Gusto Saxophone Quartet
Biography
“An accomplished, enthusiastic, broad-minded young saxophone quartet with an incredible sound and style" - Jean-Patrick Besingrand, composer/ PHD candidate (CUNY) and adjunct lecturer (Baruch College).
"Gusto’s performances of works by composers at the 15th Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF) were animated and full of vitality—certainly they stand out as one of the most promising young ensembles of contemporary music in Southeast Asia today." - Dr. Jason Thorpe Buchanan, Fulbright, Gaudeamus, and Embassy of Foreign Artists commissioned composer.
Focusing towards new music, Gusto Saxophone Quartet is one of the most dedicated saxophone quartet towards contemporary music in Southeast Asia. Gusto Saxophone Quartet was founded in 2017 by the students from College of Music, Mahidol University saxophone studio.
As an active performer, they have performed in many occasions and events throughout the years, such as the 14th Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF) 2018, the Chiang Mai Ginastera International Music Festival and Competition 2018, the 1st Thailand Saxophone Day 2018, the Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition 2019, the 1st Yamaha Single Reed Festival 2019, 15th Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF), the 2019 Singapore Saxophone Symposium, the Indonesian Orchestra and Ensemble Festival (IOEF) 2019, the 2019 2nd Asia Saxophone Congress, the Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition 2020.
As a committed ensemble towards new music and contemporary music, they have had worked and commissioned pieces with international and acclaimed composers such as Jean-Patrick Besingrand (USA/France), Chudalux Pinan (Thai), Chawin Temsittichok (Thai), Waris Sukontapatipark (Thai), and many more.
Gusto Saxophone Quartet was also coached and mentored by international distinguished artists and professors such as the H2 quartet, Dr. Chen Kwan Kin from Eastman School of Music, New York, United States of America and Prof. Shyen Lee, and much more.
Currently, Gusto Saxophone Quartet is a Yamaha artist (Thailand) and a Vandoren Paris (Worldwide) artist.
Nitchan Pitayathorn, Soprano Saxophone
Nitchan Pitayathorn born and raised in Thailand, Nitchan began studying saxophone at the age of eight with Mr. Promwut Sudtakoo at "Music Campus for General Public"(MCGP) Seacon Square, Bangkok Thailand.
In 2014, Nitchan went to the Pre-college Program of the College of Music at Mahidol University to pursue his deep desire on classical saxophone with Mr. Wisuwat Pruksavanich and Prof. Shyen Lee. In the same year, Nitchan also got a merit scholarship from the college.
Nitchan had traveled to attend and perform at various national & international musical events, and camps such as the “17th World Saxophone Congress” in Strasbourg France,“Singapore Saxophone Symposium” 2015 - 2018 at the Art Institute of Singapore, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, the "7th Thailand International Soloist Saxophone Summer Camp 2016 "Elite Project", " the "Hong Kong International Saxophone Symposium 2016", the "Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy 2016", "2016 Asian Saxophone Congress", the “5th Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition”, the 13th,14th Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF)”,18th World Saxophone Congress” in Zagreb, Croatia, and had his debut performance at the Carnegie Hall.
Nitchan has taken masterclasses and coachings with numerous distinguished world-class saxophonists such as Jean-Marie Londiex, Dr. William Street, Dr. Chen- Kwan Lin , Claude Delange, Dr. Kenneth Tse, Jean- Michel Goury, Philippe Geiss, Alain Crepin, Dr. Stephen Page, Lars Mlekusch, Kyle Horch, Rodrigo Vila Pieter Pellens, Asagi Ito, Dr. Phil Pierick, Joshua Hyde, Gaetan Bigarre, Vince Gnojek, Andy Scott, Russell Peterson, ensemble coaching by Masahiro Maeda, and he also attended several lectures by Dr. David Nabb.
Nitchan was awarded by many national and international competitions such as the winner of the "18th SET Youth Musician Competition” (High school category), finalist of the " 17th Osaka International Music Competition " ( Section I, age H ), Semi-finalist of the "2016 Asian Saxophone Competition", the winner of the " 2017 YAMP Concerto Competition", & was selected and given the "Yamaha Music Foundation Scholarship 2017", the 3rd prize winner of the 1st Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy (APSA) Competition, the finalist of the “18th Osaka International Music Competition”(Section I, age U), First Place and Judges' Distinction Award (Plaque Trophy) Winner of the American Protégé International Woodwinds and Brass Competition 2017, the first gold prize of the 21st SET Youth Musician Competition, & the honorable mention prize from the Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition.
