Edward Carter's TRAVELS: An Uplifting Evening

An Uplifting Evening
By Edward Carter

Dateline: Bangkok, April 2, 2007
A 3-minute read

The King's Award

Last Saturday, I attended a gala dinner in the ballroom of The Conrad Hotel for The Conrad Young Musician of Thailand Competition in association with the Royal Over-Seas League.

I was invited by Mr. Gregory Meadows—the “No, we don’t charge our guests to use the Internet”—General Manager of The Conrad. Gregory hosted some 200 glittering guests and served a delicious five-course dinner accompanied by classical and contemporary tunes from The Royal Thai Navy Orchestra.

After dinner, seven young Thai finalists took the spotlight in turn to compete for The King’s Award. Thailand’s King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, a world class musician and composer, was represented by His Excellency Rear Admiral Mom Luang Usni Pramoj, Honorary Musical Advisor to the Royal Over-Seas League’s Thailand branch.

There were two cellists, aged 13 and 18; three pianists, each 16; a fifteen-year-old violinist; and an eighteen-year-old trumpeter.

During the mesmerizing performances, there was neither a pin-drop nor a ring-tone, then waves of applause cascaded over the astonished performers from the equally astonished guests, and the room filled with a generosity of spirit, a respect for talent, and a bonhomie not experienced for a long time.

Thai National Artist and Privy Councillor to H.M. The King, Rear Admiral M.L. Usni Pramoj played in the university band when at Oxford, and following two years as a Barrister-at-Law in London at Gray’s Inn, returned to Thailand and helped form a band called “Pro Musica,” becoming manager, soloist, and conductor. He is regarded as a pioneer of western-styled classical music in Thailand, with his own compositions and chorus arrangements of songs written by His Majesty the King. As Honorary Musical Advisor, he coordinated the judging.

The judges:
• Chris Craker – General Manager and Senior Vice President of Sony BMG Masterworks
• Vienna-born Professor Michael Ma – Head of Strings at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts
• Richard Harvey – Prolific composer, conductor, and virtuoso performer whose musical credits include "The Da Vinci Code," "The Lion King," and all the Harry Potter films
• Albert Tiu – with a Master of Music from Juilliard, Mr. Tiu has won awards and appeared as a soloist all over the world, and currently is Assistant Professor at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music as well as Vice President of the Singapore Music Teachers’ Association.

The Royal Over-Seas League is a global, self-funded, non-profit and non-governmental organisation founded in 1910 to encourage international friendship and understanding. It is under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. Over the years, the Royal Over-Seas League has developed a diverse range of activities and projects devoted to promoting the careers of talented young professional artists and musicians from around the world, and awards substantial funds for solo performers, accompanists, and chamber ensembles, and will stage a concert in London for the winner of The King's Award.

Gregory Meadows was responsible for the formation of The Thailand branch of the League that was inaugurated in November, 2005. In December of last year at a press conference in The Conrad Hotel Bangkok, the Young Musician of Thailand Award was announced as a joint venture between The Royal Over-Seas League Thailand and The Conrad Hotel Bangkok. Following the announcement, His Majesty King Bhumibhol Adulyadej gave His Majesty’s recognition, permitting the trophy to be known as 'The King’s Award.'

The seven finalists lined up on the stage, and with a flourish, Rear Admiral M.L. Usni Pramoj handed the beautiful, teak mounted, golden clef—The King’s Award—to the 18-year-old cellist, Ms. Tapalin Charoensook. But before acknowledging the standing ovation, she first stood in front of a twice-life-size portrait of the King, to whom she deeply bowed.

Everyone was moved — the majesty of the King is the majesty of Thailand.

Thank you, Gregory, it was an uplifting evening.

Gregory Meadows and Ms. Tapalin

His Excellency M.L. Usni Pramoj (3rd right), Privy Councillor, presented The King’s Award to The Winner, Ms. Tapalin Charoensook (5th right), the Cellist, age 18, who won The Conrad Young Musician of Thailand Competition year 2007, held by The Conrad Hotel in association with the Royal Over-Seas League at the hotel’s ballroom.

Photo shows from left to right:
1. Mr. Gregory Meadows, General Manager of The Conrad Hotel
2. Mr. Albert Tiu, Judge
3. M.R. Thep Devakula, Privy Councillor
4. Mr. Michael Ma, Judge
5. Ms. Tapalin Charoensuk, The Winner of Competition
6. Mr. Richard Harvey, Judge
7. H.E. M.L. Usni Pramoj, Privy Councillor
8. Mr. Chris Craker, Judge
9. Mr. John Pawson, Chairman of the Royal Over-Seas League, Thailand branch

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