Fall 2026 Newsletter
Ta’ang Musicians from Thailand Beside their Kin from Myanmar
Melodies and Motifs in the Mountains Exhibit
Behold through the events and photos of these past three months, the many glorious ways Cultural Crossroads Asia continues to expand in the world.
Please know that behind the splashy outward display seen here, our CCA team is also moving steadily to establish our permanent home: the CCA Heritage Center. When we are ready to divulge the many creative initiatives that are swirling, you will be the first to know!
Cultural Crossroads Asia pledges to be a Faithful Cultural Guardian
“Of the People, By the People, For the People.”
(Abraham Lincoln)
www.CulturalCrossroadsAsia.org
Presentation
Cultural Crossroads Asia:
Preserving and Sustaining Intangible Ethnic Cultural Heritage in Northern Thailand
By Victoria Vorreiter
International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD) Symposium
Chiang Mai University
7 July 2026
It was a great privelege to wear two hats at the ICTMD Symposium at Chiang Mai University in July: as Presenter, introducing Cultural Crossroads Asia and the Living Legacy Project to over 300 ethnomusicologists from all over the world; and as Curator of the mulitmedia exhibit, Melodies and Motifs in the Mountains. Please enjoy the comments shared by these renown academics about the cultures and CCA initiatives flourishing in the Golden Triangle.
Exhibition
Melodies and Motifs in the Mountains
Traditional Music and Textiles of the Golden Triangle
Multimedia Exhibit by Victoria Vorreiter / Cultural Crossroads Asia
International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD) Symposium
Chiang Mai University
4-8 July 2026
Dear Victoria. This is incredibly beautiful and important work. I am humbled by the humanity your work portrays. It places academic work and the lives of bearers of ancient culture in perspective.
Dr. John Garzoli
Monash University, Australia
A heartfelt thank you to Victoria, founder of Cultural Crossroads Asia (CCA), for bringing this wonderful exhibition to the ICTMD Joint Symposium in Chiang Mai. What you have been doing is truly incredible. Your work reflects a profound sense of humanistic care and warmth. Every piece is deeply inspiring and genuinely moving. The exhibition greatly enriched the symposium by broadening our perspectives and creating another important space for dialogue.
More importantly, it reminded us that knowledge can be shared not only through papers and presentations, but also through artistic practice, lived experience, and community engagement. In many ways, the exhibition beautifully reflected the spirit of collaboration, cultural exchange, and decolonisation that we hope to continue fostering within ICTMD.
Thank you, Victoria, for making this symposium even more memorable and meaningful!
Dr. Yuh-Fen Tseng
National Chiayi University, Taiwan
An excellent and profound exhibition. I sincerely thank you with deep appreciation and highly value your efforts kha.
Dr. Supeena Insee Adler
University of California, Los Angeles, USA
A huge contribution, dear Victoria. Your deep dedication is inspiring to the max!
Dr. Patricia Campbell
University of Washington, USA
Wonderful exhibition. I am so glad that so many people in ICTMD were able to see the work you have done here. Syabas! All the best to the new museum.
Dr. Sooi Beng Tan
Honorary Professor of Ethnomusicology
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang
Amazing, beautiful, and powerful exhibit.
Dr. David Harnish
University of San Diego, USA
Victoria, it was wonderful to meet you – unbelievable one person can deliver such high quality photos, collections, concerts, books.
Dr, Mark Van Tongeren
Researcher/Performer, Taiwan
Akha Oral Tradition School
Sustaining Akha Culture, Sustaining Akha Lives
As our students, master teachers, and leadership begin a new semester, we look back at our growth and new directions these past few months, building strength upon strength. Please enjoy this montage of our amazing journey.
Our Third Anniversary
Celebrating Akha Music and Memories of Three Wonderful Years!
July 2023 – July 2026
Our Musical Journey Continues
It is boggling to think that there was a time when our Akha students had absolutely no knowledge of their musical traditions—and no burning desire to learn them.
Now, after three years, their repertoire—and appreciation and pride—in Akha oral arts has blossomed. Our students have developed skills in all the wind and percussion instruments, know a wealth of songs and stories performed by heart, and perform a number of lively festival dances. Next up: Akha stringed instruments and martial arts!
Our Craft Journey Begins
With the Akha Oral Tradition School curriculum expanding—by adding crafts apprenticeship to our music program—our students are learning ancestral skills in making Akha textiles, baskets, musical instruments, and cuisine.
By interweaving Akha oral and material traditions, our multidisciplinary classes truly offer Akha youth an immersive experience to connecct with their heritage and to reinforce their sense of Akha identity.
Textiles
Basketry
Musical Instruments
Cooking
Planning to Write an Akha Cook Book!
Our Outreach Expands
Connecting with the Wider Akha Communit
Our students of Ban Saen Suk were delighted to celebrate this year with the Akha community of Ban Samakee Kao, Chiang Rai, the village of Master Musician Apa Ayii. This inspiring experience was jam-packed with Akha activities: a parade, jungle fieldwork, cooking, feast, concert, and swinging. Akha ancestor wisdom is learned by experiencing it every day.
Celebrating the Women’s New Year Festival
Parade, Jungle Fieldwork, Cooking, Feast, Concert, Swinging
August 2026
Our Impact is Recognized
Award Given to Students of the Akha Oral Traditiion School
It is beyond exciting that Akha students of the Akha Oral Tradition School were cordially invited by the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Resources in Chiang Rai to participate in the 41st National Youth Day Celebration Fair on 5 September. Our youth highlighted Akha talents, skills, and wisdom by setting up a beautiful booth displaying musical instruments, textiles, photographs, and books from the Akha Heritage Center that they created in August 2025.
Boonyee Chemeu, the Akha Youth Ambassador and Cultural Coordinator of our school, received an award on behalf of our students recognizing their outstanding accomplishments. Congratulations to our Akha youth!
Akha Students Receive an Award
Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Resources
Our Gratitude is Overflowing
We at Cultural Crossroads Asia have the dedication, vision, and energy to create worthy cultural initiatives that preserve and sustain ethnic traditions. Your trust in us and your support give us superpowers to ensure that every project we set out to accomplish is meaningful and successful.
Thank you so much! Gulung Guma Deh!
To our Master Akha Teachers
Akha Leadership of Ban Saen Suk
Cultural Crossroads Asia
And You, who Have Helped our Akha Students Realize Their Potential
Donors
Living Legacy Project – Semester 6
May 2026 – August 2026
Marsha and Phil Dowd
Sara and Terry Miller
Chiang Mai International Rotary Club
Candace Chesney
Nadya Lurie
Chrissy and Franzl Obermyr
John Schorr
Eden Blackwell
Janet Mitoma
Christopher and Supeena Adler
Nathaniel Farouz
Anonymous
Pedro and Dana Simko
Susan and Steve Sidell
Sequoia Henning
Sue Baugh and Norm Zelensky
Johnny Doyle
Alan Young
The work Cultural Crossroads Asia does is made possible by your kind donations.
If you would like to support us, please click the link to donate:
