OSJ cancels concert due to lack of fund

JAKARTA (JP): A year after new management and funding sources brought back the Jakarta Symphony Orchestra (OSJ), the old problem of funding has forced the management to cancel a show planned for Nov. 28 at the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta.

"We were taken by surprise," said the deputy manager of the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Hussein Wijaya, but added that he understood the situation.

"It just shows how difficult it is to present a serious orchestra," Wijaya said. Nevertheless, this poses the problem of maintaining the public's trust, he added. "Many in the audience I asked were satisfied when OSJ last performed on Sept. 3 at the opening of the Jakarta International Festival."

The cancellation came on Nov. 3 in a letter signed by the Orchestra's manager, Umar Soediarso. Wijaya said there will be no substitute performance.

The letter stated that the Orchestra could not secure sponsorship for the Nov. 28 performance. The number of activities during the recent APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum, Wijaya noted, may be one reason why it is hard nowadays to secure sponsorship.

Soediarso told The Jakarta Post that the Orchestra's 60 musicians were asked to entertain on Nov. 13 during a gubernatorial welcoming of guests to the APEC Forum.

"It is difficult to seek sponsorship for performances which are not far apart in time," Soediarso said. One performance needs at least Rp 50 million (US$22,862.37) and each of at least ten practice sessions a month needs Rp 1.5 million ($685.87), including transportation and meals.

Seven years

The Jakarta Symphony Orchestra became active again last year after being dormant for seven years. With a new management under the Yayasan Adi Suara foundation, the OSJ set up last November under the auspices of the Jakarta municipality. Formerly, the orchestra was managed by the municipality whereas the Foundation, led by former minister of Education and Culture Fuad Hassan, was established to seek funding.

Several bankers like Robby Johan and Omar Abdallah have committed to funding but regular sources are still needed.

Soediarso quoted Fuad Hassan, who has urged the Orchestra to discuss further fund raising activities prior to the next concert in December.

Wijaya said consultants from Australia and Japan have already advised the Orchestra and the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta to approach business circles, "which we have done for years."

Not many business people here, he said, have the need to improve their corporate image, "they still focus on counting profits." Even in advanced countries, Wijaya said, classical orchestras do not yield profits.

But from experience, he added, "it is the business people themselves who offer their resources when they watch a satisfying performance." (anr)