CLASSICAL PIANIST, PIANO TEACHER, INTRUCTOR, PEDAGOGUE and EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
BIOGRAPHY
Cholapat Chongstitwattana is the prize winner of 3 piano competitions :
- Gold Medal Winner from the 3rd Youth Music Competition of Thailand, 1999
- 3rd Prize from 6th Bangkok Chopin Piano Competition, 2002
- 3rd Prize from 1st National Piano Concerto Competition, 2004
Since 3 years old, he already gave his whole-hearted love for his piano and music. Cholapat Chongstitwattana, born in Bangkok in 1981 , started his piano lesson at the age of 3. Later, he studied the piano with Ajarn Rosrin Tantikarn and music theory with Ajarn Nalin Komentrakarn at Baan Plaeng Music School, where he learned all the music foundamentals.
Cholapat finished his high school at the prestigious Bangkok Christian College in year 2000. Since then, he became an advanced piano student of Thailand’s foremost pianist and composer, Ajarn Nat Yontararak at Nat Studio music school.
Later, Cholapat entered the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University where he studied piano under the guideline of Prof. Dr. Suwana Wangsophon.
During his faculty years, he won a scholarship from Yamaha Music Foundation in Japan. He performed in many important concerts both solo and ensemble such as in the Cream of Nat Studio, the Karusart Piano Concert, the Karusart Scholarship Students Concert and in many other solo performances.
In October 2002, he won 3rd prize from 6th Bangkok Chopin Piano Competition. He attended and recieved trainning in the class of Prof. Uberto Martinelli.
In January 2004, he was invited to perform with Mr. Pakorn Udomsap, violinist, in "Mozart Study Day", organized by Yamaha Music Academy (Siam Kolkarn).
In March 2004, he Graduated from the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, majoring in Music Education. He now holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education.
In the same year, Cholapat won 3rd Prize from 1st National Piano Concerto Competition, organized by the College of Music, Mahidol University. His performance of Liszt's Piano Concerto no.1 with Salaya Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Prof. Leonard Atherton, was acclaimed in the Bangkok Post for his virtuoso technique and the ability to make natural cantabile phrasings.
From 2004 until 2005, Cholapat was an instructor and piano pedagogue at the Head Office of Yamaha Music Academy (Siam Kolkarn) where he traveled around Thailand to give workshops on piano pedagogy, piano teaching technique and educational psychology for all teachers in Yamaha Music Schools throughout Thailand.
Cholapat was invited to serve as a jury member of Yamaha Thailand Music Festival 2005, in Bangkok and Chiangmai.
From year 2005 to 2007 , he traveled to Switzerland and became a professional piano pupil of Prof. Jean-François Antonioli, Head of Piano Department at Conservatoire de Lausanne Haute Ecole de Musique, Switzerland. He also took Chamber Music courses with important artists-professors; Phillipe Mermoud, Frederic Rapin and Dag Achatz.
After returning to his country in June 2007, his musicianship expanded rapidly. He gave concerts and recitals, collaborated with many professional musicians, organize music activities and acted as an active professional piano accompanist. He also gave private piano lessons to promising young musicians.
From May to August 2007, Cholapat and the saxophonist, Yang Tong from Beijing, cooperated in a duo concert tour. The Duo performed in Switzerland and Thailand, which included some important Asian premieres of saxophone repertoires.
Cholapat participated in many masterclasses conducted by well-known pianists; Dominique Merlet, Boris Berman, Desiré N’Kaoua, Vladimir Krpan, Prof. Jean-François Antonioli, Prof. Chung Lee, Prof. Margit Haider, Prof. Dr. Mikhail Solovei, Paulo Zereu and Uberto Martinelli
Cholapat gave recitals and concerts both in Thailand and abroad. He is highly acclaimed by critics, audiences, music professors and commentors for his brilliant technique and lyrical phrasing.