate course at Hochschule für Musik Detmold (Germany) in prof. Grzegorz Stopa’s accordion class.
CLOSE


 

Pham Truong Son (Violin, Vietnam)

Pham Truong Son
Winner of the first prize in the Chamber Music category at the Vietnam National Music Competition “Autumn” in 1993, violinist Pham Truong Son obtained his Master of Music degree from the Vietnam National Academy of Music under the tutelages of Dr. Do Xuan Tung and Professor Ngo Van Thanh. From 2009 to 2013 he studied at the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Oslo. In 2014 he studied chamber music with Professor Edward Schmieder of iPalpiti International and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Martin Chalifour in 2014. He also studied with Nobuko Imai, world leading violist.

A prolific performer, Mr. Son has performed in Suntory Hall and Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan, Leo Frankel Concert Hall in Bervelly Hills, USA and number of concert halls in Europe, China, Indonesia, and Thailand. He has appeared as a soloist with the Hanoi String Orchestra and Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra. He was a member of the Asian Youth Orchestra in 1993 and 1994 and has served as co-concertmaster/principle second of the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra since its inaugural season in 1997.

In 2009, Mr. Son founded Song Hong Chamber Music and it has now become one of the leading chamber ensembles in Vietnam. Song Hong has given hundreds of concerts in most of the major cities in Vietnam and went on several tours in Thailand, China, Indonesia and the United States.

Mr. Son is currently on the violin faculty of the Vietnam National Academy of Music and head of the Chamber Music program of the String department here. He has served on the jury of the Thailand Mozart String Competition in 2011, He has judged and performed at the International Music Festival and Competition in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2016.

CLOSE

 

Françoise Choveaux (Composer ad Pianist, France)

Choveaux“Her music brings a new way of writing and very special . She is following the lead of the great French composers”. (Rheinist Post)
“A composer Whom music should be willingly the Debussy oftoday” (Le Nouvel Observateur)
“Her musical universe is strong and colored” (Marc Vignal, musicologue et critique, Le Monde de la Musique)
“Un jeu tout entier dominé par le goût du beau piano”. (Diapason. Jean-Yves Bras)
“It benefited from F. Choveaux probing playing, revaling hitherto undemonstrated expressive and the rare ability to communicate pathos” (Los Angeles Times)
Laureat of Harald Genzmer composition competition in Munich 2018

Françoise Choveaux takes up with a musical tradition anchored in the the 19th Century. She is a composer but also a pianist. As of today she has already written more than 280 op for all instruments and all formations, from solos to symphony orchestras. And her works are performed in all Europe and around the world; Asia, Russia & Baltic countries, North and South America.
Numerous live recordings and in studio were made of her music, among which the integral works of her quartets recorded by the famous Vilnius string quartet. The richness of sounds and colors for strings is a discovery of every moment. For a composer, I think that the string quartet offers infinite possibilities, similar to the use of a painter can make of its palette. It is one of the forms of writing that I prefer, she explains in the notebook of the CD.
Each of her her scores is inspired, either by journeys, emotions, or connected directly with a literary or visual work.from March 1999 ill March 2001, she was invited in the Abbey of Prée (Académie des beaux-Arts) as pianist and composer for a creation residence…
In her musical route, chamber music has always played an important role with works written for soloists( Jean Ferrandis, Gérard Poulet, Isabelle Moretti, Pavel Berman, Emile Naoumof, Michel Mikalakakos, , Jacques Mauger, Dominique de Williencourt, Whilhem Latchoumia, Romain Descharmes …) and also established formations. Her quartets were created by Vilnius string quartet, Rimski-Korsakov quartet, Debussy and Ravel Quartet, Danel quartet and Stanislas quartet.
In 2002, she began an important cycle dedicated to orchestras. First of all, by pursuing her series with symphonies London primavera orchestra, Baden Baden orchestra, St Petersbourg orchestra, Toscanini Foundation orchestra, Vilnius Philarmonic orchestra, Sao Paulo orchestra, Bahia Philarmonic Orchestra, Bulgaria chamber orchestra La prée orchestra for her White Symphonie for organ and strings world premiere in Notre Dame de Paris…
Françoise Choveaux was trained in the Academy of Lille, in Ecole Normale supérieure de Musique de Paris, in the Institute Peabody of Baltimore then Juilliard School of New York. She performed in prestigious festivals in France, in Europe, Asia north and south America.

