Paduan Suara Mahasiswa Institut Teknologi Bandung

(Institut Teknologi Bandung Students Choir)

On February 11th 1962, few ITB students established Paduan Suara Mahasiswa Institut Teknologi Bandung (PSM-ITB) which was the first university-based choir in Indonesia.

At the beginning, PSM-ITB sang only in campus society and subsequently performed in public. PSM-ITB regularly sings in ITB official events, such as graduations days and national day ceremonies. Since 1973, PSM-ITB participated in various national choir competitions and repeatedly won the first prizes. This led PSM-ITB to become one of the most established choirs in Indonesia.

In 1968 the choir organized the 1st Festival Paduan Suara ITB (ITB Choir Festival). Since then the festival was held biannually and has become the biggest national choir event in Indonesia in term of categories (from children to adult choir and folklore) and participants. It has contributed to the history of choral development in Indonesia; most of Indonesian choirs with international achievements were past champions of the Festivals. This establishes the festival as one of the most awaited events by Indonesian choral community.

PSM-ITB has participated in various choral competitions and won several prizes. The recent achievements were in the 1st and 2nd Parahyangan Catholic University Choir Competition (2001 and 2003) where it won the 1st prizes in Small Choir Category of the; and the 3rd Parahyangan Catholic University Choir Competition where it won 2nd prize (without 1st prize winner) in the Musica Profana Category. In several occasions, the choir has been given the chance to perform in events attended by the President of Indonesia. It has also performed in concerts, occasionally collaborated with other choirs and orchestras.

Prior to the participation in the 3rd Choir Olympics 2004 in Bremen, Germany, PSM-ITB extends its members to not only students of ITB, but also its alumni; the resulting choir was named ITB Choir. ITB Choir then won two silver medals of Scenic Folklore and Mixed Chamber Choir categories in the 3rd Choir Olympics 2004.

In 2005, PSM-ITB appointed Mr. Indra Listiyanto as its music director. Mr. Listiyanto. Under his direction, three groups are formed within PSM-ITB: a training choir for beginning choral singers; a full concert choir whose singers are promoted from the training choir; and a small touring choir whose singer are auditioned from the concert choir. Since that year, ITB Choir became the title of PSM-ITB’s both concert and touring choirs.

The most successful participation of ITB Choir in an international choir competition was in the 4th World Choir Games 2006 in Xiamen, China. ITB Choir was awarded silver medals in Mixed Chamber Choir and Folklore A cappella category and a gold medal in Mixed Choir category (runner-up of the category). In the same event, ITB Students Choir won a gold medal in Mixed Youth Choir category.

For more about PSM ITB, visit here.