Conductor forges international career

Nov 18, 2005

The Thai Government's Ministry of Culture has presented celebrated conductor and UOW Alumni Bundit Ungrangsee with the Silapathorn Award in recognition for his global achievements as a Thai artist.

Mr Ungrangsee completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts degree at UOW in 1993 before studying for his Masters degree in orchestral conducting at the University of Michigan in the United States.

He came to international recognition in 2002 when he was named Laureate and co-winner of the Maazal-Vilar International Conductors' Competition, held in Carnegie Hall in New York City. The competition ranked him first among 362 competitors and led to his appointment as Cover Conductor for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2002-2004 seasons.

Mr Ungrangsee, from Bangkok, has a rapidly expanding guest conducting career that has included invitations from orchestras in the United States, Europe, China, Korea, Australia and Thailand.

In the early stages of his career he held a number of prestigious appointments that recognized his potential, including Music Director of the Young Musicians Foundation (YMF) Debut Orchestra in Los Angeles, Associate Conductor of the Utah Symphony and Associate Conductor of the Charlestown Symphony.

He currently is Principal Guest Conductor for the Seoul Philharmonic.