Thai Youth Orchestra Overall English Review

    For the next orchestra which is the last one that I will write in detail for one article. It is considered one of the most developed Thai western classical music musician's pathways. As an orchestra, I think that the quality of the performances is not inferior to any Thai professional orchestras at all. This is the Thai Youth Orchestra under the patronage Princess Galyani Vadhana (TYO). I often to compare this orchestra to the Shaolin temple of Thai western classical music. Because their intense performance and core members of this orchestra later went on to be in many professional Thai orchestra (such as the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra as I mentioned earlier then) and aboard. But because this group is a youth orchestra, the opportunity to hear their performances is more difficult than others. In addition, the style of the concerts has a variety genre that is not much in the way of the basic western classical repertoire, so many serious listeners may overlook this orchestra. I had the opportunity to listen to this orchestra many times, even though I notice many members changed, I saw a lot of changes in this group also too. And in the fourth episode of Thailand's Symphony Orchestra Overall Review Series presents the Thai Youth Orchestra Overall Review (TYO).

Brief history: In the beginning, the orchestra was originally a classical music club after school that gathered to rehearse at the German Cultural Institute (Goethe-Institut Thailand) with Phukon (Sutin) Srinarong, who was a music teacher taught at the Satit Kaset School at that time as a moderator and advisor. Later, when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have a mission to promote the establishment of a youth orchestra of each member nation. In Thailand this club has been upgraded to an orchestra in named Thai Youth Orchestra since then. Not long after the completion of the Thailand Cultural Center, this orchestra was becoming as part of them for convenient rehearsals and performances. Later in 2005 Galyani Vadhana watch their performance. Due to her interest in education and western classical music in Thailand, her took the orchestra under her patronage (For just 2 years before her death). After Phukon retired due to his getting old. Almost all of the orchestra's arrangements were therefore passed on to the responsibility of his son Dr.Akkarawat (Taweevet) Srinarong (often called Ajarn Pae), who now runs a music school and has also released an album with a famous Thai label before. With goal for young musicians to develop to become professional musicians in the future. And in addition, in recent times, Athit Urairat, former rector of Rangsit University, has also been interested in this orchestra and therefore let this orchestra perform in university's main auditorium there as well.

Performance formats and main venues: Basically, orchestra members are usually under 25 years old as a general guideline. Although this group's member has been practicing continuously throughout the year. But the number of performances in a year is uncertain and is usually announced about a month in advance.  Usually performed at the Main Auditorium, Thailand Cultural Center. (In the section of general travel and the main auditorium I have already explained it in the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Overall Review) But in addition, due to the support from the rector of Rangsit University, some performances will be held at the Suryadhep Music Hall at Rangsit University at Pathum Thani Province which is north of Bangkok. To travel there should have a car (taxi or owned) to enter there, although there are public services, but it is not very convenient. At this auditorium you can park freely surround them, in auditorium looks like theater rather than a concert stage and it is one of the few auditoriums in Thailand that has a very good acoustics (The other is Prince Mahidol Hall). Although the sound can be heard clearly from every point of the seat. But I recommend sitting in the middle to see the musicians clearly.

Strength:

1. Free admission and seating. This is because the orchestra is directly supported by the government to provide scholarships for young musicians. Therefore, the concerts are organized so that visitors can enter for free. But there may be reservations online before attending some concerts. However, once you get through it the seats are not reserved, so you might have to go there early before the concert to get the seats you want.
2. Best in terms of performance. To be fair this is the orchestra with the best performance quality. Very detailed playing especially that comes from strings sections (Which is Srinarong family's strengths) made feel very powerful and artistic, especially works in the Romantic period.
3. Consistency in the quality of musicians. Although being youth orchestra Makes the alternate of musicians happen so often, but the quality doesn't vary much. Maybe because of management by the Srinarong family the quality is very consistent.
4. Sociability Presentation. Ajarn Pae's organizing concerts style tried to make the performance less strict. Including uniform dressing that is not very tight. Also, there were discussions from him with the audience during concert, including with musicians or conductors, make the audience look too awkward.
5. Various types of performances. Although as an orchestra that focuses mainly on symphonic works, but to make it more accessible to the Thai audience. Therefore, there are many works in many genres. Some are contemporary works. Some of the works are newly composed for them. As well as arraigning the pieces that Ajarn Pae believes will be able to keep the audience in the concert from start to finish.

Weakness:

1. Concerts take a long time. Generally speaking, a typical classical music concert lasts about 2 to 2.30 hours. However, because the Ajarn Pae, who likes to have a long conversation and lecture before listening to each piece. In addition, during the break, there were also interviews with musicians. This makes this orchestra's concert much longer than usual, ranging from 3 up to 4 hours, so if you're a timekeeper, this might not be a good idea.
2. Difficulty going to Rangsit University. Although most of the orchestra performed at the Thailand Cultural Center. But if they going to perform at the Suryadhep Music Hall at Rangsit University It becomes more difficult for the audience immediately. Because the Performance formats and main venues have been explained earlier. The most convenient way to go there is to drive or take a taxi where you need to allow quite a bit of travel time, and at the end of the show, usually after 6pm, getting out is also not easy.
3. It doesn't really benefit the classic repertoire very seriously. This is because Ajarn Pae wants the performance to be diverse so that all audiences who are not familiar with classical music can easily access orchestral performances. Therefore, the program is organized in a variety of genre, including international singing songs, jazz songs, or even old Thai songs. If you are a person who only listens to mainstream western classical repertoire may come and just listen to some works and leave because there is no seat assignment anyway.
4. The audience is not very organized in listening to music. Because almost all of the listeners (about 80-90%) are related to the musicians on stage, whether they are parents, guardians or close friends of the musicians. And because of that, the orchestra's concert etiquette was at a low level than anywhere else, for example, with intermittent conversations and applause that may annoy those who listen intently.

