Music has the power to bring the world together. In September, Thailand went half-way around the world to bring renowned American Conductor Carl St. Clair to Bangkok as the new Music Director of the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra.

Texas-born St. Clair is the Music Director of the Pacific Symphony, an American Tier 1 Orchestra, and a position he has held for 35 years. He studied under legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood, and he has been the conductor or assistant conductor for several prominent American and German orchestras during his 40-plus-year career.

“I am so excited to be named Music Director of the TPO, and I look forward to working with its gifted musicians, the vibrant musical community at Mahidol University, and to sharing music with audiences in Thailand and beyond,” St. Clair said upon his selection.

“My very first engagement with the TPO was in 2019. From the first moments together, our music-making has been thrilling, rewarding, and filled with passion and commitment. With each opportunity to make music together, our relationship has deepened profoundly,” he added.

Founded in 2005, the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) was the first orchestra from the Kingdom of Thailand to tour Europe. Its 70 members hail from Thailand and 14 other nations, and it has hosted soloists from around the world. The TPO has recorded four albums of classical Thai music while also performing a wide range of international pieces under the direction of a succession of international and Thai conductors.

The Orchestra is associated with the Mahidol University College of Music and its home is the university’s 2,000-seat auditorium the Prince Mahidol Hall. St. Clair will collaborate closely with the College, where he will mentor musicians through masterclasses, workshops, and educational initiatives.

“With his vast experience and proven international success, I am confident that the arrival of Maestro Carl St. Clair will be a powerful force in elevating the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra to international standards and becoming a truly global orchestra,” said Patama Leeswadtrakul, Chair of the TPO Board of Directors.