Harpist’s Song for the Nation

ARSIP PRIBADI

Regina Handoko

In the music scene, many singers have performed on stage while playing an instrument, for instance, Lady Gaga with piano, and from Indonesia, Ully Sigar with her guitar. Now, there is also Regina Handoko who – with her beautiful soprano voice – often performs with her harp.

As a soprano, Regina often has to focus solely on her vocals, such as when singing the aria “Ebben? Ne andro lontana” from Catalinni’s La Wally opera. Nevertheless, she has succeeded in captivating the audience through her rendition of Franz Schuber’s “Ave Maria”, which she performed while playing her harp during the third Bandung Philharmonic Life & Music Series last Saturday (3/10/20) night.

Hosted by Airin Efferin, the online event did not hinder Nana – Regina’s nickname – from delivering a prime performance of the infamous song “Think of Me” from the musical the Phantom of the Opera.

Her beautiful vocals combined with her delicate harp tune is perhaps an expression of Nana’s life journey for at least the last decade.

The expression itself is not merely an outlet for her hobby as she also set a high standard for herself. Right when the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak started in Indonesia, Nana had just won the second prize in the New York Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition (March 2020), which was held in the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Less than a year before in September 2019, Nana received the first prize in the Vienna Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition. In Indonesia, Nana has often placed first and second in the Radio and Television Star Competition (Lomba Bintang Radio dan Televisi) in Jakarta and the national level for the classical music category since 1995.

Afterward, it seemed that her calling for music could no longer be contained.

Despite that, Nana, who is an economic graduate from Atma Jaya University, did not learn music formally. While working in a company’s management, she had her heart pinned on a job as an event organizer, a job that ended up being her occupation until she got married. Afterward, it seemed that her calling for music could no longer be contained.

JINSHU

Maylaffayza and Regina Handoko

The achievements were only the tip of the iceberg of her hobby and hard work during her long learning process. While she only started playing the harp in the last eight years, she has been training her vocals since her youth.

More than just reaching for formal achievements – such as receiving a grade 8 from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), London, with outstanding remarks – Nana has also fulfilled her calling in music professionally. For every performance, she always starts preparing early. If she has to go out, she would bring her work with her, even if it is just a small piece of a music score for practice. She also uses her spare time to memorize the lyrics for her performances.

Nana has never stopped learning. After starting to learn music in YPM Music School at the age of 4, adult Nana also studied under renowned vocal coaches, from Catharina W. Leimena and Binu D. Sukaman, to Joseph Kristanto Pantioso. Using the knowledge she got from those excellent teachers, Nana then started to explore some serious roles in opera, including performing as Cinderella in Viardot’s Cendrillon opera and as Hansel in Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel.

Meanwhile, after receiving her first lesson in harp from senior harpist Heidi Awuy, Nana joined master classes of several harpists, from Rama Widi to a harpist from The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and a harp professor from The Manhattan Conservatory, New York.

Every moment, including the time she spends accompanying her husband for work, is always used as an opportunity to join a master class.

For Nana, there is no time to waste in deepening her knowledge on music and her favourite instrument. Every moment, including the time she spends accompanying her husband for work, is always used as an opportunity to join a master class.

This reflects Nana’s professionality and discipline, values that she holds dear in her life. For her, every day has its own purpose. This value is also passed on to her children. To foster their interests in music, Nana offered her children Celine (12) and Celia (10) the opportunity to play the harp, while her youngest daughter, Celestia (6), has been inspired by her sisters from the beginning.

Nana’s world now rotates around three things: family, music, and service. Each are lived up to with the upmost discipline. Music lovers in Indonesia can now listen to Nana’s beautiful harp tunes and her soprano voice, which at times is soft as in “La Wally” and flirty as in “Quando m’en vo” (from Puccini’s La Boheme). Those who missed her performances in the concert halls can also watch them on her YouTube channel, which allows her fans to listen to her performance any time.

In a tumultuous 2020 shadowed by the pandemic, Nana can still express her talent in music through releasing two new singles that can be downloaded from various platforms. These two pieces are “Lascia ch’io Pianga” (GF Handel) and “Lord I Come to You” (Elvi Tjahjadi).

FOTO ARSIP BANDUNG PHILHARMONIC

Bandung Philharmonic with Robert Nordling in the concert "Holiday" at Hilton Bandung, on Sunday (2/12/2018), featuring soprano Regina Handoko, Heny Janawati (alto), Christopher Abimanyu (tenor), Ferry Chandra (bass).

Nana’s career as perhaps the only soprano-harpist in Indonesia still has a long way to go. Her presence in the music industry not only enriches Indonesia’s music scene – it also inspires her daughters to sing songs, while also spreading seeds of goodness for her nation.

Regina Handoko

Education: Faculty of Economics, Atma Jaya Catholic University

Husband: Adrian

Children: Celine, Celia, Celestia

As a Soprano: Sings various songs, including from musicals and operas.

As a Harpist: Performed in solo concerts and with famous orchestras.

Works: Two new singles in 2020