Gamelan Pacifica

Based in Seattle WA

GAMELAN PACIFICA has performed extensively in the Pacific Northwest, as well as Canada and other parts of the U.S., and is among the finest ensembles devoted to the performance of music for gamelan in the U.S. Gamelan Pacifica is directed by noted composer and Cornish College of the Arts Professor JARRAD POWELL. Originally formed in 1980, Gamelan Pacifica was among the innovators in developing the resources to create and perform gamelan music in the U.S. It 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 on 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, Benaroya Hall, On the Boards, 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 many, many others. Visiting artists have included some of the most notable artists of Indonesia, including Al. Suwardi, Rahayu Supanggah, Peni Chandra Rini, Sutrisno Hartana, Heri Purwanto, Midiyanto, Wayan Sinti, Didik Nini Thowok, I Made Sidia, Endo Suanda, Dedek Wahyudi, Goenawan Mohamad, and Tony Prabowo. Gamelan Pacifica's CD, Trance Gong has received international acclaim. Their recent recording Scenes from Cavafy on New World Records features premiere recordings of works by the great American composer Lou Harrison. Their latest recording is Nourishment, featuring works for gamelan by Stephen Fandrich, Philip Glass, Lou Harrison, Jessika Kenney, Jarrad Powell, and Al. Suwardi. 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 fro the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation and Arts International. Gamelan Pacifica is currently supported in part by sustaining funds from the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture and 4Culture.