Chula Students Win Top Prize

Two Chulalongkorn University students, in collaboration with students from the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, won first prize at the PGVIM International Guitar Ensemble Competition 2026.

The winning team included Tonnam Kraisrisawad, a third-year student, and Pachara Seehanern, a fourth-year student in the Western Music program at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, along with Natthawat Jitmuad and Porachate Phophuak from the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music. The competition was held on March 28, 2026, in the open-age international category, with the team receiving a cash prize of 30,000 baht.

The collaboration highlights growing academic and musical partnerships in Thailand’s classical music community. Organized by the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, the competition has been held annually since 2021 and focuses on developing young classical guitarists for the international stage.

The International Classical Guitar Ensemble Competition aims to promote classical guitar performance and encourage ensemble collaboration, providing musicians with more opportunities to perform together. The ensemble format also promotes teamwork and helps participants develop both musical and collaborative skills. The competition is divided into two categories: classical guitar ensemble and classical guitar with other instruments.

This achievement highlights the students’ talent and dedication, as well as the strength of the Western Music program at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, which prepares students for performance and competition at the international level.

Read more at: https://www.chula.ac.th/en/news/297112/