New Siam Wind Ensemble
New Siam Wind Ensemble was founded in 1989 under the name Siam Wind Orchestra. It was the first professional wind band in Thailand.The philosophy of the ensemble under its first music director, Mr. Surapol Pairojtanachai, is to promote "western art music" in Thailand. The ensemble consisted of 60 leading wind players graduated from Chulalongkorn University.
As a wind chamber music group lead by Mr. Damrih Banwitayakit, principal oboist of Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and a music faculty member of Silpakorn University. The ensemble promotes and perform the high standard of "western art music" making for Thai audience and aboard.
Flute: Temsak Tharathamatikorn
Oboe: Damrih Banawitayakit
Clarinet: Nirachai Rungsukprasert
Horn: Krit Vikornvongvanit
Bassoon: Nattawut Tianpolkrang
Quartuor de Flute & Trio a Cordes
(a project of FWCPA)
The Quartet / Trio was founded in 2002.
The presence of these musically educated people at the Faculty of Music (Royal University of Fine Arts) is linked with the tendency for the development of musical ensembles in Phnom Penh.
Encouraged by the growth of interest in Western classical repertoire, and stimulated by a concern with historically informed performance, the Quatuor/Trio been a major force in performance of early repertoire, particular "post Baroque" and "pre Classic" Music.
Quatour: Him Savy - Flute, Chhun Sopa - Violin, El Lenag - Viola, Sim Ratha – Violoncello
Trio: Chhun Sopha – Violin, Uy Tach – Violin, Sim Ratha - Violoncello
Keo Dorivan Arek Ensemble
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Keo Dorivan (Skor drum / Flute)
Yun Khean (Tro one string) / Roneat ek)
Keo Sonankavay (Tro ( three stings )
Ing Vanna (long guitar)
Nol Kol (Bey/Chheng)
Yen Saren (Vocal )
Arek has been traditionally performed in order to serve the needs of spiritual forces and show them continual gratitude.
Vu Nhat Tan
(b. August 8, 1970, Hanoi). Vietnamese composer of orchestral, chamber, piano, and multimedia works that have been performed in Asia, Europe and elsewhere.
Mr. Vu studied piano with Nhat Anh at the National Conservatory of Music in Hanoi, where he earned a certificate in 1987 and degrees in secondary education in composition and musicology in 1991. He then studied composition and musicology with Tran Trong Hung there from 1991-95 and graduated with his BMus. He later studied computer music with Clarence Albertson Barlow and new music with Johannes Fritsch at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Cologne in 2000-01, on a scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst. In addition, he studied composition with Chinary Ung at the University of California at San Diego in 2002 as a guest student.
His honors include Third Prize in the composition for traditional instruments competition of the Vietnam Composers Association in Hanoi (1992, for Chamber Piece for Traditional Vietnamese Instruments [withdrawn]) and First Prize in the Saint-German-en-Laye competition (1995, for Ky Uc – Memory). He has also received four prizes from the Vietnam Composers Association (1998, for Ngu Doi Dang Dan – Interplay of Five Instruments; 2001, for Phac Thao 2000 – Outline 2000; 2002, for Nhip Don Nhip Kep – Simple Meter, Compound Meter; 2003, for Ao Don Ao Kep – Four-Part Vietnamese Dress). Most recently, he received a grant from the Asian Cultural Council (2002), which enabled him to research contemporary music and ethnomusicology in the USA. His music has been performed in Australia, China, France, Germany, Mongolia, Switzerland, the USA, and Vietnam, including at the Roaring Hoofs Festival in Ulaanbataar (2000), the Louisiana Festival of Contemporary Music in Baton Rouge (2002), the Totally Huge New Music Festival in Perth (2003), and the Asian Music Festival in Tokyo (2003).
He is also active in other positions. He created the multimedia performance projects Dem Dai – Sleepless Night (2001), on a grant from the Arts Network Asia in Singapore, Chao HoiAn (2002), on a grant from the British Council in Hanoi, KhaT (2003), Space of Traditional and Contemporary Music in China (2003), on a grant from the Arts Network Asia, and Pito (2004), on a grant from the Ford Foundation. He has performed on numerous occasions as a pianist and sáo tre (bamboo flute)-player in contemporary and improvisational music in Australia, China and Vietnam. Furthermore, he gave improvisational music concerts and workshops in Hue in 2004.
