Two faculty members from the School of Music, Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music — Dr. Tawanrat Mewongukote (clarinet) and Mr. Thanasit Siriphanitwatana (timpani)—participated in performances with the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) in the Russian Federation from 30 March to 6 April 2025.
This tour was held in celebration of the 127th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Russia, with concerts presented at two of Russia’s most prestigious cultural venues:
- St. Petersburg Philharmonia, St. Petersburg (2 April 2025)
- Zaryadye Concert Hall, Moscow (4 April 2025)
On the concert day in St. Petersburg, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) was officially welcomed by Mr. Alexander Beglov, Governor of St. Petersburg, who graciously hosted a reception for the orchestra members at the Government Guest House. A formal welcome dinner was also arranged for distinguished guests prior to the performance.
The concert took place at the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonia, named after Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the oldest and most prestigious concert halls in Russia. The event played to a full house of 1,200 attendees and received enthusiastic acclaim from both the general public and prominent figures of the city, including Mr. Yuri Kovalchuk, Honorary Consul of Thailand in St. Petersburg.
The second performance, held in Moscow, took place at the Zaryad’ye Concert Hall, which is recognized as one of the most modern and renowned concert venues in Russia. The hall, located near the iconic Red Square, was filled to capacity with more than 1,500 attendees.
The event was graced by the presence of several high-level guests, including:
– Mrs. Olga Lyubimova, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation
– H.E. Mr. Sasiwat Wongsinsawat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Russian Federation
– Senior representatives from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia
– Members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, members of the press, university students studying the Thai language, and members of the general public
The RBSO’s program reflected the rich cultural heritage of Thailand through a thoughtfully curated selection of works, including:
- Siam Soundscapes by Professor Dr. Narongrit Dhamabutra
- Fantasia on Themes of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
- Royal compositions by HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, including:
• Le Mariage de Minuit – Fantaisie pour piano et orchestra
• Concerto for Violin and Orchestra “NEFRERETTA”
The concerts were conducted by Dr. Vanich Potavanich, with guest soloists Dmitry Masleev (piano) and Haik Kazazyan (violin).
Notably, Siam Soundscapes—composed by Professor Dr. Narongrit Dhamabutra, a member of the PGVIM Council—was specially commissioned and had its world premiere at the Royal Celebration Orchestra Concert in Honor of His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary, held on Sunday, 8 December 2024 at Vajiravudh College Auditorium. That premiere featured musicians from the Royal Thai Army Band, Royal Thai Navy Band, Royal Thai Air Force Band, Royal Thai Police Band, Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, and the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music.
The participation of PGVIM faculty in this international collaboration exemplifies PGVIM’s ongoing commitment to bridging Thai music with the global context. Through consistent engagement in high-level artistic endeavors, PGVIM continues to affirm its role in cultivating musicians who contribute meaningfully to international cultural dialogue with grace, professionalism, and artistic depth.