TOPICAL
COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE FESTIVAL RIEUX-MIVERVOIS, LES THEOPHANIES
COMPOSER IN RESIDENCE WITH NARBONNE CLASSIC FESTIVAL « MA VIGNE EN MUSIQUE » 2018-APRIL 2019
Website
CLOSE

 

Luisa Sello (Flute, Italy)

Luisa Sello, defined by the New York Concert Review “lovely mix of extroverted passion and genuine tenderness, with excellent breath control, brilliant technical rendering, engaging intensity, sonorous range and abundance of charm” is a Flute Miyazawa Artist and an Ambassador of Music and Italian Culture, supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture. Her international career includes collaborations with Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Riccardo Muti, Wien Symphoniker Orchestra, Thailand Symphony Orchestra, Trevor Pinnock, Alirio Diaz, Philippe Entremont, Bruno Canino, Karl Leister, Carnegie Hall, Juilliard School, Prazak string quartett, the composers Salvatore Sciarrino, Aldo Clementi, Adriano Guarnieri, Rainer Bischof (première performances). Visiting professor at the University of Music in Vienna, she is Flute Professor at the Academy of Music in Trieste (Italy), Doctoral Professor at the New Bulgarian University of Sofia (Bulgaria) and visiting professor at the University of music in Vienna (Austria). In obtaining both her ArtD (Concert Doctor Degree, Bratislava Academy) in Performing Arts and her PhD in Linguistic and Literary Sciences (Udine University), she studied in Paris with Raymond Guiot and Alain Marion, who proclaimed her “very musical, superb,” and at the Accademia Chigiana with Severino Gazzelloni, who remarked her “magnificent interpretive sensibility and excellent sound”, she records for Stradivarius (Italy) and Millennium (Beijing).
WEBSITE
 
CLOSE

 

Daniel Pittman, D.M.A. (Conductor, USA)

DanielPittman150Daniel 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.
CLOSE

 

Preliminary Audition

 
Chiang Mai Audition Judges
 

Chaipruck Mekara (Conductor, Thailand)

mekaraChaipruck 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
CLOSE

 
Atsuko Seta (Pianist, Japan)

atsukoIn 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.
In 2016, Chopin Piano Concerto No.1 with Ternopil Philharmonic in Ukraine, Ginastera Recital at Leipzig Hochschule “ Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ” in Germany.
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
  • 2016 A Jury of Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition

CLOSE

 
Annette George (Flute, USA )

Annette GeorgeMiss 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.
CLOSE

 

Krit Mekara(Violin, Thailand)

KritKrit 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).
CLOSE

 

Book Kitavadhana (Baritone, Thailand)

bookGraduate B.A. (Classical singing) from Payap University in year 2000. In 2006, he went to London, U.K to studied Italian Bel Canto singing with Raymond Connell.
He has performed many successful concerts with well known pianists , musicians and conductors though out Thailand such as Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) and Bangkok Combined Orchestra.
Presently, Book is a private singing teacher and voice coach, a voice teacher at College of Music of Payap University. He is also a guest lecturer in subject Voice for Musical Theatre at Chiangmai University and many other institutes.
CLOSE

 

Gina Ryan (Percussion, Canada)

ginaDr. Gina Ryan has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in Canada, the United States, Japan, China, France, and Thailand and has performed in numerous festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, the International Sound Symposium, Pop Montreal, Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival, and Stage Epsival in France. As a passionate advocate for new music, Dr. Ryan actively composes and commissions works for solo percussion, several of which were recorded and nationally broadcasted by the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), including her solo for prepared marimba Never-Never Island. She premiered Éric Champagne's Rhapsodie pour percussion et orchestre à ventswith l’Harmonie Laval and Trevor Grahl's Concerto for Percussion and Wind Symphony with the McGill Wind Symphony, as well as subsequently with the Winnipeg Winds and the UCSD Wind Ensemble in San Diego.

