Member Biographies

Gamelan Tunas Mekar is a multi-national, multi-denomination community orchestra with members from Bali, Java, Germany, Venezuela and of course, North America, who live in the Colorado Front Range. The members of Tunas Mekar range from professional musicians to newcomers to the world of music performance; yet all members consider themselves students of this intricate and challenging music, drawn together by a shared love for the music and, not least, the culture of Bali.

Artist-in-Residence: I Made Lasmawan

Master Balinese drummer and composer I Made Lasmawan was born in the village of Bangah, in the Baturiti region of the regency of Tabanan, Bali in 1958. Strongly influenced by his family and involved in the arts since childhood, he entered KOKAR (Conservatory for Traditional Performing Arts) in Denpasar, Bali, and graduated in 1977. He continued his studies in 1978 at STSI (Indonesian College of the Arts) in Surakarta (Solo), Central Java, and studied traditional Javanese music, receiving his Traditional Indonesian Music degree in 1983.

Pak Lasmawan has since traveled throughout the world, including Belgium, France, England, Singapore, Japan and Mexico. He is a prolific composer who taught Balinese music at STSI from 1983 until 1990, when he was invited to San Diego State University to teach Javanese and Balinese music. Living in Colorado since 1993 as Artist-in-Residence with Gamelan Tunas Mekar, Pak Lasmawan also teaches Balinese gamelan at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado the University of Wyoming in Laramie and the University of Colorado, Boulder.

When in Bali, Pak Lasmawan continues to play a lead role in the development of his home village's musical orchestras, which include a men's gamelan angklung and a children's orchestra.

Pak Made is accompanied in the United States by his wife, Ni Ketut Marni and his sons, Putu Tangkas Adi Mayena, Ade and Aji.

The Dancers

Ni Ketut Marni
was born in the village of Kebon in the town of Singapadu, district of Gianyar, Bali. Born into a family of traditional dancers and musicians, Ni Ketut has studied Balinese dance from a very young age. She graduated from SMKI, the Traditional School of Performing Arts in Denpasar, Bali with a major in Dance and has performed for TVRI, (Television of the Republic of Indonesia). Ni Ketut first performed with Gamelan Tunas Mekar at the International Bali Arts Festival, Denpasar in 1996. Ni Ketut teaches with her husband Pak Made and resides with him in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Ni Nyoman Erawati
was born the village of Bangah, Bali. She graduated as a Dance major from SMKI in Bali. Born into a family of traditional dancers and musicians (she is Pak Made’s niece), Ni Nyoman started to dance when 5 or 6 years old. She has danced throughout Java and Bali island, and performed with Gamelan Tunas Mekar at the International Bali Arts Festival, Denpasar in 1996. Ni Nyoman currently resides with her husband in Denver, Colorado, and, as guest dancer with Tunas Mekar, performs throughout Colorado and Wyoming.

Luh Made Didik Dwi Wahyuni
was born in 1989 in the village of Bangah, in the Baturiti region of the regency of Tabanan, Bali. She started dancing at the age of five, and performed throughout elementary and middle school. Dek attended KOKAR (Conservatory for Traditional Performing Arts) in Denpasar, Bali, and graduated in 2007. She has performed throughout Java and Bali, including at the renown Bali Arts Festival. Dek was invited to the United States in October, 2008 to teach Balinese dance at the University of Wyoming, Laramie. She currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

I Putu Tangkas Adi Mayena
Putu was born in Java in 1989. He currently attends college in Colorado Springs, and studies dance with his father Pak Lasmawan. He has performed with Gamelan Tunas Mekar as well as the gamelan orchestras of Colorado College, Naropa University and the University of Wyoming.

Putri Ayu
Putri Ayu (“Beautiful Girl”) Balinese Dance Ensemble is a group of girls and young women who have gathered together out of love for the discipline and beauty of classical Balinese dance. Studying and rehearsing with their Balinese teacher, Ni Nyoman Erawati, since July 2008, they have performed privately and in collaboration with Gamelan Tunas Mekar, delighting audiences with their beauty, grace and dedication. Performances include the 2009 Denver Dragon Boat Festival and Boulder Asian Festival, as well as concert and school appearances. The young ladies of Putri Ayu take joy in sharing the spirit of Balinese dance.

