The XVII National Student Arts Week (Peksiminas) held at the Jakarta State University was a historic moment for Universitas Brawijaya (UB). The event, which was held for five days (2-7/9/2024), made two UB students successfully show off their skills and make the campus proud with brilliant achievements in the field of traditional music.
Muhammad Rafy Wibawanto, a student of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences (FIA) class of 2021, won a gold medal in the male keroncong singing competition, while M. Fauzan Elva Said, a student of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) class of 2021, took home a bronze medal in the male dangdut singing competition.
Rafy successfully won a gold medal after performing two keroncong songs with great feeling. The compulsory song he sang, Sepercik Nyala Api by Budiman BJ, and the song of choice Janjiku by Subarjo HS, highlighted his vocal technique and strong interpretation.
“I feel very happy and proud. From the beginning, I didn’t set a high target, I only focused on showing my best. Alhamdulillah, the results are in accordance with my efforts,” said Rafy with great gratitude.
Rafy, who has loved keroncong since he was little due to his grandmother’s influence, prepared himself with intensive training. “Performing keroncong songs requires calmness and mature breathing techniques. That’s what I hone every day,” he explained. The support of his campus and coaches, such as Mrs. Enny Sugito from the Keroncong Lembah Tumpang group, were also the keys to his success.
Meanwhile, Fauzan successfully won a bronze medal by performing the songs Gembala Cinta and Titip Cintaku. For him, dangdut is a way to channel his interests and talents while preserving original Indonesian music.
“Alhamdulillah, I am very happy to win 3rd place. I focused on preparation, such as regular vocal practice and maintaining my health. That really helped me perform optimally,” said Fauzan.
Fauzan also admitted to being inspired by Lesti, a young dangdut singer whose career began in the Dangdut Academy competition. “Lesti is the figure who made me fall in love with dangdut. That’s where I started learning to sing dangdut and continued to hone my talent,” he added.
Both Rafy and Fauzan agreed that the moment at Peksiminas was not just about winning, but also a valuable experience. “The most memorable thing was the sense of family among the participants from East Java. We supported, helped, and even encouraged each other at every opportunity,” said Rafy. Fauzan felt the same way.
“My friends from the East Java contingent are like family. They always help me, from make-up to preparing costumes. This moment will be unforgettable,” he said.
Both of them also praised the competitors from other provinces who performed very well. “Each participant has unique characteristics according to their region of origin. This shows that traditional Indonesian music is very rich and diverse,” said Fauzan.
This success cannot be separated from the full support of Universitas Brawijaya. Starting from coaches, costumes, transportation, to other facilities provided to ensure maximum preparation. “UB provides extraordinary support. I am very grateful for all of this,” said Fauzan.
As the younger generation, Rafy and Fauzan hope that traditional music such as keroncong and dangdut will continue to exist amidst the current of modernization. “Traditional music is our identity. The younger generation must continue to preserve this so that it does not disappear,” said Rafy. Fauzan added, “Dangdut is the original music of the country. I am sure, even though there are many modern genres now, dangdut will still be the pride of the nation.”
Rafy and Fauzan invite other students not to hesitate to pursue their dreams in the arts. “Don’t be afraid to fail. Keep practicing and progressing to become better,” said Rafy. Fauzan concluded, “Love our traditional music. Keep learning, because art is an important part of the culture that we must preserve.”
This achievement not only brings pride to Universitas Brawijaya, but also serves as proof that traditional Indonesian art remains relevant and worthy of pride at the national level. (dea/VQ/UB PR/ Trans. Iir)
