Background & Education
Dr. Apinporn Chaiwanichsiri is a music educator, researcher, and performer, currently serving as a full-time lecturer at the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music in Bangkok, Thailand, where she also conducts the PGVIM Singers, an intergenerational community choir.
She completed her Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of Missouri (2024). She obtained her Master of Education degree in Music Education from Chulalongkorn University (2017). She also holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Theatre from the Australian Institute of Music (2014), and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry with First Class Honors from Chulalongkorn University (2011).
At the University of Missouri, where she received a scholarship, Dr. Chaiwanichsiri served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, teaching the asynchronous online course Introduction to World Music for non-music majors. She also provided private vocal instruction for the Community Music Program and served as a judge for the Mid-Missouri NATS Student Auditions in 2024.
Before pursuing her Ph.D., her teaching experience spanned both undergraduate and K–12 levels. Her research, rooted in a commitment to fostering diverse and inclusive learning environments, focuses on interdisciplinary arts (musical theatre), culturally responsive teaching, and educational transformation. She has presented her work at state, national, and international conferences, including the Southeast Missouri State University Music Education Colloquium (2023) and the 2024 Biennial NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education Conference. Her research article High School Music Teachers’ Attitudes and Practices Regarding Culturally Responsive Teaching in Musical Theatre Production was published in the International Journal of Music Education (SCOPUS Q1) (2025), and her literature review titled Culturally Responsive Teaching in Musical Theatre Production: A Literature Review has been accepted for publication in the Update: Applications of Research in Music Education journal.
As a teacher, Dr. Chaiwanichsiri is committed to making music accessible to all individuals, nurturing each student’s personal growth, cultural identity, and musicianship through a student-centered, culturally responsive approach.