Farabi music school reopens under new management

Farabi music school reopens under new management

JAKARTA (JP): Farabi music school reopened under new
management yesterday, 10 years after it closed down.

The new owners hope to revive its glory days, even without its
original founders Jack Lesmana and Indra Lesmana, by recruiting
musicians who are equally impressive to teach.

A small reception to relaunch the school was held at the same
building which housed the old Farabi school on Jl. Dharmawangsa
XI in South Jakarta. Among the guests were veteran singer Titik
Puspa and music critic Bens Leo.

Founded in 1984, the school quickly became a major institution
that churned out many of Indonesia's jazz, waltz and soul
musicians.

It closed down in 1987, one year after Jack Lesmana passed
away and most of its instructors, including Jack's son Indra
Lesmana, became too busy with their music careers.

Dwiki Dharmawan, the executive director of the new management
and a former keyboard player in the Krakatau band, said the
school would emphasize teaching basic music.

Dwiki, who now leads the Indonesian Fantasy Orchestra, said
Farabi had recruited professional musicians as instructors, some
of whom had academic musical backgrounds.

Praharyawan Prabowo, who graduated from the Musashino Music
Academy in Japan and is now conductor of the Jakarta Symphony
Orchestra, coordinates the orchestra and ensemble program.

Roelly Boediono, a graduate of Hochschule fuer Musik und
Darstellend Kunst in Vienna, heads the classical guitar program.

Haruyo Prabowo, a graduate of the Musashino Music Academy in
Japan, coordinates the classical piano program.

Classical singer Aning Katamsi and pop singer Ita Purnamasari
teach singing.

Ireng Maulana, Pra Budidharma, and Gilang Ramadhan are the
band program instructors.

Farabi plans to open traditional music classes, comprising
Sundanese, Javanese and Balinese music. They will be coordinated
by Ade Rudiana from the Indonesian Dance Academy.

Dwiki said students from the Jakarta International School, the
British School and the Australian Embassy School had already
enrolled for the traditional music classes. (04/27)