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This teenager's cello playing is literally fit for a king

He was chosen to play for the 60th anniversary celebration of the reign of the king of his native country, Thailand.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published November 3, 2006

OLD SEMINOLE HEIGHTS

Fifteen-year-old Pakapol Laosri practices his cello during lunch period most days at Hillsborough High School.

The cello fits him well, he said. He wrapped an arm around it between songs on a recent school day. He and a friend played pop standards and compared report cards. On his wrist, he wore what looked at first glance like the yellow LiveStrong wristband.

But his read: "Long Live the King." The translation in Thai on the other side is more accurately "We Love the King," said Pak, which rhymes with Bach.

Pak is set to leave today for Thailand, where he will play his cello at the 60th anniversary celebration for the longest reigning monarch in Thai history, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Pak will perform with the Siam Philharmonic and musicians from major orchestras around the world, as well as other talented young performers.

It will be his second time playing with this orchestra, a world away from the Coleman Middle School orchestra, where he learned to play.

Pak came to Tampa from Thailand when he was 2. He lives in Sun Bay South. Every summer he visits his grandfather in Thailand.

Earlier this year, he contacted the artistic director of the Siam Philharmonic, Somtow Sucharitkul.

One of the goals of the Philharmonic is to encourage young artists by allowing them to perform with the orchestra. After hearing Pak play, Sucharitkul invited him to perform Cosi fan Tutte, an opera by Mozart, with them this summer. Pak was the youngest performer.

"It was a blast," he said. "I was astounded by the power of a professional orchestra."

He credits his mother for supporting his muse.

"You can do whatever you want," she tells him. "Just be a good person. Do something good for society."

Now a sophomore in the International Baccalaureate program, Pak figures his music is a good way to move people.

"You can put as much emotion into it as you can," Pak said. "The listener, if they have a good ear, can understand what you're telling them through the music."

Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at edyer@sptimes.com or 813 226-3321.

[Last modified November 2, 2006, 11:20:07]