She has been the recipient of several grants and awards, including a three-year grant from the Fonds Québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture; the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble fellowship; a production grant from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec for her multidisciplinary solo show, transitions; a Canada Council travel grant; performance and study grants from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council; the Schulich GREAT award, Schulich Scholarship, Entrance Scholarship and travel grants from McGill University; the Merit Award from the University of Toronto; the Individual Merit Award, Music Faculty Scholarship, Dr. G. B. Olson Scholarship, Dame Vera Lynn Scholarship, Gower Youth Band Scholarship, Dorothy Duff Moores Scholarship, Kiwanis Music Festival Scholarship, and Students' Union Award from Memorial University; Second place in the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts and Letters Composition Competition; the Remo Inc. Scholarship and SABIAN Cymbals Scholarship from the Percussive Arts Society International Conference; and First Place winner, Senior Rose Bowl, Kiwanis Music Festival.

Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education and Psychology of Music, and she has presented at various conferences and symposiums including the International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research in Music Pedagogy (Ottawa, Canada); MENC: The National Association for Music Education (Anaheim, CA, USA); the International Symposium for Research in Music Behavior, St. Augustine, FL, USA); International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education, (St. John's, NL, Canada); EARCOS Teachers’ Conference (Bangkok, Thailand); and Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association Conference – RESONATE: Reunite, Refresh, Resound (St. John’s, NL).

Dr. Ryan holds music performance and music pedagogy degrees from McGill University, the University of Toronto, and Memorial University. She began her percussion studies at the age of ten in St.John's, Newfoundland and her way of thinking about sound was transformed when she met her first percussion teacher, Don Wherry, founder of the International Sound Symposium. She has also studied extensively with members of Nexus, including Bob Becker, John Wyre, Russell Hartenberger, and Robin Engelman, as well as with Beverly Johnston and John Rudolf at the University of Toronto and Shawn Mativetsky at McGill University. She furthered her training at the Aspen Music Festival and School (Aspen, CO), the Domaine Forget New Music Apprenticeship with Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (Saint-Iréné, QC), the Toronto Music Summer Academy and Festival (Toronto, ON), the Bob Becker Xylophone Institute (Newark, DE), Stage Epsival (Limoges, France), the Summer Tabla Workshop with Pandhit Sharda Sahai (Montreal, QC), the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar (Ocean Grove, NJ), the Canadian Wind Conductors' Development Program (Winnipeg, MB), the Quebec Band Association Wind Conductors Workshop (Montreal, QC) and during two artist residencies at the Banff Centre for the Arts (Banff, AB). Additionally, Dr. Ryan studied privately with Alain Cazes (conducting), Michael Colgrass and Brian Cherney (composition), Keiko Abe (marimba), Tony Undaneta, Roberto Viscaino, Luisito Abreu, (Cuban music) and Evelyne Lemelin and Carmen Romero (castanets).

She has taught music in Canada at McGill University, as well as at several arts academies and schools as a percussion coach in Toronto and Montreal. She is a BQC reviewer for the International Baccalaureate, and has served on jury panels for the Chiang Mai Philharmonic Orchestra, Vincent d’Indy, and the Santi School of Music Piano Competition. Dr. Ryan is a co-founder of the International Schools of Chiang Mai Music Festival and currently teaches music at Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
CLOSE

 

Maykin Lerttamrab (Piano, Thailand)

MaykinMaykin Lerttamrab was born in Bangkok, Thailand. He received his Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2009 and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oregon in 2016. He regularly performed throughout the U.S. and won the first prize in several competitions, such as the Young Artist Competition at Oregon State, the Phi Beta Scholarship Competition, and the University of Oregon Concerto Competition. His teachers included Dr. Claire Wachter, Dr. Dean Kramer, Mrs. Tan Mong Joo, and Mr. Andre-Michel Schub. He is currently the member of the piano faculty of the Duriyasilp College of Music at Payap University.
CLOSE

 

Judith Utley (Harp, USA )

Judith UtleyJudith 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.

CLOSE

 

Ayu Namtep (Chorus , Thailand)

Ayu NamtepAyu 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.
CLOSE

 

 

Previous Judges