Before half term, the Rosamund Stuetzel Theatre came alive with two wonderful strings events celebrating our talented young musicians.

The first was the annual Key Stage 3 Strings Festival, hosted here at Bangkok Patana. Nine schools from across Bangkok joined forces, bringing together over 140 students on stage. Each school’s teacher conducted a piece of their choice, giving students the unique experience of working under a range of inspiring conductors. The programme was wonderfully diverse — from the lyrical Welsh folk tune The Ashgrove to the lively swing of Hit the Road Jack. Mr Tim from St Andrews even wrote a piece especially for the festival, so the students performed their first ever World Premiere! Throughout the day, students made new friends, collaborated beautifully, and worked very hard. The final concert, performed to a packed theatre, was a joyful celebration of teamwork and musicianship.

Hot on its heels came a brand new event: the Patana Strings Showcase, a celebration of every string player in the Secondary School, plus some very special guests! Our Key Stage 3 Strings groups impressed the audience with highlights such as the hauntingly beautiful Interstellar theme performed by the Year 8s, featuring Lauraine Poh on piano. The newly formed Year 7s, some playing for just four weeks, wowed everyone with their enthusiasm and confidence in the debut performance. We also enjoyed performances from our String Quartets, the mighty Patana Orchestra, and the Primary String Ensemble under the baton of Khun Duriyang.

The evening ended with an explosive grand finale — 180 string players performing Firework under the theatre’s dazzling disco lights. It was a truly unforgettable moment that captured the spirit, talent and joy of our Patana Strings players.

A heartfelt thank you to all the students, teachers, and support staff who made these events such a success. What a fantastic way to celebrate the power of music and the strength of our strings family!