Pancasila choir: Bound by song, 'family'

Kurniawan Hari ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 04/13/2008 12:35 PM  |  Discover

Member of the Pancasila University Choir (PSUP) pose for a photograph after taking third place at a Folklore Festival organized at the Culture and Tourism Ministry in Jakarta in April 2007. (Courtesy PSUP)

Five students recently held an informal meeting in a room at the Student Activity Unit (UKM) building, located to the rear of the Pancasila University compound in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta.

The members of the Pancasila University Choir (PSUP) discussed the progress of their rehearsal, the costumes they would wear and the preparations for an upcoming student choir competition.

"We have a meeting to prepare everything for the upcoming competition. We have to discuss it because we will participate in several events," Vicky told The Jakarta Post.

Vicky, a third-year student at the university's School of Pharmacy, said he and members of the university's student choir had to hold additional meetings these days to discuss the choir competition organized by state-run radio station RRI.

The RRI competition is just one of several activities the choir will undertake this year. The other activities include a competition at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in Bandung, West Java, and annual performances for the graduation ceremonies in May and in November.

The Pancasila choir will also host a pre-event for the Indonesia Music Award (AMI) on April 15.

"It's a tough job for us," Vicky added.

Even so, all choir members are prepared to make the event a success, as it will improve the image of the choir.

The choir, known among students as the PSUP, or Paduan Suara Universitas Pancasila, was established on May 20, 1985. It has achieved numerous accolades for its outstanding performances.

Among the PSUP's achievements are as the third-place winner in the 2006 Folklore Festival held at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, third place in the 2007 Choir Competition for schools and universities in Jakarta at the National Education Ministry and as runner-up of the 2007 Christmas Choir Festival at Plaza Blok M shopping mall.

Its achievements are not surprising, because the choir strives to improve its performance through weekly rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday. The practice usually starts at 2 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m., with a break at around 6 p.m. for prayer.s

The choir usually holds more rehearsals prior to a competition or a performance in special events such as graduation, the inauguration of a rector or an anniversary.

According to Vicky, choir members who have graduated return once in a while to share their experiences with their juniors.

"Their presence boosts our spirit. It shows that they still support the choir," said Vicky, adding that commitment and loyalty were two important factors during the recruitment of new members.

The recruitment process, which usually takes place in March and September, involves both auditions and interviews, and acceptance is competitive.

"For example, we had 308 applicants last year but we only accepted 90 of them," said Vicky, adding that not all members are active until they graduate from university.

"I joined this choir because its members are genial. I feel we are like a big family," he added.

Meanwhile, another member Cherry said that she joined the choir to continue singing, which she has pursued since she was in elementary school.

"I can keep up with my hobby. Besides which, the sense of brotherhood among members is very strong. We know each other and know their families," she said.

Choir members Nana and Duma had similar opinions.

"In the beginning, I joined this choir just for fun. Now, I feel like I am part of a family. I will continue to sing with the choir," Nana said.

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