Now Pursuing a Career in America, Peter Jonatan Prepares Orchestral Arrangements to Celebrate August 17th and Youth Pledge

Kapanlagi.com - Peter Jonatan is one of the Indonesian blood musicians who is currently pursuing a career in the United States. Peter is known as a composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, pianist, and Music Theory lecturer at the New England Conservatory (NEC). Despite living in Uncle Sam's country for a long time, it does not make Peter forget about Indonesia.

Peter is currently preparing to welcome two important moments for Indonesia, namely the Independence Day on August 17th and the Youth Pledge Day on October 28th. For these historical moments, Peter will arrange several national and regional songs with orchestral touches.

"I want the national and regional songs to be even more magnificent when performed with orchestral arrangements. And the timing is perfect for the upcoming August 17th and Youth Pledge Day," said Peter via phone call on Thursday (15/7).

This is not the first time Peter has shown his love for Indonesia. Previously, while pursuing his PhD at NEC, he participated in the 'Legenda' Berklee Indonesian Ensemble Concert in Boston on October 2nd, 2019. In that concert, he arranged the song Cendrawasih from West Papua. In addition to the song 'Cendrawasih,' he has also arranged the song Melati Suci for the 73rd anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day and the song Rayuan Pulau Kelapa for the 75th anniversary of Indonesian Independence Day with orchestral arrangements.

1. Peter Jonatan's Big Dream

Photo Credit: Personal Documentation

Currently, Jonatan is in the process of selecting which song he will arrange for the upcoming celebrations of Indonesian Independence Day on August 17th and Youth Pledge Day on October 28th. And not only that, he also has a dream of holding an orchestral concert in his home country.

“I am still choosing the songs, and I will make a decision soon. My dream is to hold an orchestral concert in Indonesia, with a repertoire of national and regional songs arranged with orchestral music. My dream is to be able to hold a concert at the Jakarta Arts Building (GKJ)," added Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies (Composition) from NEC.

For your information, besides working as a composer, arranger, orchestrator, conductor, and pianist specializing in jazz composition in the US, Peter Jonatan is currently a Music Theory lecturer at the New England Conservatory (NEC) after obtaining a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies (Composition) degree from NEC in 2020. Previously, he earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies (Composition) degree from NEC in 2014 and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Composition degree from Berklee College of Music in 2011.

(kpl/gtr)