about gamelan Pacifica
“With an air of timelessness, Gamelan Pacifica has done an unparalleled job of taking gamelan music to new heights, while remaining respectful to the roots and cultural significance of its instruments.”
Gamelan Pacifica has been a leading voice for gamelan music in the Northwest for over 40 years. Gamelan Pacifica embraces gamelan as both a contemporary art form and a revered tradition. Formed in 1980, it has performed extensively in the Pacific Northwest, as well as Canada and throughout the U.S. Gamelan Pacifica is an active and adventurous ensemble, with a reputation for creating diverse productions merging traditional and contemporary musical forms with dance, theater, puppetry, and visual media. They have been guest performers at The Smithsonian Institute's Festival of Indonesia, New Music Across America Festival, Vancouver New Music Society, On the Boards, Walker Art Center, Performing Arts Chicago, and many others. In the Northwest they perform regularly and have appeared at the University of Washington, Seattle University, Town Hall, Cornish College of the Arts, the Seattle Art Museum, Evergreen State College, Centrum, Bumbershoot Festival, Arts in Nature Festival, University of Oregon, Whidbey Institute, CenterStage, and others. Visiting artists have included some of the most notable artists of Indonesia, including Rahayu Supanggah, Al Suwardi, Midiyanto, Heni Savitri, Peni Chandra Rini, Heri Purwanto, Sutrisno Hartana, Wayan Sinti, Didik Nini Thowok, Sri Djoko Rahardja, I Made Sidia, Endo Suanda, Dedek Wahyudi, Ki Purbo Asmoro, Goenawan Mohamad, and Tony Prabowo. Gamelan Pacifica's recordings, Trance Gong, Scenes from Cavafy, and Nourishment, have received international acclaim. A professional ensemble in residence at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Gamelan Pacifica is directed by noted composer and Cornish Professor Jarrad Powell.
In addition to sponsoring the Javanese gamelan ensemble, Gamelan Pacifica is a well-respected non-profit arts organization that supports various programs and special projects relating to music and dance, with a special emphasis on cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration. Gamelan Pacifica has been the recipient of numerous grants, including support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation and Arts International. Gamelan Pacifica is currentIy supported in part by sustaining funds from the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture and 4Culture.
Current Gamelan Pacifica Performers: Noah Colbeck, Michael Dorrity; Stephen Fandrich; Emily Gross, Ted Gill, Deena Manis, Anna McDermott, Richard Robinson, Troy Schiefelbein, Stephanie Shadbolt, Jesse Snyder, Jarrad Powell, Director.
Read a selective narrative history of Gamelan Pacifica to 1997.