The Paragita Student Choir (PSM) of the Universitas Indonesia (UI) has once again brought honor to the nation by successfully winning several awards in the 2024 Taipei International Choral Competition. In this competition, PSM Paragita UI took home the Gold Award for the Mixed Choir category with 92.28 points, as well as the Gold Award for the Ethnic/Traditional Music category with 89.89 points. This achievement also includes the Formoza Prize for the best performance of a Taiwanese composer’s work by a non-Taiwanese choir, and becoming a Grand Prix Finalist.
This proud accomplishment was achieved after PSM Paragita competed with 30 choirs from various countries during the competition period which took place from August 30 to September 2, 2024. The performances took place at several prestigious venues in Taipei, such as Soochow University Song-Yi Hall, Soochow University Chuan-Hsien Hall, and the National Concert Hall. Rama Kalyana Pryamitra, a member of PSM Paragita UI who is also a student of the UI Vocational Education Program, expressed his gratitude and pride for this achievement. “Of course, our participation is a pleasant new experience and knowledge. This achievement is a source of pride for UI and Indonesia,” he said.
In the event, PSM Paragita UI sang various songs from various eras and backgrounds. Some of them are “Jubilate Deo” by Ko Matsushita, “Tsyu ti e Tsi” (a Taiwanese song), “The Splendour Falls on Castle Walls” by Frederick Delius, and “Paris Berantai” composed by H. Anang Ardiansyah arranged by Ken Steven. The selection of these songs took into account the variation of tempo, expression, and uniqueness of each composition, which showed the abilities and creativity of the choir members.
Support for PSM Paragita also came from the Director of the UI Vocational Education Program, Padang Wicaksono, S.E., Ph.D. He appreciated the students’ achievements and hoped that participation in this competition would not only be a competition, but also a means to introduce Indonesian culture on the international stage. “Through competitions participated by various countries in the world, I hope that UI students can act as ambassadors for Indonesian culture and expand their networks with representatives from other countries,” he said.
The arts education program at UI continues to receive significant support. Padang emphasized that activities such as Traya Choir, the UI Vocational student choir, are examples of beneficial collaboration. They previously collaborated with musician Sal Priadi to perform songs on the official USS Feed YouTube channel. This shows UI’s commitment as the No. 1 highest campus in Indonesia to develop students’ artistic talents and support their involvement in international-class cultural activities.
With this achievement, PSM Paragita UI has further proven its existence as one of the best choirs in Indonesia. Their success in international competitions not only reflects dedication and hard work, but also confirms UI’s position as a tolerant campus and is committed to developing culture and art at the global level.
