Gamelan Kusuma Laras is a classical Javanese gamelan orchestra based in New York City that performs music, dance, and theatre from the classical repertoire of the courts of Central Java. Gamelan Kusuma Laras is comprised of American and Indonesian players. The orchestra was formed 27 years ago to study and present Indonesian performing arts to American audiences. Kusuma Laras has entranced music and dance lovers in the Northeast and other parts of the U.S. and in Indonesia with their authentic performances on instruments created especially for the Indonesia Pavilion at the World’s Fair of 1964-65 in New York.
Gamelan Kusuma Laras features I.M. Harjito as its artistic director. Mr. Harjito is considered one of the finest Javanese musicians of his generation. He is also a composer of traditional and innovative works for gamelan and is a faculty member at Wesleyan University. He is assisted by co-directors Anne Stebinger and Jon Rea, American musicians who have studied and performed classical Javanese music extensively in Java and the United States.
Gamelan Kusuma Laras rehearse and regularly perform at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia, 5 East 68th Street.