Through out his successful years, Nitchan had worked and premiered several new works by esteemed national and international composers including Attakorn Sookjaeng, Viskamol Chaiwanichsiri, Thanakarn Schofield, Patiparn Jaikampan, Chudalux Pinan, Waris Sukontapatipark, Chawin Temsittichok, Chatori Shimizu, Jean - Patrick Besingrand, and Dr. Jason Thorpe Buchanan etc. In 2020, Nitchan has debuted his album, “Kwarantinee”.
As a soloist, Nitchan had his solo debut with the Mahidol Symphonic Band at the age of 16, then with the Mahidol Symphonic Band, the YAMP Symphonic Band, the Mahidol Saxophone Ensemble, and the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra (season XII) following respectively.
Being one of the founding members of many emerging groups of ensembles, he had joined and competed in several ensemble competitions such as one of the finalists with the position of " Scholarship for the Best Performance (Group) in Section II " from both the 17th, and the 18th Osaka International Music Competition, the honorable mention prize from the Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition.
Nitchan was the of principal saxophone of the Mahidol Symphonic Band, and the YAMP Symphonic Band from 2015-2017.
Currently, he is a scholarship student at the College of Music, Mahidol University, a member of a Yamaha artist’s Gusto Saxophone Quartet, a Yamaha artist himself, and a Vandoren’s artist.
Wisaruta Areesakulsuk, Alto Saxophone
Wisaruta Areesakulsuk is interested in music since she was young. She has studied saxophone seriously when she was 12 years old with Mr.Promwut Sudtakoo. At high school level, Wisaruta was selected as a special quota student in ”Triamudom Suksa Wing Symphony Orchestra” at Triamudom suksa school. In 2018, Wisaruta was accepted at the College of Music, Mahidol Univesity as a Music Performance (Classical Saxophone) major with Prof. Shyen Lee and Prof. Wisuwat Pruksavanich.
During Wisaruta’s studying in the College of Music, Mahidol University Wisaruta’s joined in Gusto Saxophone Quartet as an Alto saxophone player. The Quartet has continuously participated in various activities such as Chiang Mai Ginastera International Music Festival and Competition 2018 and got the “Honorable mention prize” and Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition 2020.
Wisaruta Areesakulsuk and Gusto saxophone quartet have performed nationally and internationally. Such as CGIMF 2019 Prize winner concert , Yamaha Single Reed Festival 2019 , Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF) 2019&2020 , Hong kong Saxophone Symposium 2018 , Singapore Saxophone Symposium 2018 & 2019 , Asian Saxophone Congress 2019 , Indonesia Orchestra & Ensemble Festival 2019 , Gusto Saxophone Quartet Debut Concert.
Wisaruta Areesakulsuk has had the opportunity to attend masterclass with many famous saxophone artists such as Arno Bornkamp, Kenneth Tse, Javier Valerio, Chien-kwan Lin, Magdalena Jakubska-Szymiec, H2 Saxophone Quartet, Jacky Leung.
Currently, Wisaurta is a Yamaha Artist Thailand and Vandoren Artist and also the Alto Saxophone player along with the Gusto Saxophone Quartet.
Sakdina Sirisarnsophon, Tenor Saxophone
Sakdina Sirisarnsophon was born in Thailand. He began studying Classical Saxophone at the age of fourteen with Ms. Pulaporn Sreewishian at "Music Campus for General Public College of Music, Mahidol University" (MCGP) Seacon Bangkae in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2016, he went to Pre-College of Music at Mahidol University to study Classical Saxophone with Prof. Shyen lee and Mr. Wisuwat Pruksawanich. In 2019, he studied at College of Music Mahidol University as a music performance (classical saxophone) major with Prof. Shyen lee.
He has joined many national and international music events namely Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy, Singapore Saxophone Symposium, both in 2017 and 2018, 11th, 12th and 13th edition of Pre College Concert, World Saxophone Congress Zagreb Croatia, Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF), and Thailand Saxophone Day.
