Parahyangan Orchestra or Parchestra is a community-based unit that was officially established on June 20, 2023, under the auspices of Parahyangan Catholic University (UNPAR). Parchestra’s existence supports the university’s mission in developing cultural values and research in the field of art. The musicians who join this group come from professionals, students, and advanced-level students from throughout Bandung. Parchestra is committed to promoting works by young Indonesian composers with world standards.
Together with Integrated Arts UNPAR, Parchestra presents performing arts that invite audiences to explore various aspects of life through music integrated with other art forms, philosophy, and other fields. Parchestra plays an active role in advancing Indonesian culture in the 21st century, among other things by premiering dozens of new works by Indonesian composers and producing various new forms of art.
In the concert “Dangiang Karinding” (2024), Parchestra showcased for the first time in the world a collaboration between rampak karinding and a symphony orchestra. Parchestra is also the first group to present classical Sundanese pupuh in an orchestral format. Together with Arabesque Ballet Studio, Parchestra presented for the first time in Bandung a ballet performance with a live orchestra.
At the “Spirit” concert (2024), Parchestra presented an orchestral performance combined with fixed media in the form of recorded interviews with residents along the Cikapundung riverbanks, supported by advanced lighting design by Arntz Geise Hall. Parchestra has also collaborated with national musicians including legendary jazz pianist Dwiki Dharmawan and contemporary vocalist Nya Ina Raseuki (Ubiet).
