NMH Magazine : Spring 2003

Arn Chorn-Pond '86 – The Flute Player

Among the many atrocities inflicted by the Khmer Rouge on Cambodia was outlawing the country's traditional music. Today Arn Chorn-Pond '86 works to restore his nation's musical legacy–and that work has made him the subject of a documentary film, The Flute Player, which will soon air on national TV. 

Members of Chorn-Pond's family were opera stars, but the Khmer Rouge destroyed their culture, its music, and much of the family. Chorn-Pond survived the murderous regime and has been a resident of the United States for the past 20 years. The film chronicles his efforts to see that the music survives as well. 

The one-hour documentary, directed by Jocelyn Glatzer '87, has already been shown in Chicago, New York, Boston, and San Francisco, and will be aired on the PBS series Point of View on July 22. 

For more information on The Flute Player, visit the website www.thefluteplayer.net