Pakapol Laosri practices cello during
recess time
15yr old Pakapol Laosri practices his cello
during Recess most of the days at Hillsborough High School.
The cello fits him well, he said. He wrapped an arm around
it between songs on a recent school day. He and a friend played
pop standards and compared report cards. On his wrist, he
wore what looked at first glance like the yellow LiveStrong
wristband.
But his read: "Long Live the King"
The translation in Thai on the other side is more accurately
"We Love the King," said Laosri , which rhymes with
Bach.
Laosri is set to leave today for Thailand, where he will play
his cello at the 60th anniversary celebration
for the longest reigning monarch in Thai history, King Bhumibol
Adulyadej.
Laosri will perform with the Siam Philharmonic and musicians
from major orchestras around the world, as well as other talented
young performers.
It will be his second time playing with this orchestra, a
world away from the Coleman Middle School orchestra, where
he learned to play.
Laosri came to Tampa from Thailand when he was 2. He lives in
Sun Bay South. Every summer he visits his grandfather in Thailand.
Earlier this year, he contacted the artistic director of
the Siam Philharmonic, Somtow Sucharitkul.
One of the goals of the Philharmonic is to encourage young
artists by allowing them to perform with the orchestra. After
hearing Laosri play, Sucharitkul invited him to perform Cosi
fan Tutte, an opera by Mozart, with them this summer. Laosri was the youngest performer.
"It was a blast," he said. "I was astounded
by the power of a professional orchestra."
Laosri credits his mother for supporting his muse.
"You can do whatever you want," she tells him.
"Just be a good person. Do something good for society."
Now a sophomore in the International Baccalaureate
program, Laosri figures his music is a good way to move
people.
"You can put as much emotion into it as you can,"
Laosri said. "The listener, if they have a good ear, can
understand what you're telling them through the music."
Source: sptimes.com
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