Christhatai Paksamai

Christhatai Paksamai is a sought-after clarinetist for her technical mastery and one-of-a-kind performances. Her active lifestyle as performer and teacher has brought her many opportunities to travel around the world. She was a professor of clarinet at Zhaoqing University, College of Music in Zhaoqing, China from 2015–2019. Her duties there included teaching private lessons, clarinet choir, masterclasses, solo recitals, and playing in the faculty small ensembles. She was also a member of the critically acclaimed Beijing Contemporary Soloist Group in Beijing, China, the Thailand Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.

In 2016, Ms. Paksamai received her Master of Arts degree from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, where she studied with Dr. Yos Vaneesorn. Previously, she lived in Paris, France for 3 years where she received a Certificate of Performance from the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Versailles. She studied with Mr. Philippe Cuper from 2011–2014 and was the recipient of a scholarship. Also during her time in Paris, she studied bass clarinet at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental Marcel Dadi de Créteil with Mr. Philippe-Olivier Devaux. Her undergraduate degree was from Mahidol University, College of Music, where she received a full scholarship and graduated with first-class honors. Her professor was Cassandra Fox-Percival.

Ms. Paksamai has participated in clarinet masterclasses and festivals in over 10 countries. From 2010–2011, she was invited to the International Summer Academy camp in Payerbach, Austria with a full scholarship and won first prize for the best interpretation of contemporary music. In 2018, she participated in the Belgian Clarinet Academy, where she had classes with Eddy Vanoosthuyse and Yehuda Gilad. Christhatai has received many scholarships, awards, and guest artist invitations over the years. She competed in the Beijing Music Competition for clarinet in 2009. She won first prize for interpretation of contemporary music at the ISA camp in Austria.

She has been a member of the Chulalongkorn Clarinet Choir since 2010 and performed with them at the International Clarinet Association Festival 2015 in Madrid, Spain. This same group was awarded 1st prize in the Youth Music Competition in Bratislava, Slovakia later that same year. She was invited as a guest artist to the 1st Wind Orchestra Festival in 2017 in Guangzhou, China. She was invited as guest soloist in the Marathon Concert at the 3rd International Clarinet Festival in Beijing, China.

During her time in Thailand, she played with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra from 2010–2014 and the Siam Philharmonic as clarinet and bass clarinet from 2003–2010. She has been an avid performer since 2006 with the Thailand International Composition Festival as an ensemble player and soloist. Christhatai is a founding member of the Thailand International Clarinet Festival in Bangkok, Thailand, and is also a jury member of the Thailand International Young Clarinet Competition. She is currently playing in the Thailand Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Paksamai is a member of and has a good relationship with the International Clarinet Association. She has attended and performed at 3 ICA events: Assisi, Italy (2015, clarinet choir); Madrid, Spain (2015, clarinet choir); and Ostend, Belgium (2018, solo recital and clarinet choir). Since 2019, she has been a member of the Thailand Symphony Orchestra as principal clarinet. Ms. Paksamai is a member of Tacet(i) Ensemble, a group of Thai contemporary musicians with a strong intention to lead the new music scene in Thailand since 2014. The ensemble currently focuses on collaborative projects involving living composers, musicians, artists, and performers.

In 2022, she was invited by ClariPeruOnline Bass Clarinet Week as an international guest. In 2024, she is currently a Symphonic Ensemble Band Director at the College of Music, Mahidol University. Her primary teachers include Mr. Philippe Cuper, Mr. Philippe-Olivier Devaux, Ms. Cassandra Fox-Percival, Dr. Cheryl Melfi, Dr. Yos Vaneesorn, and Mr. Sooksan Ratanapol.

She is a member of Tacet(i) Ensemble, which received the prestigious ensemble award “Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung.” She is an artist of Buffet Crampon.