Set Designer

I Made Sumayasa
Made was born in the small central Balinese village of Batulantang, where he lived his entire life until November, 2002 when he moved to Hawai`i to join his wife. Made has played gamelan all his life and was a leader of his community gamelan group until he moved to the U.S. Made is also an accomplished artist in the traditional Balinese style and despite his village’s isolation from the centers of art in Bali, his work was sought out by gallery owners and collectors throughout Bali. In Bali, Made is known for his unique affinity for the Barong, and, his barong paintings are highly sought out by other Balinese. In Honolulu, Made showed his paintings in the 2004 Artists of Hawaii juried exhibition at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and at the Gallery On The Pali. Made played with Tunas Mekar in 2008-2009 when he lived in Denver with his wife and two small children. At that time, Made also built and hand-painted the Candi Bentar (stage set) now used by Tunas Mekar.

Made says of his art: "I am from the island of Bali located in the Indonesian Archipelago. Art and music are very important to my culture and are used for many ceremonial purposes as well as entertainment. Our primary religion is Hindu-Bali. As Hindus we are a minority in Indonesia, but we are very proud of our culture and religious beliefs. Take a look at some examples of what makes my island so special."

The Musicians

Frankie Anderson
Frankie is co-founder of Gamelan Tunas Mekar. She has traveled to Bali to study under traditional instructors with other members of the orchestra. She is also a member of the smaller gender wayang ensemble, "Catur Eka Santi". Frankie plays the 30-bell carillon at Whatley Chapel in Denver where she serves on the Executive Board of the Friends of Whatley Chapel. She plays the marimba and vibraharp for her cat and is the choir director at her church. She is a graduate of Colorado Women's College with a B.A. in Music and Business and is presently Program Assistant for the City of Aurora Small Business Development Center and Secretary to the Aurora Asian/Pacific Community Partnership.

Merisa Bissinger
Merisa has studied Javanese, Balinese and early European music, with occasional stints in anthropology. Merisa studied in Bali in 1995 and is also a member of “Catur Eka Santi”. Currently, she is in awe of seasonal change and (still) attempting to adjust to the altitude.

Woody Colahan
Woody Colahan holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of Denver Lamont School of Music, where he is currently pursuing graduate study in Classical Guitar and Music Theory. He first heard gamelan music in 1975 and the experience has haunted him ever since. Woody gained a deep appreciation of foreign cultures when he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea, West Africa from 1993 to 1996, and an even deeper one when he was married to Tunas Mekar guest dancer Ni Nyoman Erawati in her home village of Bangah in 2002. He considers himself privileged to work with musicians of the caliber represented in Tunas Mekar, and takes great pleasure in sharing this extraordinary music with his infant son Alexander every week.

Jon Ellison
A relative newcomer to the gamelan, Jon joined the team in 2000 after never having played an instrument in his life. Jon is currently a computer graphic artist with a Denver screenprinter. He spent about ten years in Indonesia working a variety of jobs, ending up teaching English at Dr. Soetomo University in Surabaya, East Java, where he met his wife Meta. Jon and Meta have two amazing, cute little girls named Krystal and Liberty, who hope to dance for the group in coming years.

Meta Ellison
The fairer half of the Ellison team, Meta is an Indonesian native from Surabaya, East Java. As a child, she learned Javanese gamelan but hadn't even thought of playing again until she and Jon happened upon a Tunas Mekar workshop. Although she originally entered the group as a dancer, she quickly found her love of the music and the 'indonesian-ness' of the players. Meta spends her non-gamelan time caring for her daughters, Krystal and Liberty, and is co-owner of Frangipani store in Denver.

Miranda Fan
Miranda joined Boston's Gamelan Galak Tika in 1995 after taking Evan Ziporyn's World Music class in school at MIT. She was hooked! Quite a turn from her training in classical piano. As a member of Galak Tika, she has had the privilege of performing traditional Balinese compositions as well a new compositions from Western composers and new Balinese works commissioned by GGT. While in the New England area, she also played with Gamelan Gita Sari and Gamelan Dharma Swara. Along the way, she also learned to play gender wayang to accompany the wonderful Balinese tradition of shadow puppetry and was privileged to study under the late I Wayan Loceng. In 2006, Miranda moved to CO and soon after joined Tunas Mekar. She is delighted to have found a wonderful group to be a part of and to continue to be involved with Balinese music and Indonesian community and culture.

