The Birth of A Festival
On a warm summer evening in 2000, amidst the lively atmosphere of the Verbier Festival and Academy in that charming Swiss Alpine town, Linda Srifuengfung, a Thai expat living in Switzerland sat and enjoyed a performance by the UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra with its Executive Director, Martin T:son Engstroem.  Suddenly, Linda had a vision of transporting the musical festivities before her eyes to her home country, and an hour later she and T:son Engstroem were deep in a lively discussion about the idea of bringing the prestigious orchestra to Thailand.

With the initial support of the UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra Foundation, Linda has since brought in the Srifuengfung Foundation and garnered the support of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation to form an organizing committee, chaired by Khun Anand Panyarachun, to bring that seed of an idea spawned on the lawns of Verbier in 2000 into reality in the upcoming Y4Y Music Festival, slated to take place in Pattaya and Bangkok in November 5-9, 2003.

A must-attend event for Music Lovers and Families
The festival promises to be five days with musical and performing arts fun with a packed performance schedule on Friday November 7 and Saturday November 8.

Set in the the Three Kingdoms Park and Horseshoe Point Resort in Pattaya, the first four days of the festival will give aspiring Thai musicians from various music and general institutions opportunities to get a glimpse behind the scene of the world-class UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra at its open rehearsals, as well as interact with its great music talents from around the world.  Other Thai music lovers can enjoy intimate outdoor chamber music and mini concerts performed by members of the Orchestra, as well as various other performances ranging from tradtional Esarn music to whimsical jazz in beautifully manicured landscapes. Finally, there will also be informal music and drama workshops for families to participate in for a little educational fun. All these performances will be set admist a beautiful park with stunning classical Chinese architectural building.  It is the first time to have a music festival that is concentrated in one place that enable the audience to participate and interact with the performers.

The highlight of the festival will be the finale concert by the UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra at the National Theatre on November 9.  HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, who is a great appreciator of the Orchestra, having seen its performances in the Verbier Festival & Academy in the past two years, will be presiding as the royal guest of honor on the occasion of her 80^th Birthday.

Furthermore, the organizing committee has taken this opportunity to set a musical camp that consist of more than 70 local musicians to be able to come together in a 3 nights musical camp. Given them the opportunity to interact with the great musicians and allowing them to perform their talent in the festival that raises funds to other Youth in Thailand that are in need will enhance their energy to strive forwards towards their dreams of becoming a great musicians.

Youth For Youth: A Cause Worth Supporting

In keeping with the organizing’s committee’s goal to not only foster music and arts appreciation among Thai youth, but to also support general youth development in Thailand, the net proceeds of the Festival will benefit the disadvantaged children in Thailand through various programmes undertaken by UNICEF to enhance the well-being of the needy children in Thailand.  Your support will enable UNICEF to carry on its efforts towards improving the quality of life of children in Thailand who will be the future of the nation.

Click here for more information on:

1> Festival Performances in Pattaya. more>>
2> Celebration Concert in Bangkok. more>>
3> Music Camp. more>>

For more information on Y4K Music Festival, please contact Khun Kanittha at 02-6620801.