Friday, January 11, 2008

A patron of classical music

A patron of classical music

HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana was known to have keen interest in various music genres since she was a young girl, but her favourite was always classical music.

Published on January 5, 2008

In Thailand, she had always been a Royal patron of the classical school of music.

With her blessing, the "Classical Music Promotion Fund" was established. Students and teachers received scholarships to further their studies abroad.

To mark the auspicious occasion of the Princess's 84th birthday on May 6, 2007, the Culture Ministry and Silpakorn University's Faculty of Music established the Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music.

The Princess had long hoped to see Thailand have a musical institute that could produce musically gifted graduates.

The Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music also responded to the government's objective of developing educational methods for children with special talents, especially young musical prodigies.

Located in a 10-rai plot previously occupied by the Bang Yikhan Brewery, the institute is set to accept its first batch of students in the 2008 academic year. Only about 50 children will be accepted for the primary and junior secondary education courses.

Though the institute will stick to the normal curriculum, it will provide musical classes in the evenings and weekends as part of its non-formal education system.

In the 2009 academic year, the institute will also offer senior secondary education courses in what would be like a preparatory school for music. From 2012 onwards, university-level music courses will be provided.

In the 2008 fiscal year, the institute would be granted a budget of Bt22.5 million. In the following four years, it would be given a total of Bt788 million. After that, the institute hopes to become financially independent. Its income would partially come from concerts performed by its chamber and orchestra.

To serve the public, the institute would also hold charity performances for the underprivileged, such as the elderly, ill people and residents in crowded communities.

The institute plans to employ only three permanent officials in its first year, and hire part-time local and foreign teachers to teach the classes. Once it becomes a public organisation, the institute plans to have about 10 permanent officials.

The Nation

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