Career Highlight
Korak Lertpibulchai, originally from Thailand, graduated from Mahidol University (B.M, 2012) and Illinois State University (M.M, 2013). In 2017, she graduated with a Doctorate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Iowa under the tutelage of Dr. Ksenia Nosikova. Her primary teachers have included Dr. Eri Nakagawa, Dr. Joshua Russell, Dr. Mina Ivanova, Dr. Ramasoon Sitalayan, and Supaphon Vibulpanuvej. She currently serves as the Collaborative Piano Coordinator for the College of Music, Mahidol University.
As a collaborative artist, Korak Lertpibulchai has performed for the University of Iowa Center for New Music, Illinois State University Choir, and Illinois State University Theatre Department. Between 2016 and 2017, she served as the Collaborative Piano Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy where she worked with numerous renowned saxophone artists such as Stephen Page (UT-Austin), Yo Matsushita (Senzoku College of Music), Asagi Ito (Brussels Conservatory), among others. In 2016, she performed with Dr. Kenneth Tse for a performance of Blue Arc by the University of Iowa composer, Dr. Michael Eckert. In 2018, she performed with famed cellist Hee-Young Lim, Cello Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, during her visit to the Mahidol University, College of Music.
An advocate for new music, Korak Lertpibulchai has given world premieres and performed numerous works by composers such as David Lang, Kaija Saariaho, Dimitri Papageorgiou, Augusta Read Thomas, Abrahamsen Hans, Irina Dubkova, Bruno Maderna, Robert Moran, Michael Fiday, Dan Welcher, Louis Karchin, and Adam Greene, among others.
As a chamber musician, Korak performs regularly with Singaporean saxophonist Leslie Wong, and they have given performances throughout the United States, Europe and Asia including main Music Conservatories in China such as Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory, Central Conservatory, Xi’an Conservatory, Tianjin Conservatory, etc. Korak is also a founding member of the trio “AmaCor”, with cellist Marcin Szawelski and clarinetist Hannelore Vermeir. They have given performances throughout Thailand and will embark on a European Tour in 2022.
Korak Lertpibulchai served on the Jury for the 5th Thailand International Piano Competition (2018), as well as the Young Artist Music Contest (2018-2021), the Quad Cities Baroque Competition (2013) and the SET Youth Music Competition.
Korak has done recordings of music by David Gompper and Alan Schnitz and has also done a recording project of Thai composers and their works which it presents the sound palette and aesthetic of Thai contemporary music for the solo piano.
Education
2017 – University of Iowa (USA) – Doctor of Musical Arts
2013 – Illinois State University (USA) – Master of Music
2011 – Mahidol University (THAILAND) – Bachelor of Music