183 Talenta Music Gita Bahana Nusantara Prepared to Appear at Istana Merdeka

DEPOK - A total of 183 young music talents from various regions have begun to undergo Gita Bahana Nusantara or GBN 2026 training before performing at the 81st Independence Day series in the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta.

The opening of the 2026 GBN series was inaugurated by the Minister of Culture Fadli Zon at the Kinasih Resort and Convention, Depok, West Java, Monday, August 3.

The participants consist of 120 choir singers from 30 provinces and 63 orchestra musicians selected nationally. They will undergo intensive training before performing in the Independence Concert and the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia Ceremony at the Merdeka Palace.

Fadli expressed his appreciation to the participants who passed the selection. He called GBN a training space as well as a stepping stone for young people in the music field.

"Congratulations and the highest appreciation to all participants who have gone through a long process to get to this stage. And this GBN is a stepping stone, a stepping stone that can be used to develop ourselves," said Fadli.

Fadli also asked participants to use the quarantine period to expand their networks. According to Fadli, the GBN process is not only a musical exercise, but also an opportunity to build relationships and character.

"The point is networking, networking. Build strength by multiplying friends who are during quarantine and the GBN process," said Fadli.

"Make the best use of it to develop yourself in your work and bring out the best talent that exists within us," he said.

Fadli said the diverse background of participants reflected the richness of Indonesia. He called diversity a unifying force, not a threat.

"The diverse background of participants shows that Indonesia is a country with megadiversity, which is Indonesia's unifying force, not a threat," said Fadli.

Director of Human Resources, Institutions, and Cultural Infrastructure Syukur Asih Suprodjo said GBN not only contains choirs and orchestras.

According to Syukur, the program is a representation of the richness of Indonesian taste, voice, and culture.

"GBN is a tangible manifestation of the representation of unity and unity of language. It can be said that GBN is Indonesia through voice," said Syukur.

Deputy for Protocol, Public Relations, and Media of the State Secretariat Mohammad Yusuf Permana asked participants to use the quarantine period to get to know each other's culture and appreciate differences.

"Make this momentum a learning space to get to know each other's culture, appreciate differences, and strengthen human bonds," said Yusuf.

In addition to music training, GBN 2026 participants also receive character strengthening, discipline, national insight, and cultural values.

On the 81st anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia, Vincent Wiguna will act as the conductor of the GBN 2026 orchestra at the Merdeka Palace.

The culmination of the GBN 2026 series will take place in the Independence Concert in public spaces and the 81st Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia Ceremony at the Merdeka Palace.