Nathania Karina Assumes Conductor Role for Indonesian Independence Orchestra

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Gita Bahana Nusantara (GBN) orchestra, in the upcoming 77th Indonesian independence day commemoration on August 17, will be led by Nathania Karina as the conductor. The role of the holder of a double degree graduate of the University of Melbourne marks the inaugural time in the country’s independence orchestra celebrations will be led by a female conductor. 

Nathania whose nickname is Nia received her Doctor of Music Arts in Music Education from Boston University and received her Master of Music with a dual degree in Piano Performance and Music Education from the University of Melbourne. At that time she studied with the renowned Australian pianist Glenn Riddle.

Nia played the piano from the tender age of four years old. At that time, she studied under the tutelage of Kusumawati Halim, Ita Lingga, and attended a Yamaha Junior Original concert under the guidance of Ferdinand Marsha and Vera Soeng.

GBN's First Female Conductor

GBN's performance became one of the most anticipated segments as it contains slick presentations from the nation's talents in the fields of music and vocals. Nia received the mandate to be the first female conductor for the GBN performance. She was unable to hide her excitement about assuming the major role.  

"I'm actually very excited every time I start my training day with them. I think this GBN is a mini version of Indonesia, when else can I get to know children from various provinces at one time?," Nathania said as cited from the official website of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology on Monday, August 15.

Nathania committed herself to various preparations to fill the event during the 77th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia on 17 August. Starting from technical and mental training.

“To my friends, I advise you to take care of yourself, especially your health, until the performance. They should be proud to have been chosen to appear at the Merdeka Palace, in front of various guests of honor, especially the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo," she said.

Director General of Culture, Kemendikbudristek, Hilmar Farid, said that GBN is not just a choir and orchestra but also a place for character building and a form of love for the homeland. 

"The GBN offering will be presented on the Indonesian Independence Day, which this year turns 77 years old," he added.

Intensive Training 

Arriving at Wisma Kinasih on August 6, the Gita Bahana Nusantara choir and orchestra participants underwent a training camp that lasted approximately 14 days which was divided into two sessions.

The first session was a sectional rehearsal of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass for choir and strings, and wind and percussion for orchestra; each of which takes place separately from morning to evening. The second session is a joint practice involving a choir and an orchestra which is held at night.

The 199 participants consisted of 68 orchestra participants and 131 choir participants who had gone through a rigorous selection process at the provincial level. Gita Bahana Nusantara 2022 has the honor to appear at the Merdeka Palace during the raising and lowering of the flag on 17 August.

Presenting the Nusantara Medley at the Palace

This year, Gita Bahana Nusantara or commonly abbreviated as GBN will sing a total of 17 songs at the Merdeka Palace and the DPR/MPR Building in the spirit of the 77th Indonesian independence day. One of the highlights is the Medley Nusantara offering which is an arrangement from a collection of various regional traditional songs such as Indung-Indung, Tutu Koda, Bindhe Biluhuta, Sang Bumi Ruwa Jurai, Lir Sa'alir, O' Ulate, and E Mambo Simbo.

DEVY ERNIS

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