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)