Young Indonesian Talents Showcase Cultural Diversity at Independence Ceremony

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A total of 182 young Indonesian musicians from across the country performed as part of Gita Bahana Nusantara (GBN) 2026 during the 81st Independence Day anniversary ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Monday, August 17, 2026. Their performance accompanied the commemoration of the Proclamation of Independence and showcased Indonesia’s cultural diversity through choral and orchestral music.

The ceremony was led by President Prabowo Subianto as the inspector of the ceremony and attended by members of the Red and White Cabinet. Culture Minister Fadli Zon and his wife, Katharine Grace, were also present at the event, which carried the theme “A Sovereign, Just and Prosperous Indonesia.”

The 182 GBN performers were selected through a nationwide audition organized by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with regional governments. The selection process attracted 1,034 applicants for the choir and 301 applicants for the orchestra, reflecting strong interest among young Indonesians in music and cultural expression.

Culture Minister, Fadli Zon, said young people have an important role in filling Indonesia’s independence through creative works, achievements, social contributions, cultural preservation, and the courage to address national challenges. “Let us preserve diversity as a blessing, culture as the root of our identity, unity as our strength, mutual cooperation as our path, and people’s welfare as our goal,” he said.

Director General of Cultural Development, Utilization and Development at the Ministry of Culture, Ahmad Mahendra, said GBN’s appearance at the national Independence Day ceremony provided an opportunity to showcase Indonesia’s diversity. “The 182 participants come from 38 provinces in Indonesia, demonstrating the extraordinary diversity of our nation, from traditional clothing and cultural backgrounds to regional languages,” he said.

Led by conductor Vincent Wiguna, GBN performed national, patriotic, regional and contemporary songs during the ceremony’s pre-event and main program. The repertoire included “Perdamaian,” “Dwi Warna,” “Laksamana Raja Dilaut,” “Candra Buana,” and “Aku Indonesia,” followed by a medley of regional songs from South Sumatra, West Java, Central Sulawesi, North Kalimantan and East Nusa Tenggara.

GBN also performed “Indonesia Jaya,” featuring singers Krisdayanti and Melly Goeslaw, before presenting “Hari Merdeka,” “Bunga Seroja,” and “Garuda Pancasila” during the Independence Day ceremony. The combination of traditional and contemporary musical elements reflected Indonesia’s diverse cultural heritage while reinforcing a shared sense of national identity.

Vincent Wiguna, said the performance demonstrated how Indonesia’s diverse musical traditions can come together in harmony. “It shows and reflects the richness of Indonesia; everything can harmonize within an orchestra and choir,” he said, expressing hope that the young performers would inspire other young people across the country to contribute through creativity and culture.