By Shana Kongmun
The British Chamber of Commerce of Thailand’s board came
up from Bangkok to host the Networking One evening at the Rachamankha Hotel
on Thursday, May 14. Chris Thatcher, the Director of the British Chamber of
Commerce was joined byVice Chairman Graham MacDonald and other board members
for the evening.
Peter Smith introduces Ginny Rowlands, Centre Manager of
British Council Chiang Mai, to the Networking One evening guests.
The hotel’s General Manager, Paul Ealker, gave guests a
tour of the hotel, furnished in Asian antiques, the Lanna style buildings
are built around courtyards in the Chinese style. The rooms are
magnificently appointed and beautiful with canopy curtains strung around the
beds. The gardens of the hotel show it as peaceful respite in the heart of
Chiang Mai city.
Monthakan Intharasri was happy to win a nights stay in
the evening’s lucky draw. Peter Smith, Director of AA Insurance said that he
really loves the atmosphere at the hotel, and has enjoyed having the
networking evenings there the past few months.
(L-R) Peter Malhotra Managing Director of the Pattaya
Mail draws the winning card from the bowl held by Peter Smith of AA
Insurance at the Networking One evening.
Ginny Rowlands, Centre Manager of the British Council
Chiang Mai introduced the gathering to the efforts of Chiang Mai’s British
Council, explaining that they offer classes to a large number of students
and even have a lending library for those parents who would like to get
their children some books.
British Honourary Consul Ben Svasti Thomson dropped into
the Networking Evening, his first visit he vowed he would make an effort to
attend more evenings. Suparak Jirakijyada, of Naew Na newspaper, put in an
appearance as a representative of the Thai media, a reporter for the
newspaper this was her second Networking evening.
Peter Malhotra, owner of the Pattaya Mail and Chiang Mai
Mail even flew up from Pattaya for the event, telling people, he really
should get up more often but life as a newspaper owner is one of constant
deadlines.
Calvin Huang won the obligatory bottle of wine and
several subscriptions to the Chiang Mai Mail were handed out. The evening
ended on a somber note as people learned a state of emergency had been
declared in Chiang Mai, but as per usual, all was quiet on the return home.
And so ended another successful Networking One evening.
(L-R ) Stuart Gale of ECC (Thailand) and Antonio de Maria
of TTC discuss Elias Maung’s latest travels as Business Manager of Thai
Tribal Crafts Co. Ltd.
(L-R ) Pratheep Malhotra,Managing Director of The Pattaya
Mail is joined
by Peter Smith, Director of AA Insurance Brokers Co.,Ltd in
giving David Williams, Managing Director of DigitalZoo his prize.
(L-R) Zane Crosby-Emery of Modern Build Chiang Mai cajoles
Shana Kongmun, Managing Editor of the Chiang Mai Mail and Linda into
visiting his offices on Nimmanhaemin soi 5.
(L-R) Margaret Bhadungzong, Publisher of Welcome to Chiang
Mai & Chiang Rai Magazine chats with Jim Gross and Dr. Ian Bushell about
business in Chiang Mai.
(L-R)Sally Ward of the 200 Club is joined by Fran Arnet
and Gill Saviker
to discuss Fran’s cleaning business.
(L-R) Ginny Rowlands, Centre Manager of the British
Council Chiang Mai joins Ian Fortune and Robin Otto of Futronix to discuss
the latest events in Chiang Mai at the Networking One evening.
Tony Malhotra (left), MD of The Chiang Mai Mail interviews
Graham Macdonald, Vice Chairman of British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT)
for the Pattaya Mail Television about the importance of joining the BCCT
especially the businesses in the North.
(L-R ) Rex Baggaley is joined by Ian Fortune and Robin
Otto of Futronix, Panita , Consulate of British Chamber of Commerce Thailand(BCCT)
and Robert Kelly to discuss Chamber business at the Rachamankha Hotel.
(L-R ) Ginny Rowlands, Centre Manager of British Council
Chiang Mai,
Thasakorn Doungkham, Teaching and Exam Marketing Support
Assistant
of British Council Chiang Mai discusses local media with Suparak
Jirakijyada
of NaewNa Newspaper Co.,Ltd and Taweechai Tansenee.
( L-R ) Siriporn (Nam) Wongaram and Peter Smith, Director of AA Insurance
Brokers Co.,Ltd are joined by Barry Main, Sales and Marketing Director of
Thaivisa.com and Boonyarat Burepia at the Networking One evening.
