Cultural Crossroads Asia
Winter 2025 Newsletter
Students and Teachers of the Akha Oral Tradition School
Happy New Year!!
As the Winter Solstice finds its still point, we reflect on the growth of Cultural Crossroads Asia yet so early in its development. These past few months of our Winter Quarter have seen two educational exchanges, a fair, a book launch (in support of CCA), and two spectacular concerts in Chiang Mai by Akha students and teachers of the Akha Oral Tradition School.
This moment in time also brings to a close an ambitious year overflowing with activities: making films, museum exhibitions, music, instruments, and concerts, and building human potential in young lives.
Add to this all the creative energy you don’t hear about: Drafting the infrastructure that will establish the Cultural Crossroads Asia Heritage Center in Chiang Mai as a dynamic testament to ethnic wisdom and integrity. This year has been incredibly consequential in helping this worthy initiative flourish.
Special Fundraising Project for CCA
‘From the Eye of the Elephant’ Book
Paintings by Ten Elephants
Poems and Essay by Galen Garwood
Published by MARROWSTONE PRESS
Warmest congratulations go to master multi-media artist Galen Garwood for launching a beautiful new book, ‘The Eye of the Elephant,’ a collection of paintings created by ten elephants – Aet, Umpang, Japatee, JoJo, Luang, Luukob, Pong, Prathida, Tao, and Wanalee – complemented by his evocative poetry and essays.
This work represents the culmination to date of Galen’s love for these beautiful animals, which he has championed for over twenty years. How fortunate for Cultural Crossroads Asia that Galen has now chosen to champion the musical education of the Akha children of Ban Saen Suk, on behalf of the elephants, by donating 30% of the proceeds to the Akha Oral Tradition School. How can we ever thank Galen – or the elephants – enough.
There is resonance in Galen’s many Elephant Projects and Cultural Crossroads Asia – for both aspire to protect that which is precious before it disappears.
30% of the proceeds from ‘From the Eye of the Elephant’ book
are dedicated to the Akha Oral Tradition School.
Order here:
https://culturalcrossroadsasia.org/from-the-eye-of-the-elephant/
Educational Exchanges
‘Preserving and Sustaining Vanishing Traditions in the Golden Triangle’
Presentation by Victoria Vorreiter
For Ethnomusicology Students of Dr. Thitipol Kanteewon
Faculty of Fine Arts
Chiang Mai University
2 December 2025
It was with great joy that Victoria visited with the ethnomusicology students of Dr. Thitipol Kangteewong, known by all as Ajahn Goh, a highly respected musician of the Thai fiddle, saw, and a professor at the Fine Arts Department of Chiang Mai University. Over the course of an hour, she introduced the origins and outreach of the Cultural Crossroads Asia Heritage Center and the Living Legacy Project through a colorful PowerPoint presentation and a documentary film highlighting the Akha Oral Tradition School.
Thank you so much to Ajahn Goh and your wonderful students for inviting me! It was a beautiful exchange, hopefully inspiring new thoughts and dreams.
‘Life in Music at Chiang Mai University’
Presentation by Ajahn Thitipol Kangteewong
For Akha Students of the Akha Oral Tradition School
Faculty of Fine Arts
Chiang Mai University
7 December 2025
In a second, complementary educational exchange, our Akha students and teachers of the Akha Oral Tradition School had the great good fortune to visit Dr. Thitipol Kangteewong, Ajahn Goh, at the the Fine Arts Department at Chiang Mai University during their weekend of concerts.
Ajahn Goh recounted the story of his life in music, interspersed with a brief performance on his Thai fiddle, saw, before introducing the Akha youth to the studies they can pursue at CMU as a way to create a fulfilling lifework that also sustains Akha culture. That’s the dream!
Gulung guma deh, Ajahn Goh! We hope you enjoy blowing the Chudu buffalo horn the students crafted for you.
Outreach
Citylife Garden Fair
Cultural Crossroads Asia Booth
Boonthavorn Garden, Chiang Mai
22 November 2025
The colorful, bustling CityLife Garden Fair was the perfect occasion to introduce the Cultural Crossroads Asia Heritage Center and Akha Oral Tradition School to the wider Thai and international community of Chiang Mai. An ongoing stream of people haling from Thailand and the world’s four corners – Ibiza, Oman, France, Spain, England, Holland, Russia, South Africa, Australia, China, Myanmar, and Hong Kong — stopped by our booth to learn about our initiatives and upcoming concerts, exhibits, presentations, and conferences.
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CCA Mailing List
Living Legacy Project
Akha students and teachers of the Akha Oral Tradition School were absolutely thrilled to travel to Chiang Mai for the weekend of 6-7 December 2025, to showcase their repertoire in two public concerts, inspiring everyone who attended.
Music in the Menagerie
Chiang Mai Zoo
Saturday, 6 December 2025
1-2 pm – Concert for Humans in the Central Square
2-5 pm – Concert for Animals in their Compounds
First stop: Chiang Mai Zoo! Early afternoon saw Akha students and teachers of the Akha Oral Tradition School perform with pure delight the songs, musical instruments, and dances of their Akha ancestors for ‘humans’ at the Zoo’s Central Square.
For the next three hours, the Akha youth hopped on and off the Zoo’s shuttle bus so they might serenade ‘the birds and beasts’ in their various compounds. Hearing age-old Akha music and watching the lions, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, elephants, kangaroos, capybaras, and flamingos respond to traditional Akha ‘rhythms and blues’ was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Thank you so much, Director Khun Urarikha Kongprom and Chiang Mai Zoo friends, for hosting us! We loved every minute!
https://culturalcrossroadsasia.org/event/music-in-the-menagerie/
Music in the Market
Jing Jai Market
Sunday, 7 December 2025
10-11 am
For the second stop on their concert tour, Akha students and teachers performed at Jing Jai Market, a colorful, jam-packed weekend bazaar of eateries, cafes, craft shops, and marketplace, where they wowed a large audience of over 200!
Lively Akha music, dance, and martial arts filled the Jing Jai Market’s Central Square, allowing the Akha youth to highlight their growing repertoire of musical instruments: the buffalo horn, bird caller, reed pipe, whistle flute, side flute, multiple reed pipes, leaf, and percussion instruments.
To these, they interwove a variety of glorious festival songs and dances. Twisting, turning, circling, hopping, clapping – their movements put a spotlight on their glistening silver headdresses and vibrantly colored clothing. Audience members were invited to join the final circle dance, bringing joy to all who attended.
Warmest gratitude goes to the Central Group, Jing Jai Market, Director Khun Ormkwan Sanasen, and her wonderful team for inviting us to perform and for helping to fund our students’ visit.
https://culturalcrossroadsasia.org/event/music-in-the-market/
Heartfelt thanks go to
Jing Jai Market, Chiang Mai Zoo, and Cultural Crossroads Asia
for hosting and sponsoring our concerts.
In Memoriam
Dr. Terry E. Miller
Ethnomusicologist, Professor, Author
19 February 1945 – 1 October 2025
Dr. Terry Miller, Dr. Sara Miller, and Victoria Vorreiter
The ethnomusicology community has lost a true guardian of traditional world music this year in the passing of Dr. Terry Miller. The extent of his reach was vast, touching generations of students, academics, colleagues, and importantly, musicians around the planet.
Terry’s special interest in the music of Mainland Southeast Asia, North America, the Caribbean, and China, allowed him to travel far and wide, recording musicians in their homes and in their ceremonies to capture musical traditions that are little known or vanishing. In particular, his research in the renewal of the khaen (mouth organ) and mawlum narrative singing traditions of the Lao people of Isaan, Thailand, and Laos are recognized throughout the region
. . . To me, Terry was an esteemed colleague, mentor, and inspiration. Very importantly, along with his wife Sara, Terry was also a dear friend. Many is the time they championed my projects in word and deed so they might succeed. The Songs of Memory Project, and now the Cultural Crossroads Asia Heritage Center and Living Legacy Project are also Sara and Terry’s Legacy. . .
To read the full In Memoriam, visit here:
Dr. Terry E. Miller
https://culturalcrossroadsasia.org/living-legends/dr-terry-e-miller/
Gratitude
As we at Cultural Crossroads Asia bid farewell to the Old Year to ring in the New and offer oblations of gratitude to ancestors and spirits, we also give unbridled thanks to those who have shared their dedication, creativity, and passion with us, and those who have provided contributions so this worthy initiative can move steadily on its path. To each and every one of you, please accept our deepest appreciation. Truly, ‘It takes a village.’
Cultural Crossroads Asia
Dr. Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, President, CCA Foundation
Khun Suwaree Wongkongkaew, Board Member, CCA Foundation
Dr. Prasert Trakansuphakon, Board Member, CCA Foundation
John Schorr, Advisor, CCA Foundation
Khun Tom Jaroonroat Krasaesuk, Legal Consultant, Business Strategist
Tim Davies, IT Consultant
Frans Betgem, Tourism and Educational Exchange Advisor
Victoria Vorreiter, Executive Director, Cultural Crossroads Asia
Living legacy Project
Akha Oral Tradition School
Teachers and Leadership
Mawleu Jupoh, Leedo Chemeu, Miju Manpo
Victoria Vorreiter, Abiya Pochear, Athu Pochear
Living Legacy Films
Filmmakers
Inyasri Khun Noppajohn, Gong Sangdee
Living Legacy Films
Transliterators – from Akha to Akha
Athu Pochear, Mawleu Jupoh, Miju Manpo, Abiya Pochear
Living Legacy Films
Translators – from Akha to English
Dr. Jianhua Wang, Victoria Vorreiter
Living Legacy Project
Digital Storytelling Instructor
Clare Lyons
Living Legacy Project
Museum Curatorship Instructor
Dr. Lisa Roberts
Living Legacy Project
Akha Heritage Center Curators
Victoria Vorreiter, Dr. Lisa Roberts
https://culturalcrossroadsasia.org/digital-storytelling-course/
https://culturalcrossroadsasia.org/museum-curatorship-course/
https://culturalcrossroadsasia.org/akha-heritage-center/
Donors
Living Legacy Project – Semester 5
(September 2025 – March 2026)
Individual Sponsors
Laura Rose & Emanual Kuntzelman
Marsha and Phil Dowd
Doree Huneven
Scott Keesling
Bill Reichert
Joanna MacLean
Martha and Avrum Bluming
Maria and Neil Nehring
Mary Averill
Doug Van Tress
Gerald Adelmann
Steve Epstein
Olivia Hewitson
Martine & Ilya Levinson
Nadya Lurey
Carol and Brad White
Helen Brunner
Linda McIntosh
Tukata & Don Blankenship
Sequoia Henning
Oliver Toth
Michael Sidell
Candace Chesney
Mark Oscai
Lisa Roberts & John McDougal
Patricia & Nitya Pibulsongram
Karen Vorreiter
Barry and Beth Brooks
Anonymous
Renee Robbins
George McBride
Karen Kaye
Rebecca Leistman
Major Sponsors
Jim Thompson Foundation
Krüger Foundation
Purpose Earth
Chiang Mai International Rotary Club
Thai Textile Society
The Golden Triangle Gallery
Special Announcement for Donors
Good news! The Cultural Crossroads Asia Foundation has recently been awarded a 501(c)(3) status in the U.S., allowing American donors to receive a tax deduction for their contributions. This means that gifts from those in the States to CCA now help Akha students and their master teachers sustain their culture in mountain villages, while also serving them half way around the world.
