Depok-Seven students from the Universitas Indonesia (UI) Vocational School have brought honor to the university on the international stage, along with the Paragita Universitas Indonesia Student Choir (PSM UI). They won the title of winner in two categories at the 2026 Singapore International Choral Festival (SICF), held from July 16–20, 2026, in Singapore.
The seven UI Vocational students are Aryasatya Dika Prasetyo (Insurance and Actuarial Administration 2025) as Tenor 2; Mikhail Fabian Prasetyo (Creative Business 2025) as Tenor 1; Raymond Nugraha Situmorang (Finance and Banking Administration 2024) as Tenor 1; and Kartika Arta Dewi (Physiotherapy 2022) as Alto 1. In addition, there are Tiara Caroline Wowiling (Public Relations 2024) as Alto 2; Giselle Claresta Palyama (Creative Advertising 2024) as Soprano 1; and Dorothea Christ Drupadi, (Creative Advertising 2024) as Soprano 1.
The Singapore International Choral Festival is an international choir festival and competition that brings together more than 500 choirs from various countries every year. This competition is a stage for choirs to showcase their musical qualities and abilities, vocal techniques, interpretation, and cohesiveness at the global level. SICF 2026 is organized by One Choral Company and RAVE Group, in collaboration with the International Federation for Choral Music and the Choral Directors’ Association (Singapore). In the competition, PSM UI Paragita won the title of Winner in the B2 Mixed Voices 25 Years and Below category and S Musica Sacra Open.
(Photo: PSM UI Paragita’s performance at the 2026 Singapore International Choral Festival)
In the B2 Mixed Voices 25 Years and Below category held at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, PSM UI Paragita performed three compositions, namely Father Thunder by Laura Jēkabsone adapted from a Latvian folk song; There Is an Old Belief by C. Hubert H. Parry and John Gibson Lockhart; and All Seems Beautiful to Me by Eric Whitacre with a text from Walt Whitman’s poetry.
Meanwhile, in the S category of the Musica Sacra Open held at the Victoria Concert Hall, Paragita performed Ian Gabriel’s Laudate Dominum; Heinrich Schütz’s Die mit Tränen säen werden, SWV 378; and Tine Bec’s Deliver Me, O Lord.
Success in both categories earned the University of Indonesia’s Paragita Choir a place in the Grand Prix round at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore. Paragita performed two works: Ian Gabriel’s Laudate Dominum and Ivo Antognini’s I Touch God in My Song.
Kartika Arta Dewi expressed that the achievement was a truly memorable experience. According to her, the title “Winner” not only represents success on stage, but also the result of a long training process, discipline, and the teamwork of all team members. “For me personally, this achievement feels very special. Winning the title of Winner in an international competition is not just about the trophy, but the result of a long process, extensive training, and solid teamwork,” said Arta.
For Arta, this achievement holds special significance, as it occurred during the transition from education to the professional world. She views it as proof that consistent effort and passion can yield impressive results. “This achievement coincides with a new chapter in my life as a student who will soon graduate and begin pursuing a career. It feels like a small demonstration that consistent effort and passion will bear fruit,” she added.
Arta explained that the competition in SICF 2026 was intense. PSM UI Paragita competed not only with choirs from Southeast Asian countries, but also with participants from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the Czech Republic, and several other European countries. Each group brought a distinct vocal character, interpretation style, and musical strength. To face the competition, PSM UI Paragita underwent approximately four months of preparation. Intensive practice was carried out almost every day with clear targets for each session. This process demanded discipline, consistency, physical endurance, and the ability of each member to maintain the quality of their performance.
(Photo: Seven UI Vocational students who performed impressively with the UI Paragita PSM)
As part of the UI Vocational School academic community who is active in choir activities, Kartika also experienced the challenge of dividing her time between academic activities and practice. During the preparation period, she had to complete various obligations, from the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), the writing of her thesis, to intensive choir practice that took place almost every day. Arta said, “At first it was certainly not easy, especially when the practice schedule coincided with academic activities. However, the experience of participating in competitions taught me many things, from teamwork, mental resilience, to how to continue to give the best performance even when tired and under pressure,” said Kartika.
She also encouraged UI Vocational students to not hesitate to develop their potential and interests outside of academics. She believes that student activities can be a learning experience that fosters interpersonal skills, discipline, and personal maturity. “For those of you who have interests outside of academics, don’t be afraid to pursue them. As long as you maintain discipline and balance, keep pursuing things that help you grow. Ultimately, these experiences will shape you into a more holistic person, not just one area of excellence,” she said.
The success of seven UI Vocational students and graduates, along with the UI Paragita Student Council (PSM UI Paragita), in SICF 2026 demonstrates that vocational education students can achieve multidimensionally. Not only do they develop professional competencies through academic learning, but they also demonstrate quality, discipline, creativity, and a collaborative spirit on the international stage.
