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Music fans flock to Y4Y Music Festival
at Horseshoe Point Resort & Country Club
Suchada Tupchai
Riding on the waves of the inaugural Youth 4 Youth
Music Festival in 2003, this year’s Y4Y music festival saw greater
participation and attendance at the Horseshoe Point Resort & Country
Club. This year’s event, organized by the Srifuengfung Foundation
attracted an international audience to match the talent line-up.
 Swiss
jazz musicians in full swing.
Headlining the weekend event was a Broadway Musical and
Jazz in the Park concerts. Broadway hits were brilliantly performed by
virtuosos Mongkol and Duangdao Chayasirisobhon, both professional singers
from Bangkok. The Jazz in the Park saw internationally acclaimed band,
‘No Square’ from Switzerland, and nationally famous Thai performers
led by singer Saowanit ‘Kop’ Nuaphant and guitarist Thanapat
‘Prode’ Mathayomjantr - both well known in Thai jazz circles. The
concerts were held over the November 5 and 6 weekend at the Romance of the
Three Kingdoms theme park.
Three
Kingdoms Park lights up at night for the event.
The weekend event began with the spectacular show,
‘Dancing with Horses’ featuring the unique Sol, Carousel and Electric
Horse shows from the Horseshoe Point performers, led by Chainarin and
Chaikiri Srifuengfung, Horseshoe Point Resort & Country Club owners.
Cherry Srifuengfung and professional teachers followed them from the
resort before moving on to the next musical performances of Mongkol and
Duangdao Chayasirisobhon who sang up a storm to the music played by 14
year old piano prodigy, Poom Prommachart and Dr. Paddy Dixon. Applause
rang out from the international crowd at the wonderment of such a great
display of international talent.
 All
smiles from Linda Srifuengfung, Jate Sophitpongtorn and Premsenee
Rattanasopha, aka ‘Nong Dream’, famous Thai actress.
On November 6, the Srifuengfung Foundation organized a
number of workshops for young hopefuls, including a Singing Workshop
hosted by Mongkol and Duangdao Chayasirisobhon and a Jazz Workshop hosted
by Swiss jazz musicians ‘No Square’ and nationally acclaimed Thai jazz
performers.
In the evening, international and Thai performers rang
out melodies through the Three Kingdoms Park, wooing the audience with an
array of string, woodwind and vocal talent, ending a very successful event
for 2004.
Linda
Srifuengfung, who inspired the Y4Y Music Festival, opens the event.
Duangdao
and Mongkol Chayasirisobhon perform from their Broadway repertoire.
The
UNICEF booth promotes its projects throughout the region.
Thirapong
Sulawan, Thailand’s top concert pianist plays while Duangdao and Mongkol
Chayasirisobhon perform.
Swiss
jazz pianist anchored the performance.
Poom
Prommachart, 14 year old piano prodigy has successfully held recitals
throughout Thailand under the guidance of his teacher Thirapong Sulawan.
Dr.
Paddy Dixon turned on the musical charm tinkling the ivories.
The
Dancing with Horses performance jump starts this year’s Y4Y Music
Festival.
Event
VIPs (l-r) Chaikiri Srifuengfung; Linda Srifuengfung; Thirapong Sulawan,
Thailand’s top concert pianist; Chainarin Srifuengfung; Duangdao and
Mongkol Chayasirisobhon and Jate Sophitpongtorn.
The Royal Varuna Yacht Club installs new spirit houses
New clubhouse will be Completed soon too
Suchada Tupchai
The Royal Varuna Yacht Club recently installed two new
spirit houses for the premises. These beautiful and uniquely Thai worship
structures were constructed in the Brahman style and replaced the old one
which was badly in need of repair.
The ceremony took place in the morning on November 6,
led by Robert England, Royal Varuna Yacht Club commodore. Administrators,
staff and distinguished guests participated in the ceremony. The new sprit
houses were placed to mark the opening of the new luxury building at the
club.
Before the spirit houses were positioned, a worship
ceremony had to be performed at the old spirit house to ask the
‘Guardian Spirit’ to move in and stay at the new houses. This request
is done to protect all inhabitants of the premises and ensure good luck
and harmony, according to Brahman beliefs.
