Activities

GREAT DAY! Honoring Marian Anderson เสียงสวรรค์ สู่สยาม

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By Gitameit Friends USA
Time: 18.00 – 20.00 hrs.

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GREAT DAY! Honoring Marian Anderson
“เสียงสวรรค์ สู่สยาม”

A commemorative concert honoring Marian Anderson, the legendary American contralto who built cultural bridges through classical music and African American Spirituals.

Gitameit Friends USA warmly invites you to experience history brought back to life at “GREAT DAY! Honoring Marian Anderson: เสียงสวรรค์ สู่สยาม” — a special concert and talk celebrating the historic visit of Marian Anderson (1897–1993), the world-renowned contralto whose art and dignity left an enduring mark in humanitarian and cultural understandings.

This event is presented as part of “The Octave Zero” project, commemorating the 80th birthday of Bruce Gaston (1947–2021), the American composer and musician whose profound contributions have shaped the development of contemporary music in Thailand. The event will take place on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC).

Revisiting a Historic Moment

In 1957, Marian Anderson came to  Thailand as a cultural ambassador on a Far East Tour sponsored by the US State Department. During her visit, she was granted a royal audience and performed African American Spirituals and classical repertoire before His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand (Rama IX).

Her visit symbolized the strong cultural ties between Thailand and the United States and demonstrated the boundless power of music to transcend borders.

From the Legacy of Marian Anderson

To the Spirit of Bruce Gaston

This concert is presented in collaboration with The Octave Zero project in tribute to Bruce Gaston, an American composer who devoted his life to advancing contemporary music in Thailand.

Together, these artistic legacies reflect the enduring role of American artists deeply connected to Thai culture, using music as a bridge for dialogue, understanding, and lasting friendship.

Performance

“GREAT DAY! Honoring Marian Anderson” will revive repertoire performed by Marian Anderson in Bangkok — including selections once sung before the King — reinterpreted by internationally distinguished artists:

Angela Powell Walker

Opera Soprano, Assistant Professor, and Coordinator of the Classical Voice Program at Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts in Washington, DC. She has performed at major venues, including The Metropolitan Opera and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Kit Young

Pianist-improviser/composer, Howard University Piano Faculty member. Ms. Young’s many years in Thailand and Myanmar merged her own focus on Thai and Burmese music traditions with building communities of younger musicians interested in new musical expressions.  Ms. Young’s fruitful performing collaborations with Thai, Burmese, and Chinese musicians and artists evolved into the founding of Gitameit Music Institute in Myanmar, Prasarnmit Piano, and Lanna Chamber Music Festivals in Thailand.

Event Details
Date & Time: Friday, March 13, 2026 6:00–8:00 PM
Venue: Auditorium, 5th Floor, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
Admission: Free and Open to the Public

Program Highlights:
Works by Mozart, Schubert, Massenet, Barber, Swanson, and African American Spirituals.

Presented by
Gitameit Friends USA
With the following sponsoring partners:
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)
Fong Naam ensemble
Yamaha Music Thailand
RMA Group

More Information
Website: https://greatdaymariananderson.org/
Facebook: Great Day Marian Anderson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatdaylegacy/

For more information, please contact
Alisa Muangsarn
Mobile 084 459 2127
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Great Day Marian Anderson
Website: https://greatdaymariananderson.org/