The Resonanz Children’s Choir (TRCC), led by renowned choir director Devi Francisca, made headlines last month with their victory at the Claudio Monteverdi Choral Competition in Venice, Italy, winning first prize in the Children’s and Youth Choir category as well as the Grand Prix as the best choir overall.

JMS Photo_1740

In fact, a number of Indonesian choirs earned recognition at various competitions around the world last month. Mentioned here are the top prizes earned in Europe. The Pangudi Luhur Youth Choir was awarded the Grand Prix Champion Children’s Choir of the World at the Llangolen International Musical Eisteddfod held in Wales, UK, with the choir’s director Sonja Simanjuntak winning The Best Conductor Award.

Gema Swara Pesona STP Trisakti choir, conducted by Rainier Revireino, won first prize in the Mixed Choir category at Laurea Mundi International Choir Festival and Competition in Budapest. Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta Student Choir (PSM UAJY), conducted by Raymundus Leonardo, won two gold medals (Mixed Youth Choir and Scenic Folklore Choir) at the 9th World Choir Games (WCG), held at the Bolshoi Ice Dome at the Olympic Park in Sochi, Russia.

On the occasion of Indonesian Independence Day, the TRCC, along with the Batavia Madrigal Singers and the Jakarta Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Avip Priatna will perform in the 7th series of their annual concert “SIMFONI UNTUK BANGSA 2016”. The program will be Indonesian film music.

Date/Time: 27 August, 7.30 pm
Venue: Gedung Teater Jakarta, Taman Ismail Marzuki
Contact: +62-21 7201918

The West Australian Ballet (WAB), with support from the Australian Embassy Jakarta and Yayasan Bina Ballet Indonesia, will give a special performance called “Once”. Nine works ranging from classical to modern and neo‐classical ballets by Australian choreographers will be performed in the first act, and an excerpt from Cinderella will be performed in the second act.

WAB-Once-Poster

Understanding the hunger of Indonesian ballet students to be part of a ballet company, WAB decided to give a remarkable opportunity to allow Indonesian dancers and dance students to get a glimpse on what it’s like to be in a ballet company. Yes, despite the existence of ballet in Indonesia for almost a full  century, and while other Asian countries like Korea, Singapore, and Thailand can boast of the quality and achievements of their professional ballet companies, we apparently still do not have a single professional ballet company.

Does local interest in this art exist? Do we have the human capital, or at least the potential? Of course, but such things need to be nurtured.

After rigorous auditions and training by WAB, 20 Indonesian dancers ranging from 11 – 36 years old have been selected to perform with WAB in the August show. Dubbed the Indonesian Youth Ensemble, the dancers will be performing in 2 new works choreographed by WAB’s Education & Access Manager Deborah Robertson. Let’s show our support!

Date/Time: 6 August 2016 (7.30PM) and 7 August 2016 (1PM)
Venue: Teater Jakarta, Taman Ismail Marzuki
Tickets: www.kiostix.com and www.ballet.id/wab

Last but not least, some interesting concerts involving renowned Indonesian composer, Ananda Sukarlan. In his ongoing quest to infuse an Indonesian identity into classical music, successfully done with works such as his Rapsodia Nusantara, various operas in Indonesian such as “Ibu” and “Clara”, he will now set traditional Indonesian folktales as well as some of former President BJ Habibie’s poems and speeches to music. The second project is part of an ongoing collaboration between the maestro and the ex-President and is part of the the latter’s admirable effort to contribute to our national artistic heritage. May others follow his example.

Date/Time: Sunday 7 August, 7pm
Venue: Graha Bhakti Budaya

Featuring the Indonesia Youth Concert Orchestra (IYCO) performing while the stories are narrated by Triawan Munaf, Handry Satriago dan Fasli Djalal.

Date/Time: 12 August, 8pm
Venue: Goethe Haus
Featuring the Ananda Sukarlan Orchestra, Indonesian tenor Widhawan Aryo Pradhita and the Unity Primary School Children Choir
Contact: 0818891038

Duo Schoko, consisting of two fine Indonesian musicians: Theduardo Prasetyo (guitar) and Giovani Biga (violin), finalists at the Concurso de Música de Cámara Ecoparque de Trasmiera, in Spain earlier this year.
duo schoko
Theduardo Prasetyo learned to play the guitar under the guidance of Eddy Husni Rachim and is currently a Bachelor of Music student focusing on Classical Guitar Performance and Pedagogic studies at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold (Germany), under the guidance of Prof. Dale Kavanagh. He has also participated in masterclasses by renowned guitarists, such as Thibault Cauvin (France), Prof. Xu Bao (China), Prof. Jurgen Rück, Prof.Hans-Werner Huppertz (Germany), John Paul (Indonesia), Bruce Holzman, and Michael Newman (USA).
Giovani Biga is without a doubt one of Indonesia’s most promising young violinists. In 2013 he was hand-picked by Ananda Sukarlan to perform the premiere of his Violin Concerto. Biga is currently a Bachelor of Music student focusing on Classical Violin Performance and Orchestral studies at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold(Germany), under the guidance of Prof. Ulrika Anima Mathé.
Date/Time: 21 August, 4.30pm
Venue: Erasmus Huis
Contact: 082140547097, (021) 27828085

John Paul

John Paul

John Paul studied music in Germany and Italy. He founded an annual charity concert in 2011, helping over 200 children stay in and or return to school.