Siam City Hotel and Thailand Guitar Society are bringing back an assembly of international guitar players, luthiers and enthusiasts to Bangkok for one of the biggest and most vibrant events for classical guitar aficionados and music lovers in the region.
Scheduled for June 14-17 at Siam City Hotel, the "Asia International Guitar Festival & Competition 2012" will feature masterclasses, guitar exhibits, competitions and concerts by world-class musicians from Asia, the Americas and Europe.
The programme consists of four days of activities, each day starting with a masterclass at 9.30am (except June 16) and culminating in a night-time concert.
The opening night on June 14 at 8pm will feature the "Gypsy Night Concert", with a gypsy medley performed by Galina Vale, Sakol Siripipattanakul, Tana Suebsiri, Woratep Rattana-umpawan, Leon Koudelak and Shinobu Sugawara. The nights of June 15 and 16 (also at 8pm) will see the talented Sachiko Miyashita and Aniello Desiderio play solo.
The festival will then conclude on a high note with a concert on June 17 at 7pm by the world-renowned musicians Yavet Boyadijev (violin) and Paul Cesarczyk (guitar).
Other highlights include performances by the Wong-Kojorn Guitar Quartet from Thailand and the University of the Philippines Guitar Quintet on June 16 at 4pm.
The event will also feature a guitar competition open to all, with the winner receiving a guitar, case, strings, certificate and performance rights at four prestigious events. Other internationally-acclaimed guests include Chavajed Maskulrat (Thailand), Lester Demetillo (Philippines), Pongpat Pongpradit (Thailand), Koki Fujimoto (Japan), Franco Maigue (Phillipines) and Nalin Phuangkhuamsuk (Thailand).
Top luthiers who will also participate include Narongsak Visenut (Thailand), Yuichi Imai (Japan), Karl Heinz (Germany), Young Seo (Korea), Wiroon Song-Bundit (Thailand), Hanif Palopo (Indonesia), Falko Roemmich (Germany) and Raks Chingsakol (Thailand).
All concerts are performed in the hotel's Rattanakosin Lounge. Tickets cost 600 baht (400 baht for students) for the evening concerts and 300 baht for the afternoon concert on June 16. The masterclass costs 500 baht (200 baht for observers and also for those who wish to view the competition).
