I just got home from Pacific Place. A friend I've known since I was 8 years old was performing his graduation recital at @America and this was my first time attending a recital. Andreas was one of the gank I played with back in the elementary years and our friendship goes in distant but a long way. The one thing that made Andreas special is because we share exactly the same birth date--and I guess, as it works everywhere else, childhood friends are somehow close at heart because we know their families and met them everyday back then.


Anyway I came to @America precisely a moment before the recital started and I met Andreas at the 'back stage' before he played so I guess a bit cheering could do. Andreas started by performing "Asturias" by Isaac Albéniz for major classical on solo guitar, then "Le Coucou" by Louis-Claude Daquin for minor classical on piano. Next, "Hackensack" by Thelonius Monk for minor jazz, still on piano, but with a band of guitar, bass and drum. He then played guitar again for "26-2" by John Coltrane for major jazz.

For his own music composing, he had "Tukang Nasi Goreng" for contemporary rhythmic that performed by his fellow students from Institut Musik Daya (IMDI) that reminded us to Stomp, with a plot of Indonesian daily scene of hawker food sellers on the street. Such a humble background for a great rhythm, that reminded me of "August Rush" movie where the kid could hear music in everything he heard on the streets. Andi, a friend I asked to come along, came during this performance, so he missed the more "serious" songs for it became more upbeat and fun till the end.


For the closing, Andreas had the Airbrass Bigband (complete with trumpets, trombones and saxophones) played an Indonesian children song, "Becak", by Ibu Soed but with his own arrangement for a more fun, funk and happy tunes. I enjoyed every bit of the music, especially the song choice because it's very Indonesian, that every Indonesian knows the song by heart. It is a simple and humble song but when played in such a complex yet beautiful arrangement, the music sounded more exclusive, "expensive" and brought happiness to the audience who listened to it (I even tapped my foot while recording the video!)

Andreas Nandiwardhana, Bachelor of Music

The last 30 minutes of the event was spent for speech from the principal, the graduation ceremony and another jam session. There, I met Arief, another schoolmate and also Andreas' best friend (we used to hang out together back in 4th-6th grade), and his fiancee, Sanny, and also Andreas' fiancee, Tri, along with his parents. It was a really nice and happy small reunion. I'm very proud of Andreas' accomplishment, especially because he's one of the longest friends I know. Proficiat!