Held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Tuesday in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building, the Music of Thailand concert kicked off the 2026 World Music Festival.
The concert celebrated Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year’s festival. In the lobby outside the concert hall Thai tea, water and Thai food were available for people to sample.
The ensemble performed a program of Thai classical and folk music, using rhythms, unique instruments and centuries-old traditions. The concert featured multiple ensembles, each highlighting a different style of Thai music and regional influence.
The program opened with pieces such as “เขมรไทรโยค (Kamen Sai Yok)” and “ค้างคาวกินกล้วย (Kung Kow Kin Klauy),” performed by a combination of classical guitar and the khlui, a traditional Thai bamboo flute.
A highlight of the evening was “คลื่นกระทบฝั่ง (Klaun Kratob Fung),” performed by the Mahori ensemble. Directed by Patcharita Pankaew, the piece featured instruments such as the khim (hammered dulcimer), jakhae (zither) and saw duang and saw u (Thai bowed string instruments).
The concert continued with “มูล่ง (Mulung),” performed by the Piphat Mai Naum ensemble, a traditional Thai orchestra centered around percussion and wind instruments. Led by Ethan Cowburn and Silas Ashby, the group featured instruments such as the ranat ek (xylophone), pi nai (reed oboe) and khawng wong yai (gong circle), producing bold, ceremonial sounds often associated with royal and religious events.
Another standout performance was “แขกมอญบางขุนพรหม (Khae-Mon-Bang-Khun-Prom),” played by the Kruang Sai Pi Mon ensemble. Led by Kitti Somsuk and Anuthep Meelertsom, this piece blended Mon cultural influences with Thai instrumentation, including the pi mon and jakhae, creating a rich and resonant musical experience.
The program also featured “ไหว้ครูมวย (Wai Khru Muay),” a traditional piece associated with Muay Thai rituals, performed by a Pi Muay ensemble. The rhythmic drumming and piercing melodies of the pi chawa captured the ceremonial energy of pre-fight traditions.
Closing the concert was the lively “แมงภู่ตอมดอก (Mang Pu Tom Dok)” by the Ponglang ensemble, which highlighted northeastern Thai folk music. Instruments such as the ponglang (wooden xylophone), khaen (mouth organ) and wot (pan flute) created an upbeat, festive atmosphere that left the audience energized. The audience was brought in to dance with students in the Thai language program.
Kanjana Thepboriruk, an associate professor of Thai language at NIU, said the concert reflected deeper cultural connections beyond the music itself, including traditional attire worn by performers.
“So the clothing, we tried as best as we can to feature all four regions of Thailand,” Thepboriruk said. “But it’s limited by what we have in inventory. And also we tried to pick something that they would feel comfortable in, they would feel beautiful in, and also allows movement for the dance.”
Thepboriruk also emphasized the uniqueness of NIU’s Thai program and its national significance.
“The whole country, there are only eight universities that teach Thai language, and NIU is one of them,” Thepboriruk said. “The whole country only has three Thai ensembles, and we are one of them… so we are a really special place for the field of Thai studies.”
Chamni Sripraram, an adjunct professor at NIU and director of the Thai Music Ensemble, played a central role in the performance both as a musician and educator. Known by his students as Ajarn Chamni, he has dedicated decades to teaching and promoting Thai music in the U.S.
The ensemble included a mix of students, faculty and guest performers, reflecting both the educational and cultural mission of the program. Through their performances, they not only entertained but also preserved and shared the traditions of Thai music with a diverse audience in DeKalb.
The events continue with the Music of Mexico from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday in the Concert Hall, World Music Fusion from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday in the Recital Hall and it ends with the Global Traditions & Cultural Crossroads from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday in the Concert Hall.