Xin Wei Thow

Xin Wei Thow is a Singaporean–German master of Javanese Gamelan and a committed cultural bridge-builder between Indonesia and Europe. As a lecturer based in Hamburg, he shares his deep knowledge of Nusantara’s acoustic traditions, while actively introducing Indonesian heritage to European audiences. A two-time recipient of the Darmasiswa RI scholarship, Xin Wei refined his craft at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts in Surakarta, where he collaborated closely with renowned local practitioners. His expertise spans advanced instruments such as the Rebab, Kendhang, and Gender, and his work moves beyond the traditional repertoire to include innovative interpretations of Gamelan soundscapes. He has performed internationally, including at Singapore’s Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, the Solo International Performing Arts Festival (SIPA), and Rumah Budaya Indonesia in Berlin. Dedicated to promoting Nusantaran arts in Europe, Xin Wei has also collaborated with dance maestro Didik Nini Thowok to bring the 19th-century Javanese manuscript Sĕrat Cĕnthini into both scholarly and performative focus.

Xin Wei Thow adalah maestro gamelan Jawa berdarah Singapura-Jerman sekaligus penghubung budaya antara Indonesia dan Eropa. Berbasis di Hamburg, ia mengajar tentang tradisi akustik Nusantara sambil memperkenalkan warisan Indonesia kepada publik Eropa. Dua kali menerima beasiswa Darmasiswa RI, ia mengasah keahliannya di Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) Surakarta dan berkolaborasi dengan para praktisi terkemuka. Keahliannya mencakup instrumen tingkat lanjut seperti Rebab, Kendhang, dan Gender, sementara karyanya melampaui repertoar tradisional dengan mengeksplorasi lanskap bunyi gamelan yang inovatif. Ia telah tampil di berbagai panggung internasional, termasuk Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay Singapura, Solo International Performing Arts Festival (SIPA), dan Rumah Budaya Indonesia di Berlin. Dengan dedikasi pada promosi seni Nusantara di Eropa, Xin Wei juga berkolaborasi dengan maestro tari Didik Nini Thowok dalam mengkaji naskah Jawa abad ke-19 Sĕrat Cĕnthini, membawanya ke ranah akademis maupun pertunjukan.