Harping on about a young star

Sun, 03/30/2008 10:59 AM | Entertainment

In his pre-teen years, the speed with which Rama Andhika Widi could pick up a musical instrument amazed even his parents.

He also held captive his teachers at Cikini music school.

"He mastered the piano very fast, although when he first learned it he struggled to reach the pedals," said Rama's mother, Fifi Salempang.

Rama was born on August 1985 and is the eldest of two. He credits his parents -- both of whom also play the piano -- with his ability. They exposed him to music from an early age.

"They liked to play duets, it was really sweet," he recalled.

After flirting with various musical instruments, Rama finally went all the way with the harp. This makes him the only male professional harpist in the country. The two other famous Indonesian harpists -- Heidi Awuy and Maya Hassan -- happen to be female.

"Compared to other instruments, the harp is the most difficult to play, because you have to be able to divide your attention between the pedals and the strings," he said.

Rama's love affair with the harp started unexpectedly in 2004. He dreamed of attending the Vienna Conservatory of Music, the entrance requirements of which include playing the harp, and, so, took lessons.

His hard work paid off and in March 2007, Rama became the first Indonesian harpist to play at the Vienna State Opera House. In the same year, he also played at the Vienna Jazz Festival.

Besides performing solo, Rama has played with almost all of the major orchestras in Indonesia, as well as in Austria and Hungary.

He last played in his home country early this year with the Cikini Music Institute Orchestra.

Rama said more Indonesians had become interested in classical music in the last few years, but he was still unsure whether there was a future for him here after graduating from the Vienna conservatory.

"It's either that or traveling the globe -- conquering the world," he said with a giggle.

First, Rama has to prove himself among his peers at the Vienna music school.

--Emmy Fitri

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