Opportunities:

1. Going to be featuring with another orchestra. In recent years, there has been an agreement to perform with the Thailand Philharmonic, so I think that in the future, this orchestra can create collaborations with many other smaller orchestras in Thailand in participating in several concerts.
2. Having a relationship with people in the industry in the future. From many members who used to be in this orchestra to be in various orchestras in Thailand It will create many strong connections in the industry.
3. Orchestra can be modified to for various purpose. Although this orchestra has very few performances. However, some of the members transformed into other orchestras this related to this orchestra to perform at other events. However, It's not a very official concert.
4. Live broadcast online platform. It is the only orchestra that has a continuous live broadcasting online for a long time. (But not much audience) can watch both live and retrospectively (But listening in venue would be a much better experience.).

Threats:

1. Musician's Transition. It is the nature of this circle that is inevitable. If you meet a great musician in generation, even if that person is in the orchestra for a long time, but at the end of the day, that person have to leave the orchestra. Causing the need to change musicians that even Ajan Pae may not be able to predict what the next performance will be.
2. There are few shows and an uncertain schedule. As already explained in Performance formats and main venues. This made it very difficult to keep track of their performance. If you're not really interested in listening to classical music.
3. Too much promote the musicians in their own schools. In recent times founder and organizer are associated with Viemus, the Srinarong family's music school. Although there may not be a problem if the musicians are of good quality to qualify for but there is a matter of conflict of interest to be skeptical of.

Suggestions:

1. Find Thai professional musicians to perform in concerto pieces. Although the many artists who performed at the concerts were mostly professors at various music academies. But it's also good to give opportunities to professional Thai musicians, whether they're the former members of this orchestra who have already played with leading orchestras in Thailand, or new people who graduated from leading music institutions from abroad. If invited to perform will give young musicians more professional experience.
2. Finding more venue elsewhere. Although performances at both the Thailand Cultural Center and Suryadhep Music Hall at Rangsit University are very good to great venues. However, there are many venues that are suitable for listening to music in Bangkok. If the seats are available for listeners, it should give them the opportunity to go to several venues to enhance their experience.
3. Set schedule clearly. It is certain that this orchestra will hold at least 2 concerts per year, namely the annual concert and the Galyani Vadhana memorial, but not more than 5 times a year (Informal). They should let audience know in advance that first how many concerts in that year or semester. Are there any semester concert camps competing with other music camps? It is a guideline for planning future management.
4. Having a backup orchestra. Due to the small number of performances. One of the reasons is that not many musicians have few potentials to be on stage, but many of them want to perform on stage. A good solution, to some extent, is to have more orchestra available to perform before entering the main orchestra possibly allowing talented musicians to be in concert. Although they have performed before as a backup in some concerts. But if having their own concert, although it may not be good performance, it will encourage these musicians to have more experience and develop their skills to become the core members of the main orchestra.
5. Arranging exchanging programs. In the past, the orchestra has coordinated with youth orchestra from various countries in Asia to have a concert in Thailand to show the potential of western classical music in Asia. It should be a good opportunity to invite those orchestra to perform again especially from China, Japan and South Korea and ask for fund raising from many parties for TYO to perform back to those countries as well.
6. Encourage more Thai musicians to perform in concerts and music festivals abroad. Despite the fact that not many Thai youth musicians had the opportunity to be perform in Summer Music Camp in quite a number of European countries such as in Lucerne Festival, Verbier Festival, Dresden Music Festival, etc.  Like this orchestra which brings together many talented people also for development of musicians. If that musicians who have the potential to be good at it TYO should be seriously to give them more opportunity to perform at those music festivals in order to accumulate experience and develop into the leading musicians

Recommend Works I want to hear: I think there are many works that I want to hear that I am very interested in standard repertoire. However, since it's a youth orchestra with varied programs so I don't have any interesting works to recommend. But I hope there will be a variety of classic repertoire perform more.

Lastly, I always pay attention to and hope for the quality of this orchestra. Even though the chance to listen to them is limited due to the number of performances and the unfavorable schedule. But the orchestra's existence is a guarantee that the future of classical music in Thailand remains. As long as there are talented Thai musicians to continue to decorate the industry further.

The total score range is out of ten:

• Strings: 7.5 - 9.0
• Woodwinds: 7.0 - 8.5
• Brass: 7.0 - 8.0
• Percussions: 7.0 - 8.0
• Conductors: 7.5 - 9.0
• Overall Average:  7.2 - 8.5