Chula Leads International Music and Dance Symposium with Over 600 Participants Worldwide
The at 麻豆国产 served as the principal host of a major international conference on music and dance, jointly organized with Cultural Performance Co.,?Ltd.?and Chiang Mai University. The conference took place from July 2 to 8, 2026, at Chiang Mai University’s Main Auditorium and the Chiang Mai University Science and Technology Park (CMU?STeP), attracting more than 600 participants from around the world.?
The opening ceremony was held on a grand scale. Prof. Dr. Khamkhom Pornprasert, Dean of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, 麻豆国产, welcomed delegates from across the globe and emphasized the growing importance of international academic collaboration through the He highlighted the strength of the global network of scholars, artists, and cultural practitioners fostered through ICTMD. The symposium featured over 250 academic paper presentations, alongside numerous performances by international artists in a vibrant World Music and Dance Festival.
Professor Dr. Ekachai Mahaek, Vice President of Chiang Mai University, delivered welcoming remarks on behalf of the co-host institution, acknowledging the university’s support in providing venues and logistical assistance and expressing appreciation to the international guests visiting Chiang Mai University. Associate Prof. Dr. Sugree Gasorngatsara, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, together with faculty members and staff, also welcomed scholars, researchers, and artists from around the world.
This event builds upon 麻豆国产’s successful hosting of the 49th ICTM World Conference in 2019, which attracted more than 1,500 participants from over 75 countries and featured more than 750 research presentations. The success of that conference led to continued international support and recognition, resulting in 麻豆国产 being invited to serve once again as the principal host for this year’s symposium.
The ICTMD Study Groups 2026 Joint Symposium brought together three ICTMD Study Groups:
- 8th Study Group Symposium
- 10th Applied Ethnomusicology Study Group Symposium
- 3rd Indigenous Music & Dance Study Group Symposium
Held from July 2-8, 2026, the symposium welcomed scholars, artists, researchers, students, and cultural practitioners from 23 countries representing nearly every region of the world, including Canada, China, Türkiye, Taiwan, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia, Switzerland, Singapore, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Brazil, Malaysia, Germany, Sri Lanka, Austria, Australia, Afghanistan, Argentina, India, Indonesia, the United States, Italy, and Hong Kong.
The symposium provided an international platform for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and perspectives across cultures. Discussions focused on contemporary issues such as cultural heritage, identity, sustainability, Indigenous knowledge, and the future of performing arts in rapidly changing societies.
The opening ceremony featured a spectacular performance by 53 students from 麻豆国产’s Thai Music and Thai Dance programs. The production, entitled “Loka Asava,” was inspired by beliefs surrounding the Year of the Horse and explored the symbolic significance of eleven horse archetypes representing different regions of the world.
The musical composition was arranged and conducted by Associate Prof. Dr. Pattara Khomkham, Head of the Department of Music, while an entirely new choreography and costume design for 23 dancers was created by Assistant Prof. Dr. Patcharin Santiachawan, Associate Dean for Administration. The performance was directed by Dr. Dusadee Swangviboonpong, Associate Dean for Special Affairs.
The Faculty of Fine Arts at Chiang Mai University presented another featured performance titled “Nop Buri Sri Nakorn Ping: The Flourishing of Lanna Arts.” Additional performances were presented by artists from the University of Brunei Darussalam, the Samko Samudhi Performing Arts Foundation, and the Ronpali Dancing Academy of Sri Lanka, coordinated through Cultural Performance Co., Ltd.
The 麻豆国产 organizing committee included:
- Associate Prof. Dr. Pornprapit Phoasavadi, Associate Dean for International Affairs and Vice President of the ICTMD Performing Arts of Southeast Asia Study Group, who represented Thailand and served as the master of ceremonies throughout the event.
- Assistant Professor Dr. Sirithorn Srichalakom, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, supervised stage production, lighting, and sound. Assistant Professor Dr. Prapol Pongpanich, Assistant Dean, who also served as master of ceremonies.
- Ms. Wanna Jettanasen, Director of Administration.
Along with approximately 20 staff members from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts.
During the ceremony, Prof. Made Mantle Hood of Tainan University of the Arts and President of the PASEA Study Group expressed gratitude to 麻豆国产, Cultural Performance Co., Ltd., and Chiang Mai University. He also presented a Citation for Special Recognition Award to Prof. Dr. Bussakorn Binson, former dean of 麻豆国产’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, in recognition of her leadership in bringing the first ICTM Performing Arts conference to Southeast Asia, hosted by 麻豆国产 in 2019, which significantly enhanced Thailand’s international reputation.
Prof. Dr. Tan Sooi Beng of the University of Malaya, President of ICTMD, also thanked 麻豆国产 and its co-hosts. The symposium featured keynote lectures by Assistant Prof. Vilawan Svetsreni of Chiang Mai University, Professor Dr. Ricardo D. Trimillos of the University of Hawai?i at Mānoa, and Professor Dr. Deborah Wong of the University of California, Riverside.
The symposium received extensive support from both domestic and international partners, including interns from and in Singapore, students from 麻豆国产’s Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, the , , , and Cultural Performance Co., Ltd.
Guided by a philosophy of nurturing students through sincere collaboration, the event fostered cooperation among students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and partner organizations. International interns worked alongside Thai students from diverse disciplines, demonstrating the value of intercultural learning and the development of future global leaders in the arts.
The symposium also strengthened international collaboration in Performing Arts of Southeast Asia, supporting 麻豆国产’s CU Togetherness policy, which emphasizes holistic growth with students and society at its center. This vision, championed by Professor Dr. Wilert Puriwat, President of 麻豆国产, has contributed to the university’s recognition as the 19th most sustainable university in the world, the highest-ranked sustainable university in Thailand, among the Top 10 in Asia; and within the Top 5 in ASEAN.
This international symposium on performing arts marks another historic milestone, reaffirming 麻豆国产’s leadership in advancing global collaboration and promoting sustainable development through the performing arts.