Sakdina had received several opportunities to study Master class with many famous saxophonists such as Lars Mlekusch, Jeffrey Loeffert, Chien-Kwan Lin, Xavier Larsson, Micheal Ibrahim, Asagi Ito, Brandon Jinwoo Choi, Tak Chiu Wong, Hugo Loi, Tae Yong Kim, and Yo Matsushita.
As a soloist and member of Gusto Saxophone Quartet band in the position of Tenor Saxophonist, Sakdina has participated in many competitions namely: SET Youth Musician Competition, the American Protégé International Woodwinds and Brass Competition, Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition (TiWSC), the North International Music Competition, the Osaka International Music Competition, Chiang Mai Ginastera International Music Festival. Currently Sakdina is a Yamaha Artist and a Vandoren Artist.
Awards
Participated in the 20th SET Youth Musician Competition (Semi-Final Round) in 2017
Awarded 1st Place Winner of The American Protégé International Woodwinds and Brass Competition 2017 and perform at Carnegie Hall, New York, USA.
Awarded 2nd Place of Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition Class C 2018 (Salaya Saxophone Ensemble)
Awarded 2nd Place of Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition Class B 2018 (YAMP Wind Ensemble)
Awarded 2nd Place (without 1st place) of The North International Music Competition 2018
Awarded Best Performance in The 18th Osaka International Music Competition (Zofort Saxophone Quartet)
Awarded Honorable Mentioned in Chiang Mai Ginastera International Music Festival 2018 (Gusto Saxophone Quartet)
Awarded 2nd Place in Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition Class D 2019 (Zap Zest Saxophone Quartet)
Chokwattana Puay-uan, Baritone Saxophone
Frequent award winner, Chokwattana Puay-uan, has started music performance career since early 15 years old. Based on the campus of the College of Music, Mahidol University, he studied Saxophone with Professor Wisuwat Pruksavanich and Professor Shyen Lee. He had also formed Fireyen Saxophone Quartet and actively performed in many concerts and competitions. As the recipient of Mahidol Merit Scholarship, he dedicates himself to the development the artistic performance of the saxophone. Throughout his years, Chokwattana took part in many masterclasses with distinguished artists such as Rodrigo Vila, Jean-Marie Londeix, William Street, and H2 Quartet.
Having a major contribution to the quartet, Chokwattana participated Thailand International Wind Ensemble Competition with the Fireyen Saxophone Quartet and won First Prize in 2014. With the group he went to Osaka International Music Competition and won the Second Prize in 2017 (The First Prize was not awarded). In TIWEC 2018, when the Mahidol Wind Orchestra won the Second Prize, Mr. Puay-uan was the saxophonist in the band. In the chamber category of this competition, he appeared with the Salaya Saxophone Ensemble that won the Second Prize.
Chokwattana traveled and perform in various international events, sush as the 17th World Saxophone Congress in Strasbourg France, Singapore Saxophone symposium 2015 and 2018, Elite Project Saxophone Camp, the First Asian Saxophone Congress in Chiayi, Taiwan , and the 18th World Saxophone Congress in Zagrab Croatia. In 2018, he was invited to join the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Wind Consort in Singapore.
Along with Gusto Saxophone Quartet, Chokwattana had performed in many occasions and events throughout the years, such as the 14th Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF) 2018, the Chiang Mai Ginastera International Music Festival and Competition 2018, the 1st Thailand Saxophone Day 2018, the Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition 2019, the 1st Yamaha Single Reed Festival 2019, 15th Thailand International Composition Festival (TICF), the 2019 Singapore Saxophone Symposium, the Indonesian Orchestra and Ensemble Festival (IOEF) 2019, the 2019 2nd Asia Saxophone Congress, the Thailand International Wind Symphony Competition 2020.
Currently Chokwattana is finishing his Master Degree at the Silapakorn University and he is also a Yamaha Artist and a Vandoren Artist.
Instagram: @gustosaxophonequartet
Album: Kwarantinee ( available in streaming services ex. Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Youtube Music)
Products
YBS-62 Discontinued
Finish: Gold lacquer