The old building at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club was aging and needed
replacing because it was made with a wooden frame in October 1967.
Therefore the administrators decided to build a luxurious new building
with more space to support the sailors. The new building is designed in
the shape of a ship and is nearly finished. When completed the club will
be a magnificent haven for sailors and guests. The new spirit houses are
guaranteed to bring joy to all who visit.
The
new spirit houses are being prepared according to the Brahman religion.
The
Brahman ceremony is performed to perfection.
There
are many intricate details that must be performed precisely during the
Brahman ceremonies.
The
two new spirit houses stand proudly at the Royal Varuna Yacht Club.
The
management team prepares the spirit houses for installation.
The
two new spirit houses stand in front of the new building, keeping the
spirits inside the spirit houses and not the new building.
Robert
England (center), Royal Varuna Yacht Club commodore takes part in the
installation of the new spirit houses.
Jazz group “No Square” packs them in for charity fundraiser
European artists thrill Pattaya Jazz fans
The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya under the leadership
of President Judy Hoppe has done it again. This time around Rotarians
worked together with Khun Mongkol Chayasirisobhon of D&M Music Studio
to bring the “No Square Jazz Quartet” to play for the Pattaya crowd
and at the same time help raise funds for the needy children of our
community.
Peter
and Tony Malhotra (standing) entertain the VIPs. (l-r) Prang and Sumon
Jaikid, Sutham Phanthusak, Chanyuth and Vilawan Hengtrakul.
The charity concert was held at the Captain’s Corner
Restaurant on November 7.
Jazz
lover Dr. Sunya Viravaidhya, MD of the Pattaya International Hospital
(left) came by to listen to the beat with Anouska Luke, Werner Kuhr and
Elfi Seitz.
The Swiss quartet included Michael Fischer (German) at
the piano, Yannick Oppliger (French) on the drums, Frenchman Guillaume
Perret playing the saxophone and the German/Swiss Andr้ Hahn. The
talented young musicians played their own compositions and a few that were
adapted from other famous jazz songs.
 Drew
Noyes presents Som Corness with her lucky door prize.
Their style of Jazz thrilled and warmed the hearts of
the audience to such high emotional levels that one young music lover with
tears in his eyes said, “Jazz is my life and this group showed me how
beautiful it really is.”
Amongst the more than 200 people who came to dine and
enjoy the music for the cause of charity were Sutham Phanthusak, managing
director of Tiffany’s Show and Woodland’s Resort; Chanyuth Hengtrakul,
advisor to the minister of tourism and sports and his wife Vilawan and of
course and one of the best known jazz fans in town, Dr. Sunya Viravaidhya,
the managing director of the PIC Group, who also operates the famous Jazz
Pit Pub on Soi 5. Dr. Sunya reiterated what he usually says about jazz
music… “It’s not for everybody”.
 The
No Square Jazz Quartet going through their paces.
The quality of the buffet put on by the Captain’s
Corner was beyond all expectations as is what the community has come to
know whenever Ib and Kannikar Ottesen undertake to organize such an event,
especially if it is for charity.
At
the end of the show flowers were presented to the musicians as a sign of
appreciation. At right is Mongkol Chayasirisobhon of D&M Music Studio
who brought the band to Pattaya.
All in all this was another enjoyable evening with the
Rotarians and members of the community. Proceeds will be used by the
Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya for projects that will benefit and improve
living conditions of underprivileged children in our community.
Judy
Hoppe, president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya welcomes guests to
the Jazz Extravaganza.
The Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya wishes to thank all the sponsors
listed below for their kind contribution both as sponsors and for the many
door prizes presented to the lucky winners that evening.
A
happy winner receives her prize from Virginia Sorensen (right).
Sponsors:
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, BVR Construction Co. Ltd., Captain’s
Corner, Chiangmai Mail, Classic Tailor, Emerson Electric (Thailand), Ge
Laurant Funds, Horseshoe Point and Country Club, Jomtien Boathouse, Massic
Travel, Pattaya Blatt, Pattaya Mail, Pattaya Realty Co. Ltd., Sahib Tailor
Shop, Pappa Co. Ltd., SIA Insurance, Sriracha Golf Club, Swiss Siam
Services Co. Ltd., and Tiffany’s Show.
