Chatroom: Composers meet Conductor

Nipat Kanchanahud, D.M.A. is a full-time faculty at Department of Western Music, Faculty of Humanities, Kasetsart University. While he is the Conductor in Residence of Kasetsart University Wind Symphony, Nipat has collaborated with many world-class musicians and composers namely Prof. Boris Berman, famous pianist and professor from Yale University, Dr. Indhuon Srikaranonda a famous pianist from Thailand, Dr.Timothy Thompson, a well known Hornist from University of Arkansas, Jan Van de Roost, and Satoshi Yagisawa.
Dr. Nipat Kanchanahud completed Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind conducting performance (D.M.A. Conducting Performance) from University of North Texas, Denton TX, U.S.A. where he was a doctoral conducting associate of North Texas Wind Studies as well as guest conductor of North Texas Wind Symphony, North Texas Symphonic Band, and North Texas Concert band. He was also a graduate teaching fellow of Wind Conducting class of Prof. Eugene M. Corporon and Prof. Dennis W. Fisher. While studying, Nipat has been the drill formation designer of “The Green Brigade” UNT Marching Band since 2004 – 2006, and 2012 – 1015 under the direction of Dr. Nicholas E Williams. In addition, he studied horn with Prof.William Scharnberg and was a horn player of North Texas Wind Symphony. A native of Krabi Province, Dr. Nipat started his music education in Bangkok while in secondary school at Wat Suthiwararam School, one of Thailand’s leading schools for wind band. He grew up in the environment of wind band during his 6 years in secondary school and was selected to be a band – leader for the last two years of his studies.
Dr.Nipat graduated from the Department of Music, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts Chulalongkorn University with 2nd Class Honors in 1990, where he had a chance for the first time to take conducting class with Associate Professor Dr. Thongsuang Israngkur na Ayudhya, which led him to pursue his future career as one of Thailand’s most prominent wind band conductors and directors. In August 2006 he completed Master of Music degree in Wind conducting (M.M. Wind Conducting) from University of North Texas, Denton TX, U.S.A. where he was a master’s conducting associate at University of North Texas Wind Studies.
Having been appointed as a horn player of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra between 1988- 1995, Dr. Nipat had many opportunities to perform and work with famous conductors and musicians. He passed the audition to participate in the “1st ASEAN Symphonic Band Workshop” in Singapore in April 1992. Later that year he was selected among youth from all Asian countries to participate in the “Asian Youth Orchestra Music Camp and Concert Tours 1992”.
Dr. Nipat is regarded as one of Thailand’s most famous drill formation designers and has conducted workshops on drill design for many occasions In 1998, he was selected to be the Drill Formation Director of the 13th ASIAN GAMES’ opening and closing ceremonies.
In 2011, he was invited to conduct the Wind Ensemble at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While in residence, he worked with music performance and education students in the conducting class.
2012-2015, as a doctoral conducting associate of North Texas Wind Studies, he was a guest conductor of North Texas Wind Symphony, North Texas Symphonic Band, and North Texas Concert band. He was invited to conduct Ohio University Wind Symphony on Spring 2014 Concert and 2015 Summer Concert.
Dr.Nipat Kanchanahud has served as a jury member in many prestigious marching band competitions worldwide. He was one of the jury members of Show Band Competition and Concert Percussion Competition at the World Music Contest 2005, 2009 and in 2017 in Kerkrade, The Netherlands, where he also participated in the 3rd International Round Table Conference at Rolduc Conference Center in July 2005. Moreover, he was invited from the World Association of Marching Show Band to be in the judges panel of the World Marching Show Band Championships throughout the world. In 1998 and 2008 he was invited by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Singapore to sit in the panel of judges for “Grand National Marching Band Competition”.
Dr.Nipat Kanchanahud was a recipient of the University of North Texas Academic and Graduate Assistantship Tuition Scholarship Award while he was studying his doctoral degree. In addition, he is an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. He is a sought-after recording, associate producer, and editor, having been involved with numerous CDs and DVDs on the Klavier, Mark Records, GIA, and UNT labels.
In addition to his work in the recording arts, he has written conductor study guides that are published in the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band Series Vol.10 (2015), Middle School (2015), Vol.11 (2017), and Vol.12 (2020)
July 2023, as a conductor, he was invited to lead the Kasetsart Winds to performed at Lila Cockrell Theater, in Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA) Convention 2023, San Antonio Texas. He also conducted the clinic in TBA 2023 convention “Winds of Siam: a Cross Cultural Experience for Wind Bands”.