Thai youth orchestra Siam Sinfonietta to perform in Bangkok’s Sathon

Thai youth orchestra Siam Sinfonietta will perform at the Bayan Tree Hotel in Bangkok’s Sathon area this Sunday at 7pm. The orchestra will perform music from Russian ballets, including Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. Tickets are 1,000 baht for people who go alone, and 800 baht for people who go in groups of two or more. People who go in groups of four or more will pay 600 baht.

Thai-American musician Somtown Sucharitkul founded Siam Sinfonietta in 2010 to give young Thais the chance for a serious music career. He formed it after he lead young musicians on concert tours to introduce Thais to classical music. That year, he also used music to unify Thais when the country was politically divided. Some of his events were titled “Healing Through Harmony” and “Together We Can.”

Siam Sinfonietta members range from ages 12 to 25, and have to audition to be admitted. The orchestra has won at least two awards, and has toured in California, Berlin, Prague, and Abu Dabi. Some members are members of professional orchestras as well. Somtown Sucharitkul was once called “the most famous Thai in the world” in a newspaper. He was born in Bangkok, but moved to Europe and the US and became a science fiction novelist for some time.

After serving as a Buddhist monk in 2001, Somtown decided to return to Thailand, and to music. He often uses music to promote social messages, and one of his concerts was dedicated to September 11 victims.

Source: Coconuts Bangkok | Siam Sinfonietta | Somtown Sucharitkul