Clad in a black costume and matched with batik, the ITS Student Choir (PSM) team appeared in totality at the Fespa 2023 event

ITS Campus, ITS News – Coming back to participating in offline competitions, the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) Student Choir team successfully brought home three championship titles at once at the 2023 Ubaya Choir Festival (Fespa) Sunday (4/6). The ITS PSM team, which consisted of 39 members, managed to look stunning.

The three titles include 1st place in the Mixed Choir category, 2nd place in the Folk Song category, and Grand Champion 8th Fespa. In the Mixed Choir category, the ITS PSM team performed songs including Vigilate, Epilogue, and Birds of Paradise. At the same time, Folk Song category brought the songs Kerabban Sape, Impen-Impenan, dan Karimatanu Kuicha. Meanwhile, the ITS PSM team performed the songs Deliver Me, O Lord and Benggong to fight for the Grand Champion title.

According to the Conductor of ITS PSM, Wasis Setiawan, there was no particular reason for selecting the rendition of the song. The song chosen to be performed at this event is also a preparation before taking the race next month in Singapore. “So, the songs performed can be a mental and physical preparation when competing offline for PSM ITS,” said the man born in Surabaya.

(from left) ITS PSM coach Dr Ing Ir Bambang Soemardiono (left), ITS PSM Music Developer Dewi Maya Fitriana, and ITS PSM Conductor Wasis Setiawan showing their appreciation

Equally important, continued Wasis, costumes are also an aspect that the ITS PSM team focuses on to support performances. Clad in batik costumes, ITS Choir always wants to represent Indonesian culture. What is unique compared to the usual costumes, this time, the costumes worn by male performers provide additional creativity. “Slinging the shawl beside the costume shows the side of the male knight and as a merger of Indonesian culture with the Renaissance,” said Wasis.

Furthermore, this ITS PSM alumnus shared that the culture in the ITS PSM Student Activity Unit (UKM) highly upholds cultural diversity. They are not only learning to sing but also disciplined in preparing for competitions amidst the crush of academic assignments. Engineering students are often not spared from the stigma of only achieving in the academic field. Additionally, ITS has non-academic achievements, namely a choir that is no less proud.

ITS Student Choir (PSM) after successfully bringing home three championship trophies at the 2023 Ubaya Choir Festival (Fespa)

The preparation needed by the ITS PSM team itself was relatively short because it only started last March. However, to work around this, the team does routine exercises three times a week to catch up on material. The high enthusiasm of the team members allowed the team to achieve the set training targets. The PSM ITS team still needs to prepare to compete on the international stage later.

Meanwhile, ITS PSM Supervisor Dr Ing Ir Bambang Soemardiono, who has been accompanying ITS PSM for almost 20 years, revealed that ITS PSM has overcome various ups and downs with the help of several related parties. In supporting its students’ achievements, ITS provides moral and material support. Likewise, as an interchange, the ITS PSM team made achievements as a form of contribution to our beloved campus and the Indonesian nation.

The awards received by the ITS Student Choir (PSM) at the Fespa 2023 event are 1st place in the Mixed Choir category, 2nd place in the Folk Song category, and Grand Champion 8th Fespa

To continue to excel, Bambang has full hopes and supports PSM ITS to continue to be champions on the international stage. ITS Choir is also preparing to compete in an international event in Singapore. “Hopefully, the ITS PSM team can work together to bring home the champions again,” hopes the ITS Architecture Department lecturer. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Silvita Pramadani