Michael Fitts
Mike has been a member of Gamelan Tunas Mekar for 8 years and is currently president of the group. The 'gong' has been stored and rehearsed at his home for 7 1/2 of those years. During his time with Tunas Mekar, Michael has created a music promotion company, recorded some 30 jazz projects including the Phil Woods Quintet, taken over two record labels, started his own jazz label, "Synergy Music", created a music entertainment company, "Synergy Music Group, Inc.", has become an integral member of the music community in Colorado, and most importantly has become semi-proficient at performing Balinese Gamelan music. Michael would like to thank Pak Made Lasmawan for all his time and effort in bestowing this music upon all of us. Email:fitts@indiego.com

Jill Fredericksen
Jill holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Denver. As a drummer, Jill has performed with Larry Coryell, Marvin Stamm, Red Rodney, Bill Watrous and has recorded albums with Lee Konitz, Spike Robinson, Ellyn Rucker, and Brad Terry. She joined Gamelan Tunas Mekar in October 1989 and has since traveled to Bali numerous times to study with traditional teachers. In the Spring of 1993, Jill instructed the gamelan angklung at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She is also a member of "Catur Eka Santi", the Denver-based gender wayang orchestra used to accompany the Balinese shadow puppet play.

Dennis Hansen
First heard Gamelan Tunas Mekar while in college at the University of Wyoming. After graduating with a degree in percussion, he moved to Denver. He enjoys the fellowship and creative outlet that Gamelan Tunas Mekar provides. He also enjoys spending time with wife and son, which he hopes will soon join him as members of Gamelan Tunas Mekar.

Carolyn Oakley
Carolyn is a musician, graphic artist, Second Life entrepreneur and Mom living in Boulder, Colorado. She earned a Bachelor of Music, Piano Performance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst where she studied classical music with an emphasis on the contemporary, and electronic music composition. She has played in numerous new music ensembles from Massachusetts to California including The Time and Motion Project and Plateau Ensemble. She has taken workshops with Meredith Monk, Art Lande and others. Carolyn has not only performed with Tunas Mekar since 1992, but is currently also a member of the international Second Life improvisation ensemble Avatar Orchestra Metarverse, and the African marimba ensemble Musha Marimba. Email: carolyn@luminousmoon.com

Anie Pelletier
Anie was born in Surabaya and came to America from Jakarta from a scholarship program to pursue a higher education, in 1993. She graduated from the University of Denver in 1995. She now lives with her husband in Loveland and works as a computer software engineer. From 1982-85 she studied Javanese gamelan in Indonesia, and is continuing her musical studies with Gamelan Tunas Mekar.

Andy Schauf
Bio online soon

Michael Swank
A native of Denver, Colorado, Michael has been playing with Tunas Mekar since 1993. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, and has studied gamelan in Bali at Sekolah Tinggi Seni Indonesia (College of Performing Arts). Currently, Michael teaches music at Wyatt-Edison Charter School.

Dane Terry
Dane lived four of his first five years on a U.S. Army post on a mountain in northern Ethiopia. There he listened to Coptic drumming, American parade music, his father's Stan Getz albums, and his mother's church organ playing: he has resisted categorization ever since. He has played timpani with the Pepperdine University Symphony, drums in the Arizona State Marching Band and rock-n-roll guitar in Antarctica. He is a founding member of Gamelan Tunas Mekar. He currently works as a field engineer for Antarctica Support Associates, and has created much beautiful artwork for the ensemble.

Sean Williams
Sean joined Tunas Mekar in 2007 after being introduced to gamelan through a world music class at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In the class, he was given the option to either read an academic article and relay it to the class, or spend a few hours every Thursday night learning how to play gamelan. It was an easy choice. Sean also plays upright bass in The Way Low Down, an upbeat folk band, and composes orchestral and minimalist music for films. Email: seankwilliams@yahoo.com