List of gamelan ensembles in the United States

Gamelan Sekar Jaya, the first community-based Balinese gamelan in the United States, performing jegog (bamboo gamelan) music in San Francisco

There are more than 100 gamelan groups in the United States. A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included. The earliest appearance of a gamelan in the U.S. is considered to be at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893; this set of instruments is still at the Chicago Field Museum. The first academic program to include the playing of gamelan was established by Mantle Hood at UCLA in 1958.

There are actively performing gamelan groups in roughly two thirds of the states in the U.S., using instruments made in the Indonesian regions of Java, Bali, Sunda (West Java), Banyumas, and/or North America. Many schools, universities and other institutions in North America own sets of gamelan instruments, and there are increasing numbers of community-based ensembles as well.

The earliest directory of gamelan in North America was compiled by Barbara Benary in 1993 for Ear Magazine , which included 98 sets (not all with active players); since then the number has increased steadily. ^[1]

List by state

State	City	Name	Instruments	Repertoire	Notes
Alabama	Auburn	Auburn University Gamelan (disbanded)	Cirebon set from the 1930s	American percussion, some Balinese percussion; some Balinese	Auburn University ensemble
Arizona	Tempe	Arizona State University Gamelan	Javanese slendro/pelog, bronze	Traditional Central Javanese	Arizona State University School of Music ensemble. [2] [3]
	Tucson	Fine Stream Gamelan	Javanese, Sundanese degung, Balinese gong kebyar —Iron/brass Banyumas calung - bamboo	Traditional, some American compositions. Also regional styles including Banyumas, Semarang, and angklung Banyuwangi	Community group [3] [4] [5] [6]
California	Arcata	Sekar Sequoia	Javanese gamelan gadhon , bronze, pelog	Traditional Solonese gadhon	[3] [7]
	Berkeley	Gamelan Sekar Jaya (Flowering Success)	Balinese gong kebyar, angklung, gender wayang , joged , and jegog	Traditional and new music and dance by both Balinese and American artists	Founded in 1979 [3] [8] [9] [10]
		Sari Raras / Kyai Udan Mas (Venerable Golden Rain)	Javanese	Traditional	Joint UC Berkeley and community ensemble. [3] [8] [11] [12]
		UU Church of Berkeley Javanese Gamelan, located in Kensington.	Javanese	Traditional and new music by Javanese and American composers	Community ensemble. Performs frequently with the Mills College Javanese Ensemble "Si Darius and Si Madeleine."
		Saih Pitu	Balinese gamelan semar pagulingan	Traditional	Joint UC Berkeley and community ensemble.
	Claremont	Giri Kusuma (Flower Mountain)	Balinese gamelan gong kebyar	Traditional-instrumental and dance music from the kebyar and pelegongan repertoire	Pomona College ensemble open to students, faculty, and members of the Claremont community. [3] [13]
		Harvey Mudd American Gamelan	Built by Suhirdjan of Yogyakarta, Java; pelog and slendro scales, tuned to just intonation versions	Contemporary compositions	Harvey Mudd College, ensemble established in 2000. [3] [14] [15]
	Davis	UC Davis Gamelan Ensemble	Central Javanese Gamelan, Sundanese Gamelan Degung and Gamelan Salendro	Traditional music of West Java	Joint UC Davis and community ensemble. [16]
	El Cerrito	Sierra School Gamelan	Balinese gong kebyar	Traditional and student pieces	Prospect Sierra Elementary School student ensemble, dir. Maddie Hogan [3]
	La Mesa	Giri Nata ("Mountain Sage"); renamed in 2005, formerly Gamelan Puspa Warsa ("flower season" or "spring")	Javanese gamelan and Balinese sets include: gender wayang, genggong , suling , gambang , gong kebyar, semar pegulingan .	Traditional	A partnership of the Museum School and the Center for World Music. Founded in 1999, currently directed by Alexander Khalil and Kaori Okado. [3] [17]
	La Verne	Gong Kyai Pramugari	Laras Pelog (complete), Bronze (Pak Kuat), from private collection of Craig Rowe (Dir.).	Solonese klenengan	Ensemble members are often drawn from Cal Arts, UCLA, various other institutions and the Indonesian community. Ensemble was named by and dedicated to Bapak Djoko Waluyo. [3]
	Los Angeles	Gamelan Kembang Atangi (Flower of Awakening)	Balinese angklung, 5-tone	Traditional angklung pieces and kreasi (contemporary works) in the angklung kebyar style	Loyola Marymount University ensemble includes students, faculty, staff, and members of the community. [3] [18] [ self-published source? ]
		Gamelan Sekar Anyar (New Blossom - Balinese) and Kyai Mendhung (Venerable Dark Cloud - Javanese)	Balinese gong kebyar and Javanese	Traditional music and dance and occasionally new music and dance	UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology ensemble [3]
	Mission Hills	Bali and Beyond / Udan Arum (sweetly scented rain)	Balinese gender wayang, semar pegulingan, gamelan beleganjur (pelog), and Javanese gamelan gadon	Traditional and contemporary, wayang kulit , dance. Tantri style of chamber gamelan	Formed in 1988, directed by Maria Bodmann and Cliff DeArment. [3] [19] [20] [ self-published source? ]
	Oakland	Mills College Gamelan Ensemble (Si Darius and Si Madeleine) - Inactive since 2024	Javanese-style American, aluminum, built by Lou Harrison, William Colvig, and William Winant in 1980	Traditional and American new music.	[3] [21] [22]