‘Operation Smile’ opens the way to a brighter future
Austrian organizes help for little “Waow”
Elfi Seitz
Rudi Hofer, spokesman of the Austrian Embassy in
Pattaya, first saw the little girl Waow at the police station of Pattaya,
where he went to help a compatriot. The child had been nabbed by policemen
while begging. “I was shocked when I saw that girl,” remembers Rudi.
“She looked horrible, and I could not speak one word to ask what
happened to her.” Some days later he read it in the Pattaya Blatt. There
was a picture and some words about her life’s story inside.
The
complete crew gives their best wishes to little Waow (in front).
Her face had been intentionally mutilated by a
Cambodian woman so that she nearly didn’t look human anymore. The woman
said she had did that because she wanted the girl to be more successful in
begging from the merciful tourists.
Rudi called me immediately and asked if we could do
something in this case. On his request I contacted our police reporter,
Boonlua Chatree, who gave me the information that the little Waow still
being held in a detention camp and would shortly be extradited back to
Cambodia.
 Rudi
Hofer (left) donates money to the head of the reception camp, Pisit
Poolpipat. Elfi and Martin Brands (far right) are attending too.
Now we started acting. I got the phone number of the
camp and the name of the supervisor, and Rudi called to talk with him.
Furthermore, Rudi drove to that camp personally to speak with the man,
requesting him to possibly delay the extradition. We planned to organize
some treatment for little Waow. Unfortunately, doctors cannot give her
lost eye back to her, but nevertheless she will look more human.
Rudi immediately organized some sponsors (Reyno Blanc,
Helmut Weller, Dominik Ruepimann, Pierre Meyer, family doctor, Markus
Wiegand, Horst Schweizer and Jack’s Tailor) who were very generous. Help
also came from the Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard which is leading a special
welfare program: ‘Operation Smile’. Martin Brands, the founding
president, was very helpful and organized the medical help which will
provide free treatments to the child.
Recently the head of the camp, Shelter for Family and
Children Chonburi, Pisit Poolpipat, brought little Waow to Ubon
Ratchathani. There she was welcomed by Dr. Preeda Aittitomaboon, who will
carry out the treatments for free. Unfortunately there was a set-back.
Because little Waow is from Cambodia, Thai laws do not affect her, and so
she needs the signature of at least one of her parents to perform the
treatments. This seemed impossible. Khun Pisit brought the girl back to
Pattaya, and our hearts were full of sorrow.
I called Sopin Thappajug, associate youth judge in
Chonburi, and she was able to soothe me. “Pisit will drive to little
Waow’s village and organize the signatures from her parents,” she
said. We had a little doubt, but truly to everyone’s relief, it
happened. Pisit came back with a statement of agreement to the treatments
from the parents. Now action could start.
On October 31, Halloween, a little child looking
somehow like a ghost drove to Ubon Ratchathani. Reconstructive surgery
will take months, perhaps years, but eventually this small child will look
human again.
In the first treatment a peace of skin will be
installed in the neck so that the child can better move her head. This
single treatment cost 40,000 baht, with the doctor’s fee for free and
the hospital room not counted. This amount will be completely paid for by
‘Operation Smile’, and the hospital room will be paid with money from
sponsors.
Martin Brand said, “For this first treatment we have
to carry out tests to see if the child is able to bear pain, because all
other treatments will be very painful, since the mutilations are
enormous.”
Rudi Hofer, the precious hero of this story, visits
Waow every Sunday and brings gifts, cookies and sweets to her and the
other children in the camp. And he will try to arrange that Waow can
remain here in Thailand forever. “I will care for her school education
and everything that she needs, and I’m sure that I will find many
helping hands for this,” he said.
Thank you Rudi, Martin, and all others who gave
donations for this! That proves that there are still a lot of people who
care about others.
We will keep our readers up to date about little Waow. Anyone wishing
to donate something for her care can contact Rudi Hofer at Tel. (01) 983
7417.
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