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Krakatau Musician-in-Residence

The Krakatau Musician-in-Residence Project resulted from connections made betwen AIAA NSW Nth Coast Branch and Krakatau musicians during their tour to Australia in 2000. Deni Tudi Rahayu (Oseng) first undertook a residency in the NSW North Coast at that time, and since then the Krakatau Musician-in-Residence Project 2002-2003 has been created with Oseng and Efiq Zulfiqar from Krakatau both planning to spend time here during this project. Efiq Zulfiqar is an accomplished musician, composer and performer from Indonesia. He performs with well-known groups Krakatau, Sambasunda and The Jugala Allstars and has recently returned from a successful tour of Europe with Jugala. Previous tours have taken him to UK, Europe, Australia and throughout Indonesia.

Efiq regularly performs on Indonesian national TV, has been an integral part of recording sessions and has combined his artistic talents with his music to provide unique drawings for CD covers. His talent and love for his native culture are evident in his compositions, although he has proven that he is also very capable of playing rock, blues and fusion music.

Efiq is now in the Brisbane and Byron Bay areas for 3 months and is available to teach either privately or in group/workshop situations. During his stay in the area he has been involved in teaching group drumming, gamelan and suling classes and giving private instruction in drums and suling. He has also presented live to air performances and interviews for various radio shows on Bay FM 99.9 as well as interviews for articles in newspapers such as the Northern Star and the Echo. He has been participating in a number of other multi-cultural activities here in the NSW North Coast and in Southern Queensland such as teaching gamelan at St. Johns School, Nambour and performing at the Splash Festival at Maroochydore, as well as attending the Refugee Month Opening Ceremony in Lismore which included an exhibition of visual art and discussion.

In the near future Efiq plans to participate in an Indonesian Cultural Concert for schools in the North Coast area, which will be held at Byron High School on 2 December, as well as to perform at the popular Woodford Festival with Gamelan Giri Jaya, Toowoomba and Couch Funk. Efiq has also been scheduled to share his talents with the community for a fundraising event to be held Friday the 15th of November in Byron Bay, to benefit the Indonesian victims of the Kuta tragedy. Efiq is also intending to visit Sydney from 21-30 November and will be available to collaborate with musicians and cultural groups in Sydney. Having Efiq here has been a wonderful opportunity for all involved as there as been an incredible amount of exchange and enrichment as he is such a wonderful, talented artist. You can have the opportunity to learn suling (bamboo flute), kendang (drum) or gamelan.

For more information, phone Emma on 07 3880 0534 or email :emmajandrews@yahoo.com