Morakot Cherdchoo-ngarm

Morakot Cherdchoo-ngarm is a Thai composer, arranger, and collaborative pianist. He has been commissioned for a range of prestigious projects, such as composing music for the 100th birthday of Fua Haripitak, performed by the Mahidol Wind Orchestra; Commemoration of 130th anniversary of Phraya Anuman Rajadohn (Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra); and the Maritime Silk Road Symphony Orchestra’s celebration of the 1st anniversary of the Alliance Network for the Development of the Confucius Institute of Thailand.

His works have been showcased at the Thailand Brass and Percussion Conference 2016, Thailand International Composition Festival 2015 & 2017, Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition 2018, Flute Festival Singapore 2018, 4th Congreso Latino Americano de Clarinetistas 2019, International Double Reed Society 2023, and Midwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference 2024. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Grand Prize from the Young Thai Artist Award 2010 (SCG Foundation). His compositions for flute, the Flute Sonatine and Piccolo Sonata, have been commissioned by Kalaya Phongsathorn and are featured on the album ‘Thai Contemporary for the Flutes.’

In addition to his work as a composer, Morakot is also an accomplished collaborative pianist. He has performed with a range of talented musicians with both Thailand and international artists, including Roberto Alvarez (flute), Andrea Giuffredi (trumpet), Paul Archibald (trumpet), Michel Bellavance (flute), Kalaya Phongsathorn (flute), and Prapat Prateepphleepon (trombone). He has also served as a rehearsal pianist for several operas, including Mae Nak and Dan No Ura by Somtow Sucharitkul, Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, Poulenc’s Les mamelles de Tiresias, and Franz Schubert’s Sakontala, under the direction of Pattarasuda Anuman Rajadhon. Morakot holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from the College of Music at Mahidol University. He has studied under the tutelage of esteemed composers such as Atibhop Pataradetpaisan and Valeriy Rizayev, and has received piano instruction from Pitsanu Kaewkampaeng and Dr. Nopanand Chanorathaikul. He also won the third prize in the 8th Bangkok Chopin Piano Competition 2008 and the runner-up award from the Yamaha Thailand Music Festival 2005. Currently, Morakot is a freelance composer and a part-time teacher of collaborative piano at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music (PGVIM) and the Pianist/Organist of the Bangkok Music Society Choir (BMS). He is also the founder of Emerald Music Publications.

• The program note was provided to Thai Wind Composers by the composer.