		Gamelan-X (formerly Onepeoplevoice)	Traditional Balinese baleganjur, a 29-piece set of unique chromatic reyongs, drum set, synths, computer processing, trumpet, saxophone, flute, voice, and other instruments from around the world	Original gamelan fusion, traditional processional baleganjur, and kecak .	[23] [ self-published source? ]
		Gamelan Encinal	American Aluminum gamelan ensemble using the "Gift" gamelan using a tuning developed by Lou Harrison	focused on new music. Instruments built by Daniel Schmidt (musician), Lydia Martín, Stephen Parris, and others	Directed by Stephen Parris [24]
	Richmond	Gamelan Gadung Kasturi (Scent of the Gadung Flower)	Balinese	Traditional Balinese music and dance	Directed by Kompiang Metri-Davies [25] [ self-published source? ]
	Riverside	Gamelan Kyai Telaga Semu (Venerable Lake of Illusions)	Javanese slendro and pelog (by Tentrem Sarwanto, Solo)	Traditional and contemporary	UC Riverside ensemble [3] [26] [ self-published source? ]
	San Anselmo	Gamelan Marin (Adi Luhung)	Javanese	Traditional	Community gamelan [3]
	San Diego	Gamelan at San Diego State University	Javanese	Traditional	Directed by Djoko Walujo [3] [27] [ self-published source? ] [28] [ self-published source? ][ failed verification ]
		Kembang Sunda	Sundanese degung	Traditional
		Gunung Sari	Balinese angklung	Traditional	Founded and co-directed by David Harnish. Tyler Yamin, artistic director; Alex Khalil, co-director
		Puspa Warsa	Balinese angklung	Traditional	Directed by Dr. Alex Khalil, hosted and co-sponsored by The Museum School [29] and co-sponsored by Center for World Music [30] [ self-published source? ]
	San Francisco	ShadowLight Productions	Gender wayang	Balinese wayang kulit and new shadow theatre, founded in 1972	[3] [8] [31]
	San Jose	Pusaka Sunda	Sundanese degung and kecapi suling; West Javanese gamelan degung	Traditional and contemporary	Formed in 1988, founded by Burhan Sukarma [3] [8] [32] [ self-published source? ]
		Gamelan Si Aptos	Central Javanese iron slendro set built by Pak Daliyo with added Harrison/Colvig instruments.	Traditional and contemporary	currently housed at San José State University
	Santa Barbara	Gamelan Kyai Selamet	Central Javanese pelog, slendro	Central Javanese, Cirebon, West Java	UC Santa Barbara ensemble [3]
		Gamelan Sinar Surya	Cirebonese - slendro iron and Cirebonese iron pelog/degung combination	Cirebon and Sunda pelog/slendro, degung and gong renteng; Malaysian	Formerly Gamelan Northwest of Seattle [3] [33] [ self-published source? ]
		Monkey C	Javanese pelog. demung, slentem, saron, bonang, kempul, gong, kemanak.	American and varied rock covers mixed with traditional music	[3] [34] [ self-published source? ]
	Santa Cruz	Gamelan Swarasanti	Balinese angklung	Traditional and new music for Balinese angklung, especially new music by Balinese composers	A joint ensemble of UC Santa Cruz and the community. [3] [35]
		Gamelan Anak Swarasanti (Child of Swarasanti)	Balinese angklung and beleganjur	Traditional and new music for Balinese angklung and beleganjur, including extended arrangements with electric accompaniment and treatments.	A community-based gamelan. [3] [36]
		West Javanese (Sundanese) gamelan at UCSC	Instruments include Sundanese slendro gamelan Galuh Pakuan, Sundanese gamelan degung Nyi Arum Bandung	Traditional, wayang golek	[3] [8]
	Tujunga	Gamelan Merdu Kumala (Beautiful Sound)	Balinese Gong Kebyar, Gambuh, Kecak, Baleganjur, Gender Wayang	A community-based ensemble founded by Hirotaka Inuzuka in 2014. Performs traditional and contemporary Balinese music professionally in the greater Los Angeles area.	[37] [38]
	Valencia	Burat Wangi (Fragrant Offering - Balinese) and Kyai Dara Daish (Javanese)	Balinese semar pegulingan and gamelan gong kebyar, and Central Javanese	Traditional music and dance as well as New Music by American and Indonesian composers for both ensembles.	California Institute of the Arts ensembles [3]
Vallejo	Gamelan Range of Light	American, made of aluminum	American/Central Javanese	Played primarily by children and young adults for school productions and summer workshops. [3]
Colorado	Boulder	Eka Mudra	Balinese gong kebyar	Traditional	Naropa Institute gamelan ensemble [3]
	Colorado Springs	Colorado College Tunjung Sari	Balinese angklung	Traditional	[3]
	Denver	Gamelan Tunas Mekar ("Tunas" means a stored bit of life force, such as a seed of a floral bud, and "Mekar" means to put forth. This name has given the group its sense of identity: a wayward seed, blown far from the parent plant and landing on unfamiliar soil that has nonetheless produced an amazing flower.)	Balinese angklung and semara dana	Traditional and new Balinese	A subgroup of the ensemble is gender wayang quartet Catur Eka Santi. [3] [39] [ self-published source? ]
	Denver	Gamelan Manik Kusuma	Balinese angklung	Traditional and new Balinese	Metropolitan State University of Denver ensemble
Connecticut	Middletown	Kyai Mentul (Venerable Bouncing)	Javanese (a Jogjanese set dating from early part of century)	Traditional music and dance	Wesleyan University gamelan ensemble. A previous Javanese slendro set, Kyai Muntjar Basuki (Venerable Sparkling Fountain) is used for wayang. Instruