Darsono

Darsono is the Director of the Emory Javanese Gamelan Ensemble and a Visiting Professor at Emory University's School of Arts and Sciences in the Department of Music. With a lineage in traditional Javanese arts, he specializes in karawitan (Javanese gamelan music) and wayang kulit (shadow puppetry theater). His work bridges cultural education with performance, having studied at Institut Seni Indonesia Surakarta and taught at institutions across the U.S., including Wesleyan University, Cornell University, and others.

• Education: Institut Seni Indonesia Surakarta (specialization in traditional Javanese performing arts)

Darsono’s research focuses on the intersection of traditional Javanese music and global cultural exchange. His 2022 co-authored chapter in Sounding Out the State of Indonesia (Cornell University Press) explores how performing arts serve as a universal medium for transcending cultural differences. He emphasizes improvisational practices in gamelan instrumentation and the narrative depth of shadow puppetry.

His international performances and residencies span Europe, Asia, and the U.S., where he has collaborated with university and community groups to propagate Javanese heritage. At Emory, he directs the ensemble and teaches courses on Indonesian performing arts, fostering cross-cultural understanding through music and theater.