Balinese Artist in Residence for Music 8 (Balinese Gamelan)

As current or recent students of UCSC and/or Santa Cruz community members who have experienced a Balinese Artist in Residence in the Music 8 BALINESE GAMELAN, we request that MUSIC DEPARTMENT find a way to fund a Balinese drummer-dancer under the title "accompanist" for Music 8 in the 2014-15 academic year. This past year, master musician I Gedé Oka Artha Negara has fulfilled this function as assistant to Linda Burman-Hall. Now with new Director Brian Baumbusch, we ask that an ethnic Balinese artist such as Gedé be maintained for dual drumming with the director, for dancing and training of musicians, and in order to maintain the large-enrollment Kecak potential of Music 8.

UCSC BALINESE GAMELAN BEGAN in 1988 and 1989 with Balinese KECAK (vocal percussion) and had our Balinese gamelan instruments on hand for our Spring concert in 1990. These Gamelan instruments are made available to the community gamelan ANAK SWARASANTI. In the 24+ years of our Gamelan program, our students have played for the Cabrillo Music Festival, San Francisco Asian Art Museum, Santa Cruz New Music Works, Bethany College, Cabrillo College, Baroque Festival, and dozens of UCSC College Nights and other special performances. At nearly every event, we previously had a Balinese guest artist featured with our students. Having a Balinese guest artist is the best way for students to truly learn Balinese music and aesthetics, including its unusual cueing and interlock strategies.

THANK YOU FOR SIGNING THE PETITION! — Linda Burman-Hall (founding Director)