He has lectured on composition and musicology at the National Conservatory of Music in Hanoi since 1995. He has also guest-lectured on Vietnamese music in Australia and Vietnam
Loch Bonsamnang
Education
1986-1989 School of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Faculty of Music. Graduated with Baccalaureate Honors.
1990-1995 Dnipropetrovsk State Musical College, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. Bachelors Degree. Major, Clarinet.
1998-1999 Birmingham Conservatoire, University of Central England, England. Post-Graduate 2years Program 1st year Completion. Major, Clarinet.
2003-2005 Elizabeth University of Music, Japan. Master Degree. Major, Clarinet.
Languages Khmer(native), Russian,English and Japanese.
Orchestra Experience
1995-1996 Second Clarinet, Ukraine State Philharmonic Orchestra, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
March/1997 Clarinet Solo Performance, Chatomok Theater, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
December/1997 Clarinet Solo Performance, Russian Cultural Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
1997-2002 First Clarinet, University of Fine Arts Chamber Orchestra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
2000-2002 Saxophone Player, Kucchisay Jazz Combo, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
2000-2002 Clarinet and Saxophone Player, Khmer Pop Band, Channel Three Phnom Penh Television Network Weekly Shows.
December/2003 First Clarinet,Asean-Japan Symphony Orchestra Concert, Suntory Hall, Tokyo, Japan.
Teaching Experience
1997-present Clarinet instructor, Faculty of Music, Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
2001-2002 Clarinet instructor, International School of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Sethisak Khuon
Sethisak Khuon began singing in 1981 at the age of 11, soon after the fall of Pol Pot and the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. He was soon discovered by the music department at RUFA (Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia), where he was a child soloist singing traditional Khmer songs. By 13 he was regularly seen on television, performing on various programs for children. At 18, Sethisak was chosen among a small group of musicians from RUFA to study at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory, where he studied for eight years.
Originally a student of piano and music theory, Sethisak decided to switch to voice after a theory professor noticed his incredible talent during a routine technical exercise. He auditioned for the voice department, and was immediately accepted. Two years later, Sethisak took 3rd prize overall at the "Bella Voce" competition, competing with all of Russia's finest young singers. Amazingly, he also won "Best Russian Vocal Performance," the first South, Southeast or East Asian ever to do so.
After graduating, Sethisak traveled around the world, from North Korea to Austria, Rome to Brussels, San Francisco to Amsterdam, studying and performing opera in festivals, recitals and workshops. In 2001 he returned to Phnom Penh, where he teaches voice privately. Sadly, few performance opportunities exist for this incredible national treasure. Efforts are being made to locate funding that will provide Sethisak with a top vocal instructor in New York, Toronto, Paris or Bologna, that will complete his training, and take his singing to the highest level - the international stage.
Awards:
Carin Levine
was born in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA). She studied at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music under Jack Wellbaum (Flute) and Peter Kamnitzer (LaSalle Quartet, Chamber Music) and was the solo flautist with the Cincinnati Contemporary Music Ensemble. She continued her education at the Musikhochschule in Freiburg, Germany with Aurèle Nicolet.
Ms Levine has been awarded numerous prizes including the Ohio State Music prize and the highly coveted "Kranichsteiner Musikpreis" for the interpretation of contemporary music. Her teaching activities include the Darmstadt Summer Courses for Contemporary Music as well as masterclasses throughout Europe and abroad. In addition, she has taught at the Musikhochschule in Detmold, Germany and the Hochschule für Musik in Bremen.
Carin Levine is the editor of the series "Contemporary Music for Flute" published by Bärenreiter. Her book "The Techniques of Flute Playing" will be released in the summer of 2002, also published by Bärenreiter.
Carin Levine has collaborated with composers, such an Brian Ferneyhough, Mauricio Kagel, Younghi Pagh-Paan, Giacinto Scelsi, and Dieter Schnebel who have dedicated works to her, which she has premiered at major festivals throughout the world. One of Ms Levines major musical interests is working with young composers.
Carin Levine has performed under many conductors including Ernest Bour, Peter Eötvös, and Lothar Zagrosek. She is also the flautist of the Ensemble Köln. Numerous radio recordings, films, and CD's document her extensive musical activities.
