Chaipruck Mekara is a Chiang Mai native.  After graduating from Payap University, he received his Masters of Music degree (double major in Music Composition and Clarinet performance) from Roosevelt University, where he studied with Dr. Robert Lombardo.  In 2003, Mekara received his DMA in Music Composition from Northwestern University, where is studied with Dr. Stephen Syverud, Dr. William Karlins, and Dr. Jay Allan Yim.  Like many Asian composers who went abroad to continue their education, he realized the value of his native culture while in a foreign land.  His music attempts to combine the aesthetic philosophy of the East with the compositional techniques of the West.  Mekara’s music was performed by the Thai Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Chiangmai Symphony Orchestra and by various artists such as TIMF Ensemble (Korea), TICF artists in resident (Thailand).  His composition also was premiered at the World Choir Games, 2012, Cincinnati, OH, International Trumpet Guild, 2011 Minneapolis, MN. Thailand International Composition Festival, Thailand, and Asian Young Musicians’ Connection, Chaipruck also gave series of lecture at several Schools of Music in the US. for example Northwestern University, IL, Columbia College, IL, University of Iowa, California State University, San Bernardino, CA and Illinois Wesleyan University, IL.  In Thailand, Chaipruck founded the Chiangmai Youth Philharmonic Band and Symphony Orchestra Foundation.  As a conductor, in 2005-2006, he was a music director and conductor of the Musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” Produced by The Voice Studio.  In 2005, Mr. Mekara composed and conducted the “Farung Rum Thao” for Symphonic Band and Thai Classical Orchestra for the Princess of Thailand.  Mekara was invited as a conductor in resident of China-ASEAN Music Week, 2015 in Nanning, Quangxi, China.  In 2016-present, Mekara Co-founded the Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Festival and Competition, where he serves as the festival director.  Mekara was the dean of the College of Music, Payap University from 2010-2012.  He is now also the music director and conductor of the Chiangmai Symphony Orchestra and the Chiangmai Philharmonic Band. Mekara is also a Music Composition instructor at the College of Music at Payap University.

Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Festival website: http://chiangmai-imf.com