A delegation formed by teachers and students from the Center for Traditional Arts, the Department of Traditional Music, the Department of Dance and the Department of Filmmaking has received wide acclaim for their performances at the MUPA Festival in Thailand.
The first week of the Burapha University-organized festival was designated the “TNUA Week,” which greatly increased TNUA’s international visibility. The 31-member TNUA team had the honor to give the opening concert for the festival, whose theme was “Asia on Stage.”
For the week, the TNUA delegation staged various performances, ranging from Beijing Opera, traditional Taiwanese music, and a production mixing music, dance and film with the help of local students.
The delegation also conducted workshops to showcase various art forms, such as Beijing Opera and dance of Taiwan’s indigenous peoples.
Upon arrival in Thailand, the delegation received a warm welcome from Burapha’s president, Prof. Sompol Pongthai and other school officials, teachers and students.
The exchange trip was enabled by assistance of Prof. Nakano Koji of Burapha University. Prof. Nakano, who has been guest professor at TNUA’s School of Music since 2010, has been keen on nurturing a new generation of music composers in Asia.
He has been impressed by TNUA students’ creativity, and hopes they can get inspiration from their culture. While Taiwanese music has its root in Chinese music, students must identify the difference between the two and create music that belongs to and reflect their own culture.
Apart from participating in the MUPA Festival, TNUA officials also acted on behalf of the school to sign a pact to establish sister ties with Chulalongkorn University.