The most recent edition of NextDoors had a special highlight: a visit from the Indonesian ambassador, Andri Hadi. His presence was part of a three-day Gamelan Workshop, a musical adventure in which students immersed themselves in the rich, rhythmic world of Indonesian gamelan music.
Under the direction of Balinese musician Krishna Sutedja and on the initiative of Adilia Yip and Adinda Pijl, participants explored the sounds of bronze gongs, metallophones and other traditional instruments. The workshop was open to musicians of all disciplines and levels of experience, and offered a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in this ancient musical practice.
The project was brought to a festive close with a performance moment on Wednesday in the Black Hall, which the Indonesian ambassador attended along with other guests. In addition to the concert, a group of traditional Indonesian dancers gave an enchanting performance, which completed the cultural exchange between Indonesia and the Conservatoire.
The gamelan workshop and concert were just one of the many inspiring activities during NextDoors. Other highlights included the lecture Beyond Gaze by Can Boyan, in which he explored the role of touch in artistic expression, the Breathing Project in which students of Jazz and Media, writing and performance art collaborated under the accompaniment of Ben Sluijs and Maud Vanhauwaert, and the international collaboration during the Jazz combos with students and teachers from Antwerp, Rotterdam and Cologne.
This successful visit once again emphasised how NextDoors offers a platform for artistic innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.