Late Painter's legacy helping youth choir go places

Late Painter's legacy helping youth choir go places

Fifi Yulianti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Internationally acclaimed artist Affandi continues to do some
good for his country, 13 years after his death.

Three of his works -- Tangkuban Perahu, Self Portrait Affandi
(sketch) and Still Life -- were sold at auction at a fund-raising
night and masterpieces exhibition to help the Parahyangan
Catholic University Choir to compete in the eighth International
Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany, from June 5
to June 11.

To show the diversity of its range, the choir opened with
Karaban Sape, a Madurese folk song about bull racing, at the
fund-raiser at the Grand Hyatt in Central Jakarta.

Singer-cum-author Dewi "Dee" Lestari was a guest performer,
singing Melati Suci (Pure Jasmine), while soprano Binu D.
Sukarman sang Wanita (Women) and soprano Mahalia Tambunan
performed All I Ask of You from the Phantom of the Opera and
Koren' Grato, accompanied by noted designer Harry Darsono on
piano. Harry also hosted the event.

Ambassadors, businesspeople as well as local singers and
musicians attended the event, which also included an exhibition
of 62 other works by Affandi.

A total of Rp 1.35 billion (US$165,239) was raised, including
through the sale of a painting by Djoko Pekik. Ten percent of the
funds went to the choir, but additional donations from the
audience brought the total to Rp 250 milllion.

Unfortunately, it was still far below the projected Rp 400
million needed to fund the trip for the 36-member choir.

"A total of Rp 300 million will be used for airline tickets
while the rest will be for accomodation and other matters," said
the choir's PR officer, Nancy Margried Panjaitan.

"We still have a Rp 100 million deficit although each member
of the choir has contributed Rp 3 million."

Nancy said the choir appreciated all the donations,
particularly from main sponsor Bank Mandiri Prioritas.

Prior to their departure for Germany, the choir will stage a
concert at Erasmus Huis on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta,
on Monday.

Becoming a member of the choir, which is the only one from
Asia to participate in the biennial contest, is not as hard as it
seems. All Parahyangan Catholic University students are allowed
to join in as long as they make a commitment to the rehearsal
schedule.

"The choir is the right place where I can explore my interest
in music. I really love to sing," said one choir member, Donny.

"Most of us never complain about the rehearsals because we
really enjoy it."

Donny said that alumni from the university can join the choir.

"As long as they take part in the audition and pass, they can
join in the choir for competitions, just like the one we will
have in Germany. Some of the choir members are alumni."

Traveling with the choir is conductor Avip Priatna. The choir,
which was established in 1962, has distinguished itself in
various competitions, such as runner-up in the mixed choir and
musica sacra categories at the Linz 2000 Choir Olympics in Linz,
Austria, and first prize in the folk song category in the XLV
Concorso Polifonico Internazionale Guido d'Arezzo 1997 in Arezzo,
Italy.

The choir also won the first prize and highest score for an
obligatory work in the large mixed choir category at the
Netherlands International Koor Festival 1995 in Arnhem, the
Netherlands.