Why Jakarta Needs Music, with Nathania Karina of TRUST

What does Jakarta need to do in order to be recognised as a cultural city? In this opinion series, NOW! Jakarta hears from the leaders of the city’s artistic institutions to gain insight into fosteringand developing specific areas of culture. Nathania Karina of TRUST Orchestra talks to us about music.

Nathania Karina and the Trinity Youth Symphony Orchestra (TRUST) are on a mission to transform the experience and presentation of orchestral music in Jakarta. By breaking boundaries and appealing to modern tastes they hope to make orchestras more accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience.

Orchestral music is not widespread in Indonesia, long enjoyed by only a select few fortunate enough to have access to or have a taste for this genre of musical performance. Performers undoubtedly desire more people to appreciate or enjoy their work, but how can this be achieved? How can interest be fostered and cultivated in a city like Jakarta?

Nathania, also the first female conductor to lead the prestigious Gita Bahana Nusantara during Independence Day celebrations at Istana Merdeka, found that enticing new audiences requires identifying trends and interests, making the music relevant to them. “The choice of theme is significant. People like Harry Potter, others like K-Pop, so we use these themes and repackage this into the orchestral experience.” These are effective ‘gateways’ into this genre of musical performance.

With a growing interest, Nathania hopes to use the momentum to showcase Jakarta’s own Betawi culture, often overshadowed by contemporary or global trends. “The younger generation don’t know what Gambang Kromong is, or Betawi folk songs like Jali-Jali or Sirih Kuning. This year, I plan to make an album of Indonesian folk songs that define the nation’s identity, but we will make it as relevant as possible. We also plan to make a dangdut orchestral performance. I feel that this is my duty as a musician,” she closes. Nathania and TRUST hope to see more outdoor orchestral music events, relevant to all, thus fostering shared experiences among Jakarta’s residents.

trustorchestra.com

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Read more in the series: Why Jakarta Needs....

Art Communities, with Ayu Utami | Cultural Collaboration, with Bambang Prihadi | Contemporary Art, with Venus Lau | Music, with Nathania Karina | Literature, with Laura Prinsloo