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of Pridi Banomyong, former prime minister of Thailand, and Thanpuying Phoonsuk Banomyong. Coming from a political family did not keep her from a respected career in music pedagogy.“When my great-grandfather was alive, we arranged our own mahori [traditional Thai music band],” she explained in an exclusive inter- view with Elite+. “My grandfather played accordion, which was very avant-garde at the time. And he let members of the family try different kinds of instruments. It was a pity my father was more of a scholar than a musician. He graduated at a young age and had no time to study music. But others in the family inherited musical talent from my grandfather – four of his descendents made careers in music, and others played music for pleasure.”Her maternal grandparents, who knew little about music, appreciated the melodies and encouraged their children to learn to play instruments. Her mother played piano, so Dusdi had a chance to hear music from her time in the womb.“I regarded my mother as my first music teacher. This family background was probably why I went down the pathway of music.”External factors, namely Thai politics at the time, also played a part in pushing her and her siblings into musical careers.“Originally I took music lessons as a hobby. I sang and played piano, but I never imagined this would play a significant part of my future. As I did well academically, everyone kept advising me to continue my studies in medicine. Then one day after our family reunited with my father in China, I was invited to observe brain surgery and acupuncture in Shanghai. As I watched the doctor drilling deep into the patient’s skull, I passed out. This made me give up on my dream of‘I regarded my mother as my first music teacher. This family background was probably why I went down the pathway of music’becoming a doctor. My sister Suda, who had graduated in music studies, arrived from France then, so I gave more thought to what I should do in the future.”It was a time of political volatility in Thailand, as Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat staged a coup and took control of the country. As a result, her sister was blacklisted, leaving her unable to return home. Her father suggested it might be better if Ms Dusdi continued her studies in China.“I was assigned to be Suda’s interpreter during her courses at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.”Her father’s decision awakened the dormant spirit of music in her. Ms Dusdi pursued her own studies at the Central Conservatory of Music, graduating with a master’s degree in classical singing and a minor in piano. Later she took a postgraduate course at the Royal College of Music in London.In her life as a music teacher sheElite+ 63