Levi Gunardi

Levi Gunardi (http://www.friendster.com/photos/9649603/1/496528103)

Do you like Indonesian traditional music? If your answer is no, I think you have to hear the Levi Gunardi’s song called “The Dancer”. That is one of Indonesia's traditional songs, and I’m certain that you will think it over again after you hear that song. Formerly, I didn’t like the Indonesian traditional music, although I am an Indonesian person. But it changed when I heard Levi Gunardi play his own song in “Bunga Rampai Concert 2005” in my music school, YPM (Yayasan Pendidikan Musik) Music School, Jakarta. I was spellbound, and suddenly I felt that I really love the Indonesian traditional music.

Actually, Levi Gunardi is a piano teacher in YPM Music School, but he is not my teacher. I was very impressed when I saw his performance for the first time in “Bunga Rampai Concert 2005”. He is my favourite pianist. I really like his hands. They look like there is “no bone inside”. He can play the song very fast with the clear sound. He gives me a spirit, especially when I feel bored to get the piano course and practice it. I usually say to myself that I have to be like Levi Gunardi one day, so from now on, I have to take the piano course and practice it more seriously.

Levi played the piano (http://www.equinoxdmd.com/levigunardi/default.htm)

Domenicus Levi Gunardi was born in Jakarta, Indonesia on 20 August 1976. He started to study about music at 5 years old, and his first instrument was electone. He began to take a piano studies at 6 years old. Levi was joined to the JOC (Junior Original Concert, a group with talented musicians under 15 years old) and composed original pieces for piano and electones, that played in many places in Indonesia. With Mr. Ferdinand Marsha as his teacher, Levi was the first winner in Yamaha Electone Festival in National region in 1992. He also got “The Most Outstanding Performance Award” in Yamaha Electone Festival in Singapore, for Southeast Asia region, represent for Indonesia, and also “Outstanding Performance Award” for international region in Kyoto, Japan, representing Indonesia and the Asian continent, in the same years. At 2004, Levi was one of the judges in Yamaha Electone Festival in Taipei, Taiwan for Asia region.

Levi has performed in master classes with many world’s pianists, like Barry Snyder, Ruth Slenckczyska, Alexis Golovin, Joaquin Soriano, Solomon Mikowsky, Midori Nohara, Eduardus Halim, Reynaldo Reyes, and Constance Keene.

Rhapsodized parody (photo by eric chang) (http://www.friendster.com/photos/9649603/0/629217034)

Levi got “The 1995 YPM Artist award” and finished his pre-conservatory studies in YPM Music School in 1996 with Mrs. Iravati Sudiarso as his teacher. Then, he studied in Manhattan School of Music (MSM) in New York, USA with Constance Keene as his teacher, and got the Bachelor of Music and the Master of Music (2002) with full scholarship that was given by the Board of the Director of the MSM.

Levi has given his solo-performance many times, like in Steinway Hall and in Donell Library, New York in 1997, and then in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore in 2002. He also gave his performance in 50 years YPM ceremony and got “The Golden Musician Award”, and also many other recitals in Erasmus Huis and Goethe Institute, Jakarta. In April 2005, he was the representative from Indonesia to join “The 7th Franz Liszt International Piano Competition” in Utrecht, Holland.

As a solist, Levi has given his performance with pianist William Whipple with Christian Tiemeyeer as the conductor and Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra (1999). In the same years, He got an award from the Bergen Philharmonic Concerto Competition in New Jersey, USA. He has also given his performance with Twilite Orchestra with Addie Ms as the conductor in the 55th Indonesian independent day ceremony in Dharmawangsa Hotel in 2000, and with the same conductor and orchestra, he has given his performance in “Twilite Orchestra Popstravaganza Movie Spectacular Concert” in Graha Bakti Budaya TIM (2002), “Twilite Orchestra Musicademia” in Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta(2002), in Gran Melia Ballroom and Plenary Hall JHCC, Jakarta(2003).

Levi has launched his album called “The Pianist” in 2004, and got the nomination in “Anugerah Musik Indonesia” in 2004. There are two of Levi Gunardi’s compositions in that album. They are “The Dancer” and “Happy Birthday”.

Levi Gunardi will always be my reference. I hope someday I can be a great pianist like Levi Gunardi. That is my dream and I hope my dream will come true.