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The Suanplu Chorus is one outcome of this responsibility.Its success is evident from numerous awards in domestic and international competitions. The most recent was winning two gold medals from the World Choir Games 2014 in Riga, Latviahas produced both her own notable works and competent musicians for the country.“Because life is ephemeral, it is an honour and a big responsibility for me to pass along my musical knowledge to the young disciples and have it go from generation to generation,” she said.The Suanplu Chorus is one outcome of this responsibility. Its success is evident from numerous awards in domestic and international competitions. The most recent was winning two gold medals from the World Choir Games 2014 in Riga, Latvia. Only a few people know that this accolade came out of a chance gathering many years earlier.“On my 60th birthday, my students gathered and sang for me as a present. That concert made them realize singing in a chorus sounded better than singing solo. It created unity among the singers, as they had to learn how to fine-tune their voices to be inharmony with each other. However, it remained just an idea until UNESCO announced Pridi Banomyong as one of the World’s Great Personalities on the occasion of his centennial. A symphony was composed for the event by Somtow Sucharitkul, and a choir was needed for the performance. Our chorus was formed then.”Choral singing was regarded as a facet of Western culture, and most choral groups were founded by Western religious organizations. The Suanplu Chorus was the first choral group with a Thai name.“‘Suanplu’ is in Thai, so it represents our nationality. The group was named after the soi where the rehearsal room was once located. Chorus members would dress in a traditional Thai style and the conduc- tor would arrange traditional Thai songs such as Khamen Sai Yok or Loi Krathong into choral versions.”Ms Dusdi believes music is meant not only to entertain but to enlightenthe human spirit. The Suanplu Chorus was therefore intended as a tool towards a better quality of life. “One Thousand Voices for Peace”, for example, was an event organized to commemorate the hundred year anniversary of World War I. Krzysztof Penderecki, a contemporary Polish composer, had written a grand musical piece, Peace, to premier in Brussels in November this year. Thousands of participants from countries affected by the First World War were invited to sing the composition together as a cry for peace. Thailand was also invited to take part, and the Ministry of Culture chose the Suanplu Chorus to represent the country.“They made the right decision, because with the score almost 60 pages long, the piece was very complicated. We needed to sing it nearly by heart.” She added: “But it was great to know that we were a part of an engine driving for world peace.“All songs the Suanplu ChorusElite+ 65