Ulung Tanoto
IKPA PROGRAM
Practices:
Every Saturday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm
at the Embassy of Indonesia,
2020 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036.
The practice activities are:
Orchestra-a combination of Traditional Indonesian Instruments (gamelan, angklung, kolintang, etc.) with Western instruments (violin, cello, guitar, bass, piano, drums and some other musical instruments), Vocal, Dance and Acting.
THE INSTRUCTORS
Natindyas Rachmat
She is also known as Wanti Syarief, the Vice President of IKPA who enjoys teaching angklung and teaching Indonesian traditional dance to the children. Wanti joined several organizations such as Indonesian American Association (IAA), Indonesia Relief - USA, and Rumpun Wargi Pasundan (RWP). She is one of the founding member called "Angklung Rumpun Wargi Pasundan" which became "House of Angklung (HOA)". As an angklung player, she actively played in the angklung concert in the US, and involved in the management as President of HOA. Wanti was also a professional Indonesian traditional dancer and instructor, continues teaching traditional dance until now. She previously worked as an IT Security/Access Management Analyst at Inova Health Systems. She is a patient person, detail oriented, has the smooth hands of helping others and enjoys dedicating her free time for her family and community. Wanti continuously been involved in the management of IKPA since 2010.
Dinda is currently a student at Montgomery College (MC), majoring in International Relations. She started playing violin since age 9 at Sitar Art Center in Washington, DC. With Sitar, she had the opportunity to go to Berklee College of Music to be part of 5 weeks summer program in 2014. Before she joined MC, she graduated from John's College High School on a music scholarship as part of their string ensemble, and was honored to be part of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, which focused on creating leaders in music education and music advocacy. IKPA member since 2010, first as a violinist then becoming IKPA's Violin Instructor in 2016 until present.
Meiske Shakila Stevenson
Born as Meiske Shakila Serhalawan in the Malukus, Indonesia, she came to her love of music and singing legitimately through the influences of her family and the Church . Shakila special mentors were her father, Johnny Serhalawan, and her uncle, Bob Tutupoly, both of whom were well known jazz musicians and singers in her native Indonesia. Shakila following her dream to become a professional vocalist.
Shakila entered the Asia-wide televised "Asia Bagus" music competition in 1993, and came away with First Place prizes both in the Regional Competition held in Singapore, as well as the Asia Grand Competition which was held in Tokyo, Japan. In 1997, Shakila traveled to Europe where she entered the Golden Stag International Song Festival in Romania, and the International Song Festival in Cessme, Turkey, becoming the Grand Prix winner in both events. In 1999, she was named by the Republic of Indonesia as the Country's "Outstanding Vocalist"; and then she was thrilled to join contemporary jazz pianist David Benoit as his accompanying vocalist on his seven city tour of Indonesia. In that year as well, the Academy of Music Indonesia (AMI) awarded Shakila with the best Jazz and R&B singer awards, followed that up in 2000 with AMI awarding Shakilla with the best R&B Singer award, best R&B Album, and best Video award.
Shakilla moved to Washington, D.C. in 2000 with her husband, and after taking some time off to have another two little girls, she is again actively pursuing her singing career. IKPA is so honored to have her as a Vocal Guru.