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band played a Papuan number “Dirunina”, and a choir sang to it. A traditional piece that now sounds contemporary as it went well with the modern instruments’ harmonization.

Drum beats, which swiftly altered from time to time yet still sounded flawless, sealed the deal. The drum was the star of the performance. Enthralled audiences cheered and gave a standing ovation as they had just been presented with a 90-minute, modern-ethnic, action-packed recital.

After the closing ceremony of a bouquet hand-over, a man in the front row stood up, grabbed a microphone and made a short announcement. Some of the audience left the room afterward, the performers also got off the stage, leaving the drummer alone seemingly preparing a document.

The 24 year-old drummer was about to face his moment of truth. The announcer had the power to determine the drummer’s future. In a few minutes the recital revelry in the Jakarta Art Institute’s auditorium turned into a tense thesis defence.

While most Indonesians perceive art as a rather idealistic career, the oldest art institute in Jakarta takes it as a serious discipline. Alumnae are expected not only to be good practically, as in this recital, but also knowledgeable about the subject, as in the thesis defence. It was an open thesis defense. Just as in other universities, the drummer had to respond to a panel of lecturers and professors.

The school which is located in Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) has produced top Indonesian musicians such as Dian HP, Iwan Fals, and Toni Prabowo. On Aug. 12, it graduated the talented young percussionist, Yose Kristian, with his percussion recital “Living in a New Life”.

Different varieties of percussion such as drum sets, marimba, timpani, bongos and bass drums were used in many genres from traditional Papuan music, to jazzy compositions, even to classical J.S. Bach. They were played in the eight recital numbers along with other instruments like piano, electric and bass guitar, keyboard, flute, trumpet, and a gamelan set. It was indeed a festival of music. Likewise a festival of art as in a couple of numbers, the music combined with dance, motion graphics and pantomime. Two numbers were from Yose Kristian’s own repertoire of original compositions.

Even before he got the degree, Yose Kristian had made his name in the country’s music industry. He has taken part in the Java Jazz Festival, Java Rockin’ Land, Soulnations, was a recording musician and seasonal player for eminent singers like Afgan, Pasto, Nania “Indonesian Idol” and Balawan. In 2002, Yamaha Music named him Jakarta’s best drummer. In 2009, he joined the big name Magenta Orchestra before deciding to compose more with his ensemble, Yose Kristian and Friends.

With his own ensemble and compositions, the guy who is also a fine cellist is making a name for himself on the international stage. He was invited to join the “Life at the Sea” Concert in Los Angeles, the US, in November 2010, and then recorded some compositions for Disney. A month before the recital, the ensemble played in Singapore International Night. His composition was recognized as the best out of the 24 countries that participated in the event.

Together with friends from the California Institute of Art, Yose Kristian and friends will perform in Festival Kesenian Indonesia (FKI, Indonesian Art Festival) next October in Surakarta.