Blind Thai piano student wins international prize after thrilling Canadian judges with her composition
"The blind are not helpless - all they need to be successful is the courage to develop their special talents," says a 21yearold Mahidol University student, just back from Canada where she won the prestigious Maple Prize.
A thirdyear piano student at MU College of Music, Ubolwan "Paeng" Piakaew performed from September 30 to October 4 at the second International Piano Concert by People With Disabilities, in Vancouver. She thrilled the judges with her own composition, "Beautiful Canada", based on a Canadian folk song with a mix of Thai sounds, and walked away with the Maple Award and the US$300 cash prize.
Though she was born blind, Paeng says she has always as¬pired to be a pianist and com¬poser and practised hard for that dream. Explaining that her artistic vision is to combine the sounds of the piano and Thai musical instruments, she said her next ambition was to study in Austria and soak up its great history of classical music.
Sensitive hearing
Paeng was four years old when her mother, suspecting the child had especially sensitive hearing in compensation for the visual impairment, began sending her to piano lessons.
"The first time I heard piano music, I was overwhelmed by how beautiful the sound was. That has been my inspiration to study hard ever since," says Paeng, adding that she spends about 10 hours per day practis¬ing.
Condition 'no obstacle'
Being sightless means she has to concentrate harder so as to remember the notes by heart, but she never thought her condition was an obstacle to study, work or other daily activities.
"I believe that if you are de¬termined enough to do some¬thing, you can do it. But you have to love what you do. I love to play piano so I've practised very hard since childhood," she said.
Since using both hands to play meant she couldn't feel the Braille music scores, Paeng chose to have her teacher play and record songs, which she could then listen back to and memorise.
Her favourite piece to play is Chopin's "Scherzo No 2" because, she says, it evokes so many emotions and always keeps audiences en¬gaged.