Waranya Chotejirakarn

Born in Bangkok, Thai clarinetist Waranya Chotejirakarn began her musical journey under the tutelage of Apichet Payonlert, solo clarinetist of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, through a scholarship from MIFA School of Music. She later earned her Bachelor's degree in Clarinet Performance with first-class honors from Chulalongkorn University, studying with Apichet Payonlert, Sooksan Ratanapol, and Mayumi Nagai.

Waranya’s dedication to her craft has been recognized through several awards, including honors at the Asian Wind Ensemble Competition (2003, 2005, 2007) and the Espoir Prize in the Duo Category at the 15th Osaka International Music Competition in 2014.

Furthering her studies in France, she trained with Arnaud Leroy and Sabrina Moulai at the Conservatoire du 19e arrondissement de Paris, and with Philippe-Olivier Devaux at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Créteil.

Waranya has been invited to perform with various international ensembles and festivals, including l’Ensemble à vent des jeunes de Paris, the 3rd Festival Piano Prestige, the 25th Festival L’Été Musical en Bergerac, and Festival Musique au Vert. She has collaborated with distinguished artists such as Natalia Gutman, Jean-Bernard Pommier, Olga Martinova, and Henri Demarquette.

An avid chamber musician, Waranya co-founded the Graphite Trio, a clarinet-violin-piano ensemble based in Bangkok, and served as principal clarinetist of the Siam Wind Quintet until 2020. In Thailand, she performs regularly as E-flat clarinetist with the Feroci Philharmonic Winds under conductors Johan de Meij, Yasuhide Ito, and Douglas Bostock, and as E-flat solo clarinetist with the Thailand Wind Orchestra.

Committed to education, Waranya has been a clarinet instructor with Thai Youth Winds and currently teaches at several institutions, including the International School of Bangkok, NIST International School, King’s College International School Bangkok, Rangsit University Conservatory of Music, and Kasetsart University.