Ethan Cowburn, who earned his master of music in 2025 from the NIU School of Music was awarded the Special Prize and International Award for the sixth anniversary of the ทำนองหลักเพลงไทย. The ทำนองหลักเพลงไทย is an online Thai music competition creted by Pokpong Kampraser, a Thai music professor at Phetchaburi Rajabhat University in Thailand.
“I am honored to be recognized, and I am most excited that I am part of the continuing relationship in the field of traditional music between Thailand and the US, as well as the rest of the world,” he said.
Jui-Ching Wang, professor of music education and world music at NIU explains, “Ethan’s participation in this competition was significant because it marks a historic milestone in the preliminary assessment of Thai music instruction abroad, establishing standards that closely align with those of the tradition’s origin and enabling international participants to showcase their work alongside Thai counterparts.”
