Archived News about Alexandra Bounxouei in the Lao Media.

The popular singer Ms Thidavanh Bounxouei better known as Alexandra will assume the role of Cinderella in a musical early next year.

The pop singer and her friends at Lao-American College have created a musical drama titled Cinderella to be performed on January 7,2006 at National Culture Hall.

“My friends and I have been running the musical drama by ourselves so I know how difficult it is to perform on stage. But we love to performance before audiences, especially my fans,” said Alexandra.

Alexandra will aim not only to entertain but also to educate the audience especially students – the script of the musical has been written accordingly.

“The musical is intended as a charity performance with the proceeds to go for the benefit of blind people. The ticket is priced at about 10,000 kip per head and we will present the amount raised from sale of tickets to disabled people after the performance,” she said.

The pop singer juggles her time between her studies and her career in music.

“Sometime I have a problem with my studies but it’s just a small problem. The most important duty is to study because there is nothing more important than education,” said Ms Thidavanh.

She continued that whenever the Ministry of Information and Culture or other government and international organisations asked her to perform, she never missed the opportunity.

“I have to miss classes sometimes. But my teachers are very understanding. They are aware of my commitments.”

Alexandra plans to continue her studies and aims to obtain a master’s degree abroad. “Next year I will apply to study for a master’s degree but I am still undecided about what subject to study,” she said.

Alexandra hopes to release her latest album in January. The songs have already been recorded; she is waiting for the design of the album cover.

Alexandra newest album will have a fusion of traditional and modern musical instruments. The album will include a song written by Alexandra herself.

“For some songs in her album we have mixed the sounds of Khaen and Lanard (xylophone) with those of the violin and other modern musical instruments. I can say that it will be a quality product created by Lao musicians,” said Sam Intharaphithak, an Audio Engineer who has worked on the singer’s album.

He added that Alexandra had a glorious voice and that she had devoted a lot of attention to making the forthcomin g album and he was confident it would be a huge hit with listeners.

Alexandra also thanked her loyal fans for continuing to trust and support her after the negative rumours of two years ago.

These rumours alleged that Alexandra had admitted to not being Lao during an interview given on a Thai TV channel last few year. The words were a source of great anger to fans at the time, but were ultimately found to be false.

“Many fans came to enjoy the Population Services International concert this year while I was on stage. Some even called my mobile and told me that they were sorry about the misunderstanding at that time,” said Alexandra.

She added “I am very proud that all the fans are so still kind to like me and like my music, Thank you so much.”

Vientiane Times
By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
(Published on December 29, 2005)