"Sprite," a Grade 10 student at Phichai School in Uttaradit, has been touring to perform lae singing to raise funds through a forest robe donation event to buy computers for the school. The total has now surpassed 500,000 baht. He says he takes lae singing gigs in his spare time to earn money to support his mother.
On 7 September 2026, a viral story spread on social media about a student from Phichai School, Phichai District, Uttaradit Province, who traveled to perform lae singing at various flea markets and walking street markets across districts. Videos shared on Facebook and TikTok went viral, attracting widespread interest and praise.
Recently, reporters visited the Nong Phra Lae walking street market in Thung Yang Subdistrict, Lap Lae District, Uttaradit, after learning that the student group was scheduled to perform lae singing to showcase their work and collect donations for a forest robe merit-making event to buy computer equipment for teaching at their school.
Upon arrival, teachers and students were found rhythmically tapping together to create a lively atmosphere. Among them was 16-year-old Thanapong Boontang, known as "Sprite," a Grade 10 student, who captivated passersby with his powerful lae singing voice. The songs performed were master-level lae pieces rarely heard, including the Mahachat 13 chapters, stories of the giant clam, dreams of the young prince, the sermon introduction, and the four kings in the forest. These impressed locals and tourists shopping there, who stopped to listen and generously contributed to the forest robe merit event to fund computer equipment.
Sprite revealed he has loved the lae singing style since he was in Grade 2. He once ordained as a novice monk at Wat Klang in Uttaradit for three days. Although he wanted to ordain permanently, concern for his mother limited him to just three days. During this time, he studied lae singing from the famous preacher Phra Ajarn Opas Kittipanyo (Phra Kru Kittithammanuyut), a renowned preacher in Uttaradit. After disrobing, he practiced lae singing by watching various YouTube channels and performed for friends and teachers, who all appreciated his talent.
/* No content to translate */This year, the school will hold a forest robe donation event for education on 12 September to raise funds to buy computers for teaching. Sprite volunteered to perform lae singing at various places to help raise money, receiving generous support from many people. Additionally, on holidays, he follows the Toem Sin Thai piphat ensemble to perform shows, using the earnings to support his 52-year-old mother, with whom he lives alone since his father left long ago./* No content to translate */Sprite smiled as he revealed the bank account balance from this lae singing fundraising effort, with donations for the forest robe merit event for education reaching as high as 561,072 baht.
Dr. Rosasukon Inchai Khao, director of Phichai School, disclosed that the school plans to hold its annual forest robe donation event for education on 12 September 2026. They have invited Phra Kru Palat Rachan Ariyo (Phra Kru Wathee Phatchar Sophon), a famous lae singer and abbot of Kwang Thong Temple in Phitsanulok Province, to serve as the head of the monastic committee.
Sprite's homeroom teacher proposed encouraging him to showcase his talent and develop his confidence by touring various locations to raise funds, marking a new approach to fundraising for education. The director supported this idea and helped facilitate his performances throughout Phichai, Lap Lae, and Mueang districts. This initiative has generated positive momentum and received strong interest and support from local residents.