Music for A Better Society

Born in Yogyakarta on February 18, 1968. Studied music composition under the guidance of R.M.A.P. Suhastjarja, Slamet Abdul Syukur, Robert Walker, and Carolyn Jennings. Studied conducting with Ester Nasrani, I Gusti Ngurah Wiryawan Budhiana, Martin Behrmann, Robert Scholz and Anton Armstrong. Earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta in 1992. He obtained Master of Sacred Music in Conducting from Luther Seminary and St. Olaf College, Minnesota, USA in 2001. Agastya Rama Listya recently was the Dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts, Satya Wacana Christian University at Salatiga from 2001 – 2009. Agastya is also involved as the committee member of Lembaga Pengembangan Pesparawi Daerah Jawa Tengah (2007 – 2010), Badan Kerjasama Gereja-Gereja Se-Salatiga (2007 – 2010) and Badan Pembina Seni Mahasiswa Indonesia Jawa Tengah (2008 – 2011).

He is an active music composer, arranger, and coach of Satya Wacana University’s chamber choir, Lentera Kasih and University Student’s choir, Voice of Satya Wacana Christian University. Under his direction, both Lentera Kasih and Voice of SWCU have made some prominent achievements locally, regionally and nationally.  Agastya is also an artistic director of Hosiana Children’s and Youth’s Choir (Jakarta), gold medalist and silver medalist at the the 2009 A Voyage of Songs (an international choir competition) held in Penang, Malaysia.

Some of his choral works were commissioned and performed by Satya Wacana Student’s Choir, Brawijaya Student’s Choir, Diponegoro Student’s Choir, Sebelas Maret Student’s Choir, Universitas Negeri Semarang Student’s Choir, Seven Chorale Children’s Choir, The Jakarta Children and Youth Choir, Y2K Choir, Bethlehem Children’s Choir, Hosiana Children’s and Youth’s Choir, Keluarga Katholik Nazaret Jakarta, Choir of SMUN 1 Balikpapan, GPIB Maranatha Balikpapan Male Choir, and etc.

Agastya Rama Listya was the third prize winner of Yazeed Djamin Award for piano writing competition in 2006. Agastya also has won several awards in choral writing competitions such as: Sayembara Lomba Cipta Lagu Pesparawi Nasional VIII and IX.

Agastya Rama Listya is married to Natalis Sidanta and has one daughter, Reina Sabia Listya.

Works:

1.     “Laskar Pelangi” (choral arrangement for mixed choir and children’s choir with accompaniment) – commissioned by Keluarga Kudus Nazaret Choir Jakarta for the 20^th Anniversary Concert in Jakarta (August 5, 2009)

2.     “Kepompong” (three-part choral arrangement for children’s choir with accompaniment) – commissioned by Keluarga Kudus Nazaret Choir Jakarta for the 20^th Anniversary Concert in Jakarta (August 5, 2009)

3.     “Merenda Kasih” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Diponegoro University Student’s Choir for their annual concert (May 17, 2009)

4.     “Pembawa T’rang Kebajikan” (three-part choral composition for children’s choir with accompaniment) – commissioned by Hosiana Children and Youth Choir Jakarta for 2009 A Voyage of Songs International Choral Festival (April 27, 2009)

5.     “Four Folksongs From Kalimantan” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir with accompaniment) – commissioned by SMANSA Choir Balikpapan for 2009 Tomohon International Choir Festival (April 1, 2009)

6.     “Berakar dan Dibangun di dalam Dia” (four-part choral composition for mixed choir with accompaniment) – a compulsory choral piece for Mixed Adult Category at 2009 National Choir Competition in Samarinda (December 4, 2008)

7.     “Bertumbuh dan Berbuah” (four-part choral composition for mixed choir with accompaniment) – a compulsory choral piece for Mixed Youth Category at 2009 National Choir Competition in Samarinda (December 4, 2008)

8.     “Cublak-Cublak Suweng” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir with accompaniment) – commissioned by Semarang State University Choir for 2008 National Arts Competition (June 22, 2008)

9.     “O Ulate” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Diponegoro University Student’s Choir for 2008 ITB Choir Festival (June 8, 2008)

