The young tend to prefer to keep things casual and informal, so they can freely express themselves and be creative. This tendency carries over to their music preferences also. Mostly, they like casual music that they can enjoy freely where "rules" or "restrictions" do not apply.

Classical music can be considered as one kind of music where you do need to apply the "rules" and "restrictions" to enjoy it, let alone play it. That's why it is often considered a very serious kind of music, far from the more dynamic and energetic life of the youngsters.

In short, the young tend to say that classical music is boring and only for "old people"!

This tendency doesn't hold only in a country like Indonesia, which is not the native "hometown" of classical music, but also in Western countries where many young people have little time for classical sounds.

This needs to be adjusted a little bit. Perhaps not all at once, but gradually, by introducing the essence and beauty of classical music in a way that young people can be accept and understand.

Scientists have long agreed that classical music can make a great positive difference in a baby's brain. A baby's attitude and behavior can be developed by having them listen to classical music as early as possible, even when they are still inside the womb.

The Jakarta Chamber Orchestra, with Avip Priatna as the conductor, will try to bridge the gap between young people and classical music by holding a special performance called the "Casual Concert".

The concert, created especially for students, is aimed at raising appreciation of classical music -- long an important part of international culture -- among Jakarta's youth. Therefore, the one-hour concert, without intermission, will also introduce the audience to orchestras, orchestral compositions and the compositions performed in this concert.

Compositions played in the concert will be from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Pianist Stephanie Onggowinoto (left) listens to Italian pianist Giovani Velluti during the Master Class Program in Jakarta in this file photo. Stephanie will perform with the Jakarta Chamber Orchestra at Usmar Ismail Hall on Saturday. (JP/P.J. Leo)

Stephanie Onggowinoto, a young and talented pianist who has won national and international awards, will present a special composition by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, a concerto for piano and orchestra in A minor.

The concert will open with Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite, a series of dance music compositions written in 1926. This composition was derived from Thoinot Arbeau's Orch*sographie, which was a manual for a dance composition in the Renaissance period. Capriol Suite, which consists of six parts -- Basse Danse, Pavane, Tordion, Bransles, Pieds en l'air and Mattachins -- is Warlock's most outstanding work.

Mendelssohn's Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra was composed when he was 12. It employs a classical style with a romantic touch. This wonderful concerto gives Stephanie plenty of scope to demonstrate her talent.

The Seasons by J.C. Ames will be the next piece. This suite has three parts, each of which presents a different season, from summer to harvest time, magnificently expressed in the playful rhythm and rapid movements.

A work of art by Albeniz with a music arrangement by Werber Thomas-Mifune, will also be performed. This work successfully reflects the unique characters of three cities (Cardiz - Cordoba - Mallorca) by combining Spanish rhythm, melody and harmony.

Bela Bartok's Romanian Folk Dances will conclude the concert. The suite was originally written for solo piano, then developed for orchestra in 1917. Bartok composed seven parts of the suite, with each part originating from Romanian dance music.

By featuring Stephanie -- one of the country's talented young pianists -- the young audience will also see that classical music is not just for "old people" and Westerners. Young people too can enjoy it, and even make outstanding achievements in international music competitions.

Stephanie is definitely not one of a kind. There are many Indonesian children who play this type of music and love it!

Now we can see that classical music can also be casual and enjoyable, even for the young. Hey, let's go Classic!

Stephanie Onggowinoto — the pianist

Born in Jakarta in 1995, Stephanie started learning to play piano when she was five years old from Yenny R. Djafar and Suwarni Hanitio.

She continued her piano lessons under Iswargia R. Sudarno at the Jakarta Conservatory of Music and Johannes S. Nugroho.

Her achievements include winning 2nd prize in the ASEAN Chopin International Piano Competition, Kuala Lumpur (2006); 1st prize in the Mozart Piano Concerto, Surabaya Symphony Orchestra (2006); 2nd prize in the LK-CCO Mozart Piano Competition, Jakarta (2006); and 1st prize in the Yamaha Piano Competition (2003-2005).

Stephanie was also the winner of the ASEAN Concerto Competition (2007); Gold Medalist at the Asia International Piano Academy, Korea (2008); the 3rd-prize winner of the Ananda Sukarlan Award (2008); and runner-up in the Junior category of the UPH National Piano Competition (2008).

Program

Peter Warlock ----------------Capriol Suite

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy---Piano Concerto in A minor

J.C. Ames---------------------The Seasons, Suite for String Orchestra

Isaac Albeniz-----------------Cardiz (Serenata) - Cordoba - Mallorca

Bela Bartok-------------------Rumanian Folk Dances

Casual Concert

Jakarta Chamber Orchestra

Usmar Ismail Hall

Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008 at 3 p.m.

Conductor : Avip Priatna

Pianist : Stephanie Onggowinoto

Admission:

Platinum: Rp 200,000

Gold: Rp 100,000

Student (limited seats): Rp 50,000

For further information, please call:

Ibu Ika: 0858-14142277

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