Ekachai Maskulrat

A promising young Thai cellist, Ekachai had his first cello lesson at the age of fourteen with Mr.Somdech Tongnuam and Ms.Sarinya Kongfuangfoo while he was studying at Sarasas Pithaya School in Bangkok, Thailand. Thereafter he was given a scholarship from the school to study with the distinguished cellist and teacher – Mr.Apichai Liamthong at MIFA Acadamy of Music in Bangkok, Thailand. In June 2001, Ekachai entered the Pre-College Program of the College of Music, Mahidol University, majoring in cello performance. His teachers are Miss Gudula Urban, Mr.Martin Grund and Mr.Juris Lakutis. At present he is receiving the full-scholarship from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore to study with Mr.Qin Li-wei.Among the many music activities he took part during these six years, Ekachai participated in Chamber Music Camp of MIFA Academy of Music (2001), Lanna Music Festival II (2001), III (2002), IV (2003), and in the first Silpakorn Summer Music Camp (2005) which he was selected to perform in Faculty and Honors concert as well. He received the silver and gold medals from Thai National Youth Music Competition IV (2000) and V (2001), the first prize winner in The Thailand Strings Competition (Cello, age 18-25) and just won the first prize in The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concerto Competition 2006/2007 on 13 September 2006 at the Conservatory Concert Hall. Ekachai’s performance of Elgar’s Cello Concerto impressed the adjudicators, who praised him as “a powerful musician and a great young cellist in the making”. Ekachai is founding cellist with the Bangkok Piano Trio and recently played in the second concert by the Bangkok piano trio, which was graced by the presence of H.R.H Princess Galyani Vadhana.As a soloist, Ekachai had his first solo recital at The Piyabhand Sanitwongse Foundation in December 2003. In April 2004 and 2005, He performed The Cello Concerto No.1 in C major, composed by Franz Joseph Haydn, with Siam Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Trisdee Na Pattalung. Ekachai had his successful Elgar debut with Bangkok Symphony Orchestra in January and with Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Orchestra in February 2007.