The Journey of Sound: From Baroque Splendor to Modern Reflection

Thailand’s leading violinist and pedagogue, Toto, graduated Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance(Honours) from Asia’s most prestigious Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore. He succeeded Master Degree in Violin Performance with Distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in London where he also received his teaching diploma, the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM). Toto’s playing is majorly inspired by the legendary Mayumi Fujikawa, his latest teacher, but he also attended festivals and masterclasses where he got chances to learn from the world’s best violin pedagogues like Zakhar Bron, Miriam Fried, Shlomo Mintz, Pierre Amoyal, Koichiro Harada, etc.

He founded Virtuosi Thailand in 2019. As the ensemble presents the most touching performances of classical masterpieces for the community of music lovers in Thailand, it also provides a platform for younger talented musicians to showcase their craftsmanships. Currently, Toto exclusively teaches at Bangkok String Academy. He plays on Amédée Dieudonné, Mirecourt, 1942 violin

Ekkalak began learning viola at the age of 15 at the Royal Thai Army School of Music under the guidance of SGT. U-Thai Khumchaya. Later, he received a scholarship to study with Miti Wisuttiamporn at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, where he graduated with first-class honours. He participated at the Silpakorn Summer Music School, where he had the opportunity to play in a masterclass with Prof. Richard Crabtree, and also joined the Summa Cum Lauder International Music Festival 2017 in Vienna, as well as the 2018 International Alicante of Youth Orchestra in Spain. Ekkalak served as the principal violist of the Royal Thai Army Orchestra and as a viola faculty member at the Royal Thai Army Music School between 2016–2020. He has won first prizes at the Princess Galyani Vadhana International Music Competition in 2018 and the Valaya Alongkorn String Ensemble Competition (Royal Trophy) in 2024. Currently, he is a violist with both the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and the Bangkok Metropolitan Orchestra.

Visanee Vongvirulh is a Thai professional violinist and educator. She is a violin instructor at the College of Music, Mahidol University, as well as at her own private teaching studio, Visanee Violin Studio. Visanee graduated with a first-class honors in Music Performance (Violin) from the College of Music, Mahidol University, in 2012 and awarded a 9-month classical music training scholarship from ASEA-UNINET in 2012-2013. From 2014 to 2021, she was funded by the Royal Thai Government to pursue a second Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Instrument Pedagogy (Violin) at Mozarteum University, Salzburg, Austria. In 2024, she was awarded Mahidol University Scholarship to attend a summer workshop at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.

Visanee has performed with various orchestras, including the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, Austrian Festival Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta da Camerata Salzburg, Immling Festival Orchestra, Philharmonie Salzburg, Skive Opera Festival Orchestra, Opernfestspiele Schloss Amerang, and Oper im Berg Festival Orchestra. She was the concertmaster of the Thailand Elite Orchestra, leading the performances of the opera Rigoletto.

Visanee has also advised and guided young musicians to win various competitions. In 2023, she received the Certificate of Recognition as an Inspiring Music Teacher from the Music Teachers Association of Thailand, and in 2024, she was awarded the Academic Staff of the Year by College of Music, Mahidol University.

Current Principal Double Bass of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Nattawut is a native of Chumphon, Thailand. He joined Thai Youth Orchestra as principal in 2015-2016, Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra as principal in 2017, and joined Hong Kong Double Bass Camp study with Catalin Rotaru in 2016 and Jeff Bradetich 2017. He won the second prize of Beethoven Competition Thailand in 2016 and won the first prize of Princess Galyani Vadhana International Ensemble Competition in 2018. Jay attended International Summer Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with a full scholarship. In 2021 got the Scholarship’s Princess Sirivannavari Cultivated Arts Foundation. He participated in many masterclasses and took private lessons with Dong Hyuck Ahn, Guennadi Mouzyka, Jiří Hudec, Edicson Ruiz, Janusz Widzyk, Sławomir Grenda. He graduated double bass performances with Prof. Josef Niederhammer at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and Bachelor of Music Program at Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music with First class honors.

Dr. Smatya Wathawathana is a professional cellist with over 20 years of orchestral experience and currently serves as a cello instructor at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music. Her distinguished career includes performances with internationally renowned artists such as Michael Bublé, David Foster, Katharine McPhee, Andrea Bocelli, Mischa Maisky, Sumi Jo, Vanessa Mae, and numerous prominent Thai musicians.

Her international performance experience spans England, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Canada, and China, reflecting her extensive experience and versatility as a professional cellist.