Scottish Arts Students Welcome Indonesian Gamelan Instructor

LONDON, England, March 30 (Antara) - College students and the gamelan lovers community in Scotland welcomed the arrival of Prasadiyanto, a gamelan instructor from the Indonesian Art Institute, Solo, at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), the world's third-best arts academy. Prasadiyanto's arrival at the RCS was eagerly awaited by the students and gamelan communities in Scotland, Social and Culture Department Chief of the Indonesian Embassy, London, Dethi Silvidah Gani informed Antara London, Wednesday. He stated that Prasadiyanto will serve as a gamelan instructor at the RCS and for the related communities in Scotland for three months. Education and Cultural Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in London Prof. E. Aminudin Aziz noted that the arrival of a gamelan instructor in England is one of the embassy's initiatives, along with the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture, to promote Indonesia's culture in England. He accompanied Prasadiyanto to the RCS. He remarked that gamelan was chosen based on its popularity in England. He has forecast that around 150 gamelan sets are in use across the islands in line with the rising number of enthusiasts. Apart from being an instructor, Prasadiyanto will also assist in arranging the materials for a gamelan event in Scotland and a concert scheduled next June along with the viewing of the film "Setan Jawa," which means Java Demon, by Garin Nugroho, with the gamelan instrumental music being arranged by Rahayu Supanggah in Glasgow. Such cooperation deals have already been confirmed by RCS Music Director Gordon Monroe, he revealed. In a short period of time, more gamelan instructors from Indonesia will be invited to teach the instruments at several colleges in England. Apart from roping in Gamelan instructors, the embassy, along with the ministry, will also invite Indonesian language and cultural instructors to teach at some elementary and middle schools and communities in England having interest in Indonesian. The embassy is optimistic that through active cultural promotion, Briton's knowledge and love for Indonesia will continue to increase.