10. “Ampar-Ampar Pisang” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by STIKES Maranatha Kupang for Graduation Ceremony (2008)

11. “Candra Buana” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir with accompaniment) – commissioned by Lentera Kasih Ensemble Vocal for 2008 Central-Java Student’s Choir Festival (April 9, 2008)

12. “Waktu Hujan Sore-Sore” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Diponegoro University Student’s Choir for 2008 ITB Choir Festival (April 8, 2008)

13. “Tepuk Tangan” (three-part choral arrangement for children’s choir with accompaniment) – commissioned by Seven Chorale for 2008 ITB Choir Festival (December 17, 2007)

14. “Dayuang Palinggam” (four-part choral arrangement for children’s and youth’s choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Jakarta Children and Youth Chorus for 2008 Hongkong International Youth and Children’s Choir Festival (September 25, 2007)

15. “STIKES Maranatha Anthem” – commissioned by Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Maranatha Kupang (September 1, 2007)

16. “Salmo 150” (four-part choral composition for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Satya Wacana University Student’s Choir for 2007 Parahyangan Choir Festival (March 12, 2007)

17. “All the Things You Are” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir with flute, electric bass, and drums) – commissioned by Y2K Choir for 2007 Asian Choir Games dan the 5^th World Choir Games 2007 in Graz (April 4, 2007)

18. “Boogie Down” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir with combo band acccompaniment) – commissioned by Y2K Choir for 2007 Asian Choir Games dan the 5^th World Choir Games 2007 in Graz (April 4, 2007)

19. “Kicir-Kicir” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Diponegoro University Student’s Choir for 2007 Parahyangan Choir Festival (February 5, 2007)

20. “Sabda Alam” (three-part choral arrangement for equal voices with flute and piano accompaniment) – commissioned by SMP Negeri 19 Choir Jakarta for 2006 ITB Choir Festival (July 23, 2006)

21. “Doa Bapa Kami” (four-part choral composition for mixed choir without accompaniment) – a compulsory choral piece for 2006 Central-Java Church Choir Festival (June 7, 2006)

22. “Li Malangu Mbaha Eti” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by NTT Church Choir for 2006 NTT Church Choir Festival (April 14, 2006)

23. “Garudafood Anthem” – commissioned by Garudafood Group (August 1, 2005)

24. “Akper Maranatha Hymn” – commissioned by Maranatha Groups Foundation Kupang (July 13, 2005)

25. “Mestinya” (four-part choral composition for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Brawijaya University Student’s Choir for 2005 Parahyangan Choir Festival (June 11, 2005)

26. “Pesta” (four-part choral arrangement for mixed choir without accompaniment) – commissioned by Sebelas Maret University Student’s Choir for 2005 Parahyangan Choir Festival (June 14, 2005)

Publications:

1. Nusantara Persada: Kumpulan Aransemen Lagu Daerah untuk Empat Suara Campuran (The Archipelago: A Collection of Indonesian Folk Songs for Mixed Voices) – Indonesian Church Music Foundation (Yayasan Musik Gereja Indonesia), October 2008, ISMN M-801856-40-1
2. New Hymns of Faith – Muria Publishing House (Pustaka Muria), July 2007, ISMN M-9013868-0-8
3. A-Z Direksi Paduan Suara (A – Z Choral Conducting) – Indonesian Church Music Foundation (Yamuger), June 2007, ISBN 978-979-3010-42-7
4. Jalan Orang Benar: Kumpulan Aransemen  Lagu Rohani Pop-Klasik untuk 4 Suara Campuran (A Righteous Pathways: A Collection of Contemporary Church Music for Mixed Voices) – Andi Publishers (Penerbit Andi), June 2007, ISBN 979-763-746-8
5. Nyanyian Jemaat dan Perkembangannya (Christian Hymns and Its Development), 1999 ISBN 9769-9278-10-4
6. Musik Rock: Suatu Refleksi Teologis (Rock Music: A Theological Perspective), 1999 ISBN 9769-9278-09-0
7. Kontekstualisasi Musik Gereja (Contextualization of the Church Music), 1999 ISBN 9769-9278-08-2