Festival host and director

The 2009 Thailand Brass Festival was held on March 18-20, 2009 at the Siam Music Yamaha Auditorium in Bangkok, Thailand. The festival brought together clinicians and performers from several countries, and over 600 students from Thailand attended the event. Hosted by Lertkiat Chongjirajitra (Professor of Trumpet, Silpakorn University, Thailand) and Festival Director Edmund Cord (Professor of Trumpet, Indiana University, USA), this is the third Thailand Brass Festival.

Bowman & Chongjirajitra after the concert

The first day of the festival kicked off with an artist faculty concert at the Opening Ceremonies. Trumpet artists included Edmund Cord (USA), Lertkiat Chongjirajitra (Thailand), Joseph Bowman (Thailand), Thanu Raksaraj (Thailand), Wirote Srisunanrat (Thailand), and Sasis Jitrangsan (Thailand). Chongjirajitra and Cord gave short welcome addresses to the participants. After the welcome, Prof. Thanathorn Jiarakul, acting director of the Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music and dean of Silpakorn University Faculty of Music introduced the rest of the concert. Works performed included HM King Bhumibol’s work Somewhere Somehow,  Gabrieli's Sonata pian ’e forte, and Bach's Jesu, Joy of man’s Desiring. Joining the artists for the opening concert was U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Eric G. John, an avid trombonist for over thirty years.  The concert was followed by individual instrument workshops for students.

In the afternoon, the STAR Tuba Quartet performed, led by Steve Rosse (Principal Tuba, Sydney Symphony) and his part-time students from Thailand and Japan. The day continued with additional sessions and master classes. This was followed by a student performance featuring participants in the Weekend Trumpet Program; a unique program created by Lertkiat Chongjirajitra and Siam Music Yamaha for young trumpet students. The group performed the first movement from Lo Presti's Suite for Five Trumpets and Gagliardi's Cantiga Brasileira for trumpet quartet.  At the end of the program, the festival director presented certificates to the group.

Brass ensemble performance with festival host and director

The final event of the day was a recital performance by Lertkiat Chongjirajitra. He performed several works from his first solo recording Cantabilissimo. Program highlights included Schubert's Ave Maria, Bencini's Tanto Sospirero, and Debussy's To call upon Side. At the conclusion of the performance Chongjirajitra made a special presentation to Ed Cord, his former teacher.

Day Two featured a Brass Yoga session followed by more workshops, master classes, and coachings. The afternoon featured the final round of the Junior Division of the Thailand Trumpet Competition. Four students made it to the finals, and all of them played the first movement of either the Haydn Hummel, or Neruda Concerto.  Later that day, jazz education legend Dr. Gene Aitken gave a class on the brass section in big band, where he introduced many aspects of big band performance. After the class, the Silpakorn University Brass Ensemble performed pieces by Gabrielli and Bach.

The final concert featured the faculty artists in solo and chamber works. Trumpet performance highlights included Wirote Srisunanrat and Thanu Raksaraj performing Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets, Mozart's Aria from The Magic Flute featuring Lertkiat Chongjirajitra, and Edmund Cord performing and arrangement of Gershwin's Three Preludes as well as a recent Dominic Spera arrangement of Stardust, for trumpet and brass choir.

The final day of the 2009 Thailand Brass Festival began with a clinic by tubist Steve Rosse discussing the importance of breathing practice. After the session, the Oh!!! Ho Trombone Camareta from Kasetsart University, Thailand performed.

Following a lunch break, the SIAMYTH Drum and Bugle Corp performed a prelude performance to the final round of the 2009 Thailand Trumpet Competition Senior Division. The competition was made possible because of the generous support of Siam Music Yamaha.

Big Band Masterclass

The final concert of the festival featured festival artists soloing with the Bangkok Silpakorn Wind Orchestra, a community music program created by Lertkiat Chongjirajitra. The trumpet highlight of the concert was a performance of Leroy Anderson's "Bugler's Holiday," featuring Edmund Cord, Lertkiat Chongjirajitra and Sasis Jitrangsan. The festival's closing ceremonies followed, featured thanks and souvenirs presented to the artists, students and staff, who made the event possible. The 2009 Thailand Brass Festival was a unique educational event for Thai students and all who were involved.