ASPEN, CO — Bangkok Happy Bowl and Phat Pho n Sushi, two restaurants co-founded by Kirk Coult and Chef Paula Rungsawang Coult, are set to launch their 12th annual live music series in collaboration with the Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS). The series will run from July 2 through August 23, 2027, with performances every Thursday through Monday from 6–8 p.m. on the garden patios of both restaurants.
The partnership features student musicians from AMFS's Hire A Musician program, which places ensembles in venues throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. Musicians are selected from AMFS's summer programs and perform in rotating configurations, including solo, duo, trio, and quartet ensembles, primarily featuring strings with occasional woodwind performances. The outdoor dining experience, with over fifty seats across the adjoining patios, combines Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisine with live classical music in an intimate setting. Select Saturdays may also include additional guest musicians.
Veronica Janet Lopez, Education and Community Programs Coordinator at AMFS, emphasized the program's value: "The Hire A Musician program provides our students with meaningful performance opportunities in community settings. This long-standing collaboration continues to be an important way for students to share their work outside the classroom and connect with local audiences."
Kirk Coult, owner of both restaurants, highlighted the series' significance: "This series has become an important part of our summer programming. It brings together live music and dining in a way that supports young musicians while offering guests a unique experience in Aspen."
The Aspen Music Festival and School offers intensive summer programs in orchestral, chamber, opera, and solo performance disciplines. Students study and perform alongside faculty and visiting musicians from major orchestras and institutions across the United States. The collaboration with Bangkok Happy Bowl and Phat Pho n Sushi provides a platform for these emerging artists to gain real-world experience outside the classroom.
For business leaders and technology enthusiasts, this partnership exemplifies how local businesses can leverage community collaborations to enhance customer experience and support the arts. The integration of live music into dining experiences creates a unique value proposition that differentiates these restaurants in Aspen's competitive hospitality market. Moreover, the use of the Hire A Musician program demonstrates a scalable model for connecting educational institutions with local enterprises, potentially inspiring similar initiatives in other communities.
The series runs from July 2 through August 23, 2027, at Bangkok Happy Bowl and Phat Pho n Sushi in Aspen. For more information about the restaurants, visit Bangkok Happy Bowl and Phat Pho n Sushi.