Jamorn Supapol
Pianist Jamorn Supapol received his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, New York, and his Masters Degree and Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, U.S.A. His piano teachers include Suda Banomyong and Dusdi Banomyong-Buntasnakul, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Ann Schein, Piyabhand Sanitwongse, Nina Svetlanova, and Jean-Francois Antonioli. Jamorn has appeared as soloist with the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra. He regularly gives solo recitals and enjoys playing in chamber and vocal concerts. Currently Jamorn serves as a piano faculty member of the Faculty of Music, Silpakorn University. He also teaches part-time at AMA Studio.
Andrea L. Geiser
From Ohio, USA and is a 2003 graduate of Houghton College School of Music located in western New York, receiving a Bachelors of Music in education, instrumental emphasis. While in college, Ms. Geiser participated in Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Woodwind Quintet, Jazz Ensemble, the Music Education Club, and also accompanied other students on piano. She has been teaching private clarinet, piano, saxophone, and flute lessons since 1997. She started playing piano at the age of 8 and clarinet at the age of 11, continuing with private lessons for many years. Ms. Geiser first came to Cambodia for a one year term in 2003 to teach English at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, with the organization Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). She returned fall of 2004 to teach clarinet lessons at RUFA and also piano lessons and general music at Phnom Penh Bible School.
Bun Hong Cheak
A student at the Fine Arts University Faculty of Music. Mr. Cheak began studying clarinet six years ago and has had teachers from Cambodia, Japan, and the United States. Not many Cambodian students choose the clarinet, but Mr. Cheak enjoys it even though it can be difficult. He also has been teaching a student for six months. In his free time, Mr. Cheak enjoys studying Kung Fu martial arts with a Korean teacher.
Yim Sok
Yim Sok was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After having studied for 6 years at the Royal University of Fine Arts - Faculty of Music in Phnom Penh, he obtained a scholarship for the Musikhochschule Leipzig/Germany.
At present, Yim Sok is a violin teacher at the municipal Music school in Bonn-Königswinter/Germany and a member of the new chamber orchestra of Oberkassel. He is one of the founders of the “Foundation for the Advancement of Western Classical Preforming Arts in Cambodia” and plays a major role in the F.W.C.P.A. projects, aside from being a temporary teacher at the Faculty of Music in Phnom Penh
Stephan Rahn
Stephan Rahn Born in 1979, German Pianist Stephan Rahn studied with Josef Anton Scherrer at the "Hochschule für Musik" in Köln and later on with Annerose Schmidt and Walter Olbertz at the "Hochschule für Musik 'Hanns Eisler' "in Berlin. He completed his studies adding studies of Music Theory as well as sacred music and took part in many Master Classe with renowned artists such as V. Banfield, J.Demus, P. Feuchtwanger, K.-H. Kämmerling, M. Pressler and N. Taneda. Stephan Rahn was also an active pariticipant of "Margess International of Switzerland" and the "International Engadin Summer Piano Academy".
Since his debut at the age of twelve, when he played W.A. Mozart's Concerto for Piano and orchestra in A-Major (KV 414), Stephan Rahn has taken part in many concerts as a soloist as well as a Chamber musician and a accompanist of singers.
Besides regular concert appearances throughout Europe, Stephan Rahn makes regualr visits to the United States, Japan, Korea and Cambodia. He has been invited to play as a soloist with many orchestras, such as Nürnberger Symphoniker, Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz and Eastern Chamber Orchestra. He was further invited to play at well known european music festivals.
Before winnig the first prize in the Nürnberg Piano Competition, Stephan Rahn had already won several first prizes of the renwned German-wide competition "Jugend Musiziert". He was further awarded as accompanist at many international competitions. In 1997 he recieved a schoarship of the "International Ansbacher Bachwochen".
His concerts have benn recorded by radio and TV stations all over the world.
Stephan Rahn was teaching at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh/Cambodia. Actually he is teaching at the University of Music "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin/Germany.
Gerhard Anton Isselhardt
He served as a temporary flutist at the State Philhamonic Orchestra, Rheinland Pfalz. These orchestral experiences, especially with reknowned conductors like Sergiu Celibidache had a serious impact on his musical consciousness. At the same time, he extended his acitivities as a profilic musician in many genres.
Since 2003, he acts as Country Director of the Foundation F.W.C.P.A. (n.g.o) and plays a major role in improving the standards of western art music in Cambodia.