The Architect who Loves Classical Music

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

Avip Priatna.

Since the age of eight, Avip Priatna, 57, has felt affection for both architecture and classical music. His childhood memories are filled with drawing buildings and playing the organ. The proclivity led to his getting a bachelor’s degree in architecture, and he has also made a name for himself on the stage of world-classical music.

Avip was beaming with pleasure when the audience gave a round of applause at the end of the performance of Batavia Madrigal Singers (BMS) at Balai Resital Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on Saturday (9/7/2022). As a conductor, he led his 44 BMS members to bow as a mark of respect for the audience’s appreciation.

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The appreciation was no exaggeration. Apart from the impressive performance, they had just taken home a trophy from the European Grand Prix (EGP) for Choral Singing 2022 in Tours, France, in June. The award augmented Avip’s achievements in the world’s oldest and most-difficult choral-singing competition, which has lasted for 33 years. Four years ago,

He equals the record of the conductor from Slovenia, Stojan Kuret, the two-time winner of EGP.

He was the conductor of the Resonanz Children’s Choir when he won the same contest in Maribor, Slovenia.

The master’s graduate of Artium University of Music and Performing Art, Vienna, Austria, has become the first Indonesian to attain such accomplishments. He equals the record of the conductor from Slovenia, Stojan Kuret, the two-time winner of EGP.

“I hope this attainment will encourage the enthusiasm for classical music among young people in Indonesia. If we can make it, other choirs or singers can also do the same,” said Avip.

The victory at EGP is prestigious because the arena is among the six most-esteemed choral-singing competitions in Europe, including Concorso Polifónico Guido d’Arezzo (International Guido d’Arezzo Polyphonic Contest) in Arezzo, Italy and Béla Bartók International Choir Competition in Debrecen, Hungary.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

Avip Priatna.

Based on egpchoral.com, since its first contest in 1989, the winners of EGP have been dominated by European countries. Only three Asian countries have emerged as champions: Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. “Indonesian people are endowed with a strong musical instinct. The sense of music should be cultivated. This achievement indicates the position of Indonesia on the stage of world-classical music,” he pointed out.

Training choir

As a child, Avip was fond of observing buildings around his house in Bogor, West Java. With a pencil, paper sheet and ruler, he drew the buildings he noticed. “In school, teachers frequently asked what buildings I was drawing.

I answered they were all my neighbors’ houses,” he laughingly recalled his childhood innocence.

Besides drawing, Avip was also an avid listener of music. He routinely watched Japan’s classical-music orchestra broadcast by TVRI.

At the age of nine, Avip saw his mother carrying a toy organ bought from the market. The organ would be given to her neighbor as a present. He played the organ all night long. “When the organ was wrapped up as a gift, I was very sad, being unable to play again,” he said.

His sadness was seemingly “grasped” by his mother. Several months later, Avip got the same present on his 9th birthday.

The moment remains unforgettable. When he was flying a kite in the field, her mother called him to get back home immediately. “When I entered my home, an organ was lying on the dining table. Though only a toy, I was overjoyed. For a week, I didn’t go out after school,” he explained.

He also took music courses to hone his capability.

Avip channeled his hobby by becoming a choir pianist in elementary school (SD), junior-high school (SMP) and senior-high school (SMA). He also took music courses to hone his capability.

After graduating from State SMA 3 Bandung in 1983, he studied architecture at Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar). By joining a choir on campus, he began to get acquainted with several classical-music lovers.

“Finally, I met friends with the same taste for music. Then I was more seriously learning to play the piano. I started listening to Vienna Boys Choir (from Austria) and other choral-singing groups,” he said.

The opportunity to be a conductor arose when he trained Unpar students’ choir after graduation. Avip braced himself for the vacant position. “Actually, I was forced to train at the time. I only relied on my hearing and imagination. But we just could manage to become the champion,” he said.

This made him determined to study music. The chance came along in 1998, when then-rector of Unpar, Professor Benedictus Suprapto Brotosiswojo, met with the Austrian ambassador to Indonesia. Avip was asked to promptly send his biodata.

Avip’s reason for deepening his love of classical music instead of architecture was very simple. “Architects abound, while classical-music conductors do not yet,” he said.

His choice was correct. He has reaped rewards due to his perseverance in musical engagement. He has earned various titles, including champion of the Dutch International Choir Festival in Arnhem, Netherlands (1995); champion of the folksong category at the choir contest of Guido d’Arezzo in Italy (1997); and three gold medals at Choir Olympics in Linz, Austria (2000). In addition, three titles were attained at Florilège Vocal de Tours (2015), three more at Tolosa Choral Contest in Spain (2016), and his group was named overall champion at Tolosa Choral Contest (2019), which led BMS to compete at EGP. “Being EGP’s champion was the ultimate attainment because of its very close competition,” he noted.

KOMPAS/TATANG MULYANA SINAGA

Avip Priatna.

The award was not easily gained. BMS defeated another participant from Indonesia, Padjadjaran University Students’ Choir, and two contestants from Latvia.

His consistency in training was also put to the test, because EGP was delayed for two years as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The choir team winning the Tolosa Choral Contest 2019 was dissolved.

Avip formed a new team launching online training and concerts. This enabled him to identify in greater detail the vocal character, strength and weakness of each singer. “In this way, those who have the potential for participation can be noticed,” he said.

He is very grateful for the two EGP champion titles, but these do not make him complacent. The accomplishments are not the finish line, but rather the foundation for the nation’s choirs to step forward further in order to achieve even higher ranks.

Avip Priatna

Born: Bogor, West Java, 29 December 1964

Occupation:Director and Founder, Batavia Madrigal Singers

Education:

- SD Regina Pacis, Bogor (1976)

- State SMP IV, Bogor (1980)

- State SMA III, Bandung (1983)

- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Technology, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung (1990)

- Master’s degree, Artium University of Music and Performing Art, Vienna, Austria (1998)

(This article was translated by Aris Prawira)