Dr. J Simon Van der Walt, a World Class Composer, Gave a Music Composition Workshop in UPH

Conservatory of Music (CoM) UPH has gotten a rare opportunity with a world-class composer from Scotland, Dr. J Simon Van der Walt, on July 19, 2017. He was also present to give a workshop on music composition with the traditional and contemporary method.

Dr. J Simon Van der Walt who came from Glasgow, Scotland, is a multi-instrumentalist composer, a lecturer and also the Head of MMus/MA program at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He is also a member of a gamelan music group called ?Naga Mas? which is based in Glasgow; moreover, he also writes compositions for gamelan.

Aside from giving a workshop, his visit to UPH this time was also meant to fathom for collaboration opportunities between CoM UPH and the Royal Conservatory of Scotland.

During his workshop, the composer introduced a composition method called ?livecoding? which has to be done with particular software for composing called ?SuperCollider?. At the end of the event, he also asked the student of CoM UPH to collaborate together with him, by following the melody of gamelan that he played, while the students could use their own instruments such as cello, piano, and violin. Through this workshop, he also emphasized that music is a powerful means of communication that is able to connect people

At the end of the workshop, Dr. J. Simon was served with a composition made by one of CoM UPH students, Alexandro, from the Music Composition program, along with some other students of CoM UPH, called ?Javanese?.

After seeing the performance, Dr. Van Der Walt admitted that he was amazed at the students? performance and the composition of it. 

Hopefully, the activities done in this workshop may expand student?s perspective. Antonius Priyanto, S.Ag., B.Cm., M.Mus., Dean of CoM UPH, also hopes that with this workshop, more opportunities may arise for collaboration between UPH and the Royal Conservatory of Scotland. (mt)