|
Harps in Chiang Mai
A perfect Christmas gift?
Cory Croymans
Last month’s overwhelmingly successful concert by the
Chiang Mai Symphony Orchestra brought our community several surprises. Maybe
the largest one was the fact that there is now a real symphony orchestra
with over 60 musicians from 18 schools. Another surprise was the
presentation of a real harp and its excellent performer, Judith Utley.
 Judith
Utley has brought her collection of harps to Chiang Mai.
The history of the Harp begins in antiquity. The oldest
remains of a harp were found in the grave of the Sumerian Queen Shub-Ad who
lived around 3,500 BC. Furthermore, many paintings showed that the harp was
a popular instrument in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Judith Utley has brought her collection of harps to
Chiang Mai. She has a grand and a semi-grand concert harp which are played
with the fingers and with the feet, which operate seven pedals. These pedal
harps, which have 47 strings, are relatively ‘modern’ instruments that
were developed shortly after 1800. Judith will play music from Hไndel
and the contemporary French composer Bernard Andres on one of these harps
during the Chiang Mai Classics chamber music concerts in Kad Suan Kaew
theatre.
Judith also has a Celtic harp, which is smaller and has
no pedals, on which she will play the Celtic Concerto, composed by Laura
Zaerr.
Judith’s school in South Dakota (USA) played an
important role in her musical education. When 12-year-old Judith first
touched the strings of a harp, she knew that this instrument would stay with
her for the rest of her life. Fortunately, her parents shared this view and
bought her the grand concert harp that is now with her in Chiang Mai.
Judith has been working hard to further the popularity of
the harp here in Thailand. She was closely connected with the set-up of the
Tamnak Prathom Harp Centre in Bangkok, which now has 30 students. Here in
Chiang Mai she mainly teaches private students but the interest in harp
playing is growing steadily.
Judith is one of the 20 musicians that form the Chiangmai Classics group
which next year will organise three concerts with professional musicians
(end of January, February and March). Season tickets for all three concerts
will be on sale from mid-December till January 25 at the Chiangmai Mail,
Amari Rincome Hotel and Rimping Supermarkets. For more information and a
detailed concert program, please e-mail cory@loxinfo.co.th or call
01.8811004.
Star Alliance CEO’s introduced to the ‘sticky rice culture’
Staff reporters
Kanok Abhiradee, Thai Airways International (THAI)
president invited the CEO’s of the Star Alliance member airlines to
northern Thailand for what the MC of the evening, the beautiful Miss
Thailand 2000, described as “A night to remember where they could
experience first hand, the ‘sticky rice culture’ of northern
Thailand.”
15
members of the Star Alliance linked together.
The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi presented 180
performers to entertain the 180 guests, with Kanok Abhiradee saying that he
felt proud to receive his friends and Star Alliance members in the unique
surroundings of the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel. The surrounding,
the unique entertainment, the relaxing music and the food provided another
step forward to bring us together, to enjoy and understand each others’
culture, he said.
The Star Alliance consists of Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana
Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore
Airlines, Spainair, Thai Airways International, United, SAA, US Airways and
VARIG.
Junior super-star ‘M’ sings at CMU
Nopniwat Krailerg
The concert given by ‘M’ (Atthapol Prakobkong), a
Chiang Mai boy and now the latest Thai singing sensation, was held at CMU
convention hall. He returned to his hometown, Chiang Mai, and performed his
first solo concert, supported by the Cottage Restaurant, where he previously
used to sing.
 M
(Atthrapol Prakobkong), the latest champion in the Thailand Star contest
The 600 people in the audience covered all age groups,
and his performance comprised of many Thai favorites, backed up by some
international numbers.
M said that this concert was for the fans who had
encouraged him during the contest held this year. One result of winning this
contest is that he appreciates the greetings of Chiang Mai people who
remember him and treat him like their family. His next project is to launch
an album and he is also on the lookout for some acting positions.
 M
performed his first solo concert, supported by the Cottage Restaurant where
he previously used to sing.
He says to Chiang Mai youth that if they want to fulfill
their dream, just do it, if it does not cause any disturbance to anybody.
This generation should express themselves in a positive way, and especially
do not get involved with drugs.
“Since Chiang Mai Municipality gave him the youth award, he tries to be
a good model for the young society. He wants to tell teenagers that having a
friend who uses drugs is not as cool as being in the world of music,” he
added.
Lanna Dog Rescue
helping dogs and temples
Autsadaporn Kamthai
To assist stray dogs in Chiang Mai, the Lanna Dog Rescue
group has given support to the four community temples of Wat Suan Dok, Wat
Pa Daeng, Wat Pan Tong and Wat Don Chan, all in Chiang Mai.
 Roshan
Dhunjibhoy (right) from the Lanna Dog Rescue takes care of dogs at Wat Pa
Daeng.
With people apparently growing selfish and lacking
compassion, numerous unwanted dogs have been dropped off at the temples to
let the monks and temple children bear the burden. This has resulted in the
Lanna Dog Rescue running a pilot project to rescue and assist these dogs.
Monks and representatives from the four temples, the
Lanna Dog Rescue members, veterinarians, veterinarian students and people
who have a concern for abandoned dogs met at Wat Pa Daeng on December 11.
Monks,
temple children and the Lanna Dog Rescue members discuss the stray dog
situation in Chiang Mai.
Under the proposed scheme, the stray dogs will be given
general health care, mange treatment and be enrolled in a neutering program.
Phra Kampol from Wat Pa Daeng admitted that a significant
number of dogs were left to the temple to take care of but sometimes the
temple did not have enough financial support to treat mange and neuter the
dogs.
Roshan Dhunjibhoy, Dr Otome Hutheesing and Dr Wilaiwan
Petsophonsakul initiated the Lanna Dog Rescue. The special interest group is
diverse, covering a founder member of the German Heinrich Boell Foundation,
a former TV journalist, a sociologist, a group of veterinarians and
assistants, and an immunologist.
Main objectives of the Lanna Dog Rescue are to increase
awareness of the benefits and needs of dogs as helpful companions, and to
manage the stray dogs and their unwanted offspring problems in residential
areas, find loving family homes for stray dogs, and create a better
environment in which humans and dogs can live together.
Lanna Dog Rescue is seeking financial aid and
contributions of dog food or materials to assist the underprivileged dogs.
It also encourage sponsorships for its activities such as “adopt a dog”,
where a modest donation will go towards the wellbeing and treatment of a dog
of your choice.
To help the Lanna Dog Rescue and the temples you can send
a financial contribution to Mrs Wilaiwan Petsophonsakul or Mrs Roshan
Dhunjibhoy, account number 566-4 34362-7, Siam Commercial Bank Public
Company Limited, Faculty of Medicine Branch, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
For more information, please contact 0-5321-2810, 0-5322-1863 (English
speaking) and 0-5343-2362 (Thai speaking - daytime) or send an email to
roshan@loxinfo.co.th
Dates for the Chiang Mai Classics announced
Cory Croymans-Plaghki
Following the previous successful performance by the
Chiang Mai Symphony Orchestra at the Kad Theatre, a series of classical
concerts has been arranged for Chiang Mai’s music lovers.
 These
concerts will be called Chiang Mai Classics and aim to support our classical
musicians as well as develop more interest in classical concerts. The
proceeds will be shared between the musicians and the New Life Foundation,
under the Patronage of H.R.H. The Princess Mother.
Each concert will feature a variety of instruments,
composers, and performers. For each concert, the music has been carefully
selected to present Quartets, Trio’s, and Duets. In January, there will be
Saint-Saens famous ‘Swan’ piece for cello and harp which will be played
by Karin Mekara and Judith Utley, as well as Beethoven’s Trio for
clarinet, cello and piano by Chaipruck Mekara, Karin Mekara and David
Wilson.
The first three concerts are scheduled for Friday January
28, Friday February 25, and Saturday March 12, 2005.
Season Tickets for these concerts will be sold at a
special discount rate till 26 January 2005 with the tickets at 700, 400, and
100 baht per concert and available at the following outlets: Rimping
Supermarkets, Amari Rincome, Chiangmai Mail, and Kad Suan Kaew information
desk. Single concert tickets will be available at 900, 600, and 200 baht per
concert.
If you want to support this initiative or buy your season tickets, please
email cory@ loxinfo.co.th or fax 0 5380 4290. Cory Croymans-Plaghki,
Fundraising Coordinator, New Life Foundation, No 1, Thapae Road, Chiang Mai
50100 Tel.0 5381 9352 (Thai) Tel.0 1881 1004 (English).
German expatriate celebrates 80th birthday
Reinhard Hohler
November 23 saw a special birthday party at Chiang
Mai’s The Pub. Fifty well-wishers from the ever-growing German community
showed up to celebrate the 80th birthday of Karlernst Rosswog, better known
as “Carlos.”
 Karlernst
Rosswog, better known as “Carlos”, recently celebrated his 80th birthday
at Chiang Mai’s The Pub.
Born in Berlin in 1924, Carlos experienced the bitter
consequence of the Second World War and was sent to the eastern front in
June to lose one of his arms just two months later. Never giving up on life,
he started to study law and later went into film producing. Coming to
Thailand in 1975, he became interested in the gem trade.
When he married a Chiang Mai lady in 1979, he decided to
move to Chiang Mai in 1982 and has stayed here ever since.
Entertainment was supplied by Italian Guitar John, while
the special German food and sausages came from Guenter Dingeldein.
The beer garden atmosphere in The Pub was a guarantee for the wellbeing
of the guests leaving Carlos as the perfect birthday host.
|