(L-R) Tony Malhotra, Managing Director of The Chiang Mai Mail is joined
by the Managing Director of the Pattaya Mail, Peter (Pratheep) Malhotra,
Barry Main, Sales and Marketing Director of Thaivisa.com and Paul Ealker,
General Manager of the Rachamankha Hotel before the tour of the hotel.
(L-R) Charles B. Burke is joined by Colin Jarvis of
Eseana, his lovely wife Pat and Chris Thatcher, Director of the British
Chamber of Commerce (BCCT) at the networking evening at the Rachamankha
Hotel.
Stories and
Photos by Kath Phillips
After months of careful planning and lots of rehearsing,
Saturday, May 8th 2010 finally arrived. It was time
for the 2nd Annual Chiang Mai Regional IDOL & BATTLE
of the BANDS Inter-School Music Talent Competition 2009-2010 to begin. Doors
were opened at the American Pacific International School auditorium and
ticket-holders set out to find the seats they wanted. By the time Mr. Peter
Welch took the stage to welcome everyone, the Auditorium was full: there
really was standing room only!
First of Prem Tinsulanonda
International School took 1
st
place in the IDOL category for his rendition of Play My Music by The Jonas
Brothers.
On entering the auditorium one could almost touch the
unmistakable charge in the atmosphere which promised a high energy,
professional and entertaining music event. The judges table with their three
chairs stood in the center in front of the stage and the stage itself,
filled with the entire band’s equipment set aglow under a brilliant set of
stage lights, stirred up a feeling of great expectation.
The Headmaster quickly handed the proceedings over to Mr.
Sydney Moss, the event organizer, producer and MC for the evening.
In keeping with local tradition, all were invited to
stand while the backing band “MUSE” played the Thai national anthem. Then,
the audience remained standing to celebrate the life of Sam, the drummer who
had played with the band at last year’s inaugural event and who had died in
a car crash a few weeks later. He was 22. Sam’s drum solo from last year’s
event was projected onto the two screens for all to enjoy.
Once the performances began there was no stopping the
enthusiasm. The audience was treated to some amazing talent in all the event
categories. The youngest performers, just nine years old, drew gasps of
amazement from the audience—and things only got better as more experienced
singers were able to show greater confidence and control of both their voice
and the stage.
The Screaming Temptations took 2
nd
place in the Band category performing Knights of Cydonia by Muse.
The BATTLE of the BANDS this year featured seven bands,
all of them exceptionally good, with impressive stage personalities so that
the audience was kept entertained throughout.
The event judges, Bella, Greg, Lindsay and Teh who
switched with Bella for the Bands segment made very supportive comments for
each performer.
At the end of the performances, to allow the judges time
to make their decisions, the audience participated in a lucky draw and many
went home looking forward to a further treat courtesy of local businesses.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: the
final declaration of the Regional Winners for 2009- 2010.
In the IDOL Category first place went to First (G5, Prem)
Elementary IDOL with Play My Music by The Jonas Brothers, Second place to
Naline (G8, Lanna) Middle School IDOL with The Climb by Miley Cyrus and
third to Choi (G11, APIS) High School IDOL with Cracks of my Broken Heart by
Eric Benet
The Battle of the Bands first place went to The Sinister
Red Pants (NIS) with Fa Fa Fa by Datarock (Winners), Second to The Screaming
Temptations (CMIS) with Knights of Cydonia by MUSE (Runners-up).
Prizes this year were substantial and varied. In addition
to a cash prize, trophy, and certificate, each winner received College
Coupons courtesy of Education USA, recording time at Thomasso Studios
courtesy of Mr. Thomas Van Nes, and a full massage and spa package courtesy
of Relaxation Spa & Massage.
Ask Mr. Sydney about the moment that most impressed him
and he’ll tell you it was the final minutes of the evening when he invited
all the participants and their teachers to join him on stage.
“This is a very powerful statement. These are only a
handful of students: there are plenty more out there, all just waiting to be
heard. This platform does just that, it promotes school music talent”,
Sydney Moss said.
We look forward to hearing those recordings!! And don’t forget you can
buy a DVD of the entire event for just 250THB: contact Mr. Sydney on
084-665-0562 or by calling the APIS office on 053-365303