Bangkok Post - November 15, 2009
Richard Mcleish

Talented children from all over the region, including children with HIV, performing together.

The elegantly dressed guests in attendance ranged from the luminary to the significant to the merely culturally receptive.

Privy Councillor MR Thep Devakula headed the guest list, while established musician Bruce Gaston was an essential part of the evening, showcasing his fine composing, conducting and performing talents throughout the night.

Somtow Sucharitkul, illustrious writer and composer and perhaps Thailand's most internationally-renowned cultural figure, graciously hosted the evening, creating an atmosphere of unpretentious ease that allowed everyone to relax and enjoy themselves.

The Shounen-Thai Quartet, Thailand's new classical boy band.

Also in attendance was celebrated London choreographer Darren Royston and Indian Ambassador Latha Reddy, among the other business and cultural identities of Bangkok.

And for the cinefiles, David Giler, the producer of the films in the Alien series, among other cinematic accolades, sat at his table of invited guests, which included Brunch columnist Andrew Biggs and Boaz Zippor, the celebrated Bangkok-based photographer. The evening began with some drinks in the lobby outside the ballroom, before guests were invited to take their seats inside.

Bruce Gaston spoke briefly about his original opera, A Boy and a Tiger, which he will present around Bangkok with a mix of both HIV-positive and -negative child performers, as part of the Awareness Project, with the aim of de-stigmatising HIV-positive children and adults and bringing them into the public arena, such as a stage at an event like this.

A studio photo of three performers from Bruce Gaston's 'A Boy and a Tiger', excerpts of which were previewed during the evening.

The children then exquisitely performed challenging and at times A-tonal compositions, all written by Mr Gaston.

Mr Sucharitkul then took over his role as gracious host, and began the more practical proceedings of the evening, namely the meal and auction, however, not in that order.

Many generous bids were fetched, especially by the Dutch table, and all items were sold.

After dinner, the microphone was given to activist Nicholas Snow, who is quickly becoming the face of HIV-awareness in Bangkok as an openly HIV-positive cultural identity.

Mr Snow spoke openly and sincerely of his HIV-positive status and sang a musical number, Beautiful In My Eyes, which drove home the poignant social message of the evening.

It was soon time to go home, but many of the guests remained in the ballroom and seemed willing to continue on into the night.

A genuine feeling of sincerity pervaded the evening, with the last guests not leaving until after midnight - always the sign of a good party.

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