Joko Sutrisno: 35 Years of Sharing Javanese Music
Joko Sutrisno is a distinguished Javanese gamelan performer, composer, and educator whose career spans both Indonesia and the international stage. A graduate of the Indonesian Institute of Arts in Surakarta, Java, in 1987, Sutrisno has dedicated his life to sharing the beauty and complexity of gamelan music with diverse audiences worldwide.
He began his international teaching journey as the director of the gamelan ensemble at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, a role he held for eight years. In 1995, he moved to Minnesota, where he served as the artistic director of the Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble until 2023.
Currently, Sutrisno holds dual appointments as a professor of gamelan at UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music and UC Riverside’s School of Music. Additionally, he is the consulting director for gamelan ensembles at Saint Thomas University, the University of South Dakota, Concordia College, and Hamilton College. In 2024, he was named an apprentice with the Alliance for California Traditional Arts (ACTA).
As a composer, Sutrisno has created over 20 original works that blend Javanese gamelan with a wide variety of art forms, including Western symphony and choir, Indian, Chinese, Arabic, Middle Eastern, and West African music. His innovative collaborations demonstrate his commitment to bridging cultural traditions and expanding the reach of gamelan music.
Sutrisno’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Creative Individuals Award from the Minnesota State Arts Board (2022, 2023), the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Indonesian Institute of Arts in Surakarta (2018), and a McKnight Composer Fellowship (2016).
Since 2010, Sutrisno has been a teaching artist with the Center for World Music, where he leads the Javanese gamelan program at Canyon Crest Academy High School. This thriving program reflects his dedication to inspiring the next generation of musicians. Alongside his wife and artistic partner, Tri Martodikromo, Sutrisno continues to share the rich traditions of Central Javanese court music, dance, and language.
It is a true privilege to have such a highly respected and accomplished artist as part of the Center for World Music’s teaching team in San Diego.
Joko Sutrisno directing full gamelan performance with dancer:
And a short clip with Pak Joko playing gendèr:
