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Published on April 7, 2008

The most talked-about classical musicians in town, violinist Thaweewet "Paye" Srinarong and cellist Uthaisri "Parn" Srinarong, were hooked on Mozart and Chopin as children.

The brother and sister grew up living and breathing classical music and now are on a mission - to promote classical music to society. They are planning to release their debut album, a light interpretation of classical sounds that will have a wider appeal.

"We've been working on the album. It will appeal to most listeners, but I will need to do a lot of adjusting," says 27-year-old Paye.

Young proteges

Their foray into mainstream music was somewhat accidental. Parn and Paye can still recall performing at an event where Thakolkiat "Boy" Weerawan of Grammy's Exact was so impressed with their casual rendition of classical music that he floated the idea of them making a "casual-classical" album.

"People think you have to be well dressed and well heeled to listen to classical music. That's a misconception. Sometimes I play in jeans and shirts, and that's okay," says Paye.

Parn said the casual factor of the album would hopefully attract newcomers to classical music. "I want listeners to be open-minded. I hope the album will strike a chord with some Thais. I'm lucky my father is a musician," she adds.

Be prepared: when their album is released, the Srinarongs will become household names.

Their TV appearances have already aroused public interest in classical music among children and adults alike.

The Srinarongs came to the media's attention when they won scholarships from HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana to study music abroad.

Parn trained for four years at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. She now teaches music at the Bangkok Symphony School. "I've wanted to perform music since I was little," says Parn, 25.

Her brother Paye went to the Purcell School in England on a HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship, later studying for a BA and MA in music at London's Royal Academy of Music on the Princess's grant.

Getting further

Right now he's doing a PhD in music at Yale in the US.

"I started playing at the age of 10," says Paye.

"Life at the academy was tough. I went there when the baht took a tumble in 1997. Without the royal grant, I wouldn't have completed my studies," he says.

At Yale, Paye has met great musicians from all over the world. His professor has suggested he does post-doctoral study in Vienna, but Paye remains undecided. "I like the vibrant campus life at Yale."

"Classical music is very accessible. The album will prove that," says Parn with a smile.

By Manote Tripathi

Daily XPress