A MUSICAL FAMILY

       For the Srikaranonda family, the best way to share their blessings and happiness is by offering their musical gifts to support a good cause. Hence their recent family concert Pan Rak, meaning sharing love, at Thailand Cultural Centre.
       The Srikaranonda family charity concert.
       The musical family had three reasons to celebrate. First, the joint birthday of National Artist Manrat Srikaranonda and his wife Mrs La-orwan on August 25 when he turns 81 and his wife 63. Second, the couple's 40th wedding anniversary. And third, the latest honour for the ace musician, an honorary doctorate degree from Silpakorn University, Sanam Chan Campus.
       When they felt those were good enough reasons to take to the stage to share their happiness by helping children with HIV/Aids and their families under Siam-Care Foundation, friends and well-wishers turned up in full force to support the cause.
       National Artist Manrat Srikaranonda is a household name in Thailand's music circles with many all-time favourites to his credit such as Rak Auey and Chua Fah Din Salai, which most Thais over 40 know by heart.
       Happy family. From left, Artas Balakauskas, Indhuon Srikaranonda Balakauskas, Asta Balakauskas, Manrat Srikaranonda, La-orwan and Pathorn Srikaranonda.
       His daughter Indhuon, son Pathorn, and son-in-law Artas Balakauskas are also accomplished musicians in their own right. For the veteran musician, however, the happiest news is the fact that his only grand-daughter Asta is fast following the family's musical footsteps.
       The charity concert gave a rare chance to see National Artist Manrat tickle the ivory, croon a love song Pan Rak and to join his family to delight the audience with the Srikaranondas' favourite jazz number Take the A Train. The concert theme song was penned by Wichian Sukpumarin, managing director of Siam Music Yamaha.
       Offering his own musical gift, accomplished composer and a powerful singer Mr Pathorn soulfully rendered Artorn, Lae Chan and Rak Kan Nai Jai with beautiful and moving lyrics by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and HRH Princess Chulabhorn.
       The next joy was when concert pianist couple Ms Indhuon and Mr Balakauskas took charge of the two grand pianos to inject a zest of life with the playful West Side Story Symphonic Dances by Leonard Bernstein, whose birthday was also on August 25.
       Pianist Suda Banomyong
       The star of the show, however, was eight-year-old Asta Balakauskas who stunned the crowd with her sweet, crystal-like voice of innocence. With concert pianist mum at the piano while National Artist grandpa, concert pianist dad, and composer uncle retreated to the background to provide a chorus, Ms Asta movingly rendered Ben and Heal the World to pay tribute to Michael Jackson and to remind music lovers that one of the best ways to remember him is to live his compassion for the less fortunate.
       Among the audience who gave little Asta a rousing applause were Privy Councillor Prem Tinsulanonda, National Artists Sawalee Pakapan, Jintana Suksathit, and Suthep Wongkamhaeng, writer Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn, Khunying Wanna Sirivadhanabhakdi, Kamolvan Punyashthiti, Suda Banomyong, Payom and Pirakit Valaiphatchra.
       The little girl's sweet voice echoed in the air as the charity concert came to an end with a high-minded note:
       Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn
       "Heal the world
       Make it a better place
       For you and for me
       And the entire human race
       There are people dying
       If you care enough
       For the living
       Make a better place
       For you and for me."
       Manrat and Sawalee Pakapan
       Celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.
       Khunying Wanna Sirivadhanabhakdi
       National Artist Jintana Suksathit
       National Artist Suthep Wongkamhaeng and wife singer Pusadee Payakamontree
       Siam Music Yamaha executives, from left, Preechapon Vejruk, Sangchai Maeteatanakul, Wichian Sukpumarin, Manrat, Shuji Narimatsu, Sayan Paichayonritta and Somchai Suebboonsripong.
       Supaporn Phornprapha, Manrat, and Phornpong Phornprapha
       Little Asta crooning "Ben".