Puangroi Apaiwong

Thanpuying Puangroi Apaiwong, born on December 28, 1914, in Bangkok, was a pioneering Thai composer and is considered the first woman composer in Thailand. She learned to play guitar and piano as a young girl and later attended Trinity College London to study music. Her most famous composition, "Bua Kao" (White Lotus), became a widely recognized classic in Thailand and was honored by UNESCO as a "Song of Asia" in 1979. Over her career, she composed more than 100 pieces and was commissioned to produce compositions for the Thai royal family, receiving five royal decorations. She was named a National Artist of Thailand for musical performance in 1986. Puangroi Apaiwong passed away on August 17, 2000, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians and composers in Thailand.