Chula and Yunnan Arts University Strengthen Thai-Chinese Ties Through Traditional Music Exchange
The Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts and the Office of Art and Culture Administration, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the School of Music, Yunnan Arts University, organized the academic exchange and performance program “Sino-Thai Traditional Music Exchange Concert” under the theme “Harmony & Resonance.” The program was held from August 23-26, 2026, at Yunnan Arts University in the People’s Republic of China.
The Chulalongkorn delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, together with Asst. Prof. Dr. Vitchatalum Laovanich, Assistant to the President for Art and Culture Promotion; Mr. Kunchit Jitratan, Director of the Office of Art and Culture Administration; Dr. Dusadee Swangviboonpong, Associate Dean for Special Affairs, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pornprapit Phoasavadi, Associate Dean for International Affairs; Dr. Sawanya Tubsang; and Mr. Supapipat Posuwan, a lecturer in Thai Music at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts.
The program marked a concrete continuation of the relationship between the two institutions following the signing of an academic cooperation agreement between Chulalongkorn University and Yunnan Arts University in 2025. The partnership has expanded from university-level cooperation into joint academic and cultural activities, including knowledge exchange, academic conferences, music workshops, and international arts and music experiences for students from both universities.
The program featured four major activities, beginning with the opening ceremony of “Harmony & Resonance” on 24 August 2026 at the School of Music, Yunnan Arts University.
Academic Lecture and Knowledge Exchange
On August 25, 2026, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., Prof. Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit delivered a lecture entitled “Thai Traditional Music: Instruments, Ensembles, and Performance Methods.”
The lecture introduced Thai musical instruments, ensemble structures and components, as well as performance techniques and approaches. It aimed to deepen understanding of Thailand’s musical systems and performance culture among faculty members and students of Yunnan Arts University, as well as approximately 150 scholars from 20 music institutions across China.
The lecture was followed by a discussion with Prof. Dr. Zhoa Zhongming, a leading Chinese scholar specializing in musicology and artificial intelligence from the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing.
Sino-Thai Traditional Music Exchange Concert
In the afternoon, Chulalongkorn University joined Yunnan Arts University in presenting the China-Thailand Joint Concert: Sino-Thai Traditional Music Exchange Concert at the Yunnan Arts University Concert Hall.
The concert served as a platform for musical exchange between Thailand and China. A total of 21 students from the Thai Music program at Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts participated, while faculty members and students from Yunnan Arts University presented the distinctive characteristics and diversity of music from southern China.
The joint performance created a shared learning space through music, with the repertoire and rehearsals designed and supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pattara Komkhum, Head of the Department of Music, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts.
The Thai Music Ensemble of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts presented Thai music accompanied by multimedia elements depicting the journey of the musicians from Thailand to Kunming, a city known as the “City of Flowers of the World.”
The repertoire therefore featured compositions connected to flowers, plants, and nature and was divided into three sections representing night, daytime, and dusk.
A special highlight was the solo jakhe performance of “Montha Sawan.” A new melodic arrangement for the solo jakhe performance was composed by Prof. Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit and performed by the three students majoring in jakhe who were visiting Yunnan Arts University for the first time.
Harmony & Resonance Across Borders
The performances by Chulalongkorn University and Yunnan Arts University, under the theme “Harmony & Resonance – 滇泰合音 跨境共鸣,” reflected the meeting, integration, and shared exploration of musical traditions across borders.
The program also strengthened cross-cultural academic and musical ties and advanced academic cooperation between music institutions in Thailand and China. Music served as a medium for connecting students, knowledge, and cultures, creating meaningful opportunities for learning and collaboration.
Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremony was jointly organized by Chulalongkorn University and Yunnan Arts University. The event featured remarks by Prof. Yang Minkang, Senior Expert at the Research Center for Music of Southern China and Neighboring Countries, and Prof. Yang Hong of the China Conservatory of Music, who highlighted opportunities to expand the boundaries of knowledge connecting the musical traditions of southern China and Southeast Asia.
Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University
Prof. Dr. Kumkom Pornprasit, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, spoke about the achievements of the academic and musical exchange between Thailand and China, as well as future directions for continued academic and cultural cooperation between the two universities.
Prof. Lin Lin, Dean of the School of Music, Yunnan Arts University, officially delivered the closing remarks. The ceremony was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Cao Zhiwu, Deputy Dean of the School of Music, Yunnan Arts University.
The closing ceremony brought together the activities held from August 23-26, 2026, including academic lectures, workshops, music knowledge exchange, and joint performances. The program provided opportunities for faculty members and students from both countries to learn from one another through hands-on collaboration and shared artistic practice.
Building a Sustainable Thailand–China Music Network
The exchange program was jointly organized by the School of Music, Yunnan Arts University, and the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, with the Research Center for Music of Southern China and Neighboring Countries serving as the implementing unit.
The program also received support from the South and Southeast Asian Arts Education Alliance, the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Yunnan Arts University, the Center of Excellence for Thai Music and Culture Research, and the Office of Art and Culture Administration, Chulalongkorn University, in collaboration with the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts.
The academic exchange and performances represent a tangible outcome of the academic cooperation agreement signed by the two universities in 2025 and mark another important step toward developing sustained networks in music, arts and culture, education, and international exchange.
The collaboration provides students with opportunities to strengthen their professional and music research skills while fostering lasting friendships and deeper understanding among Thai and Chinese music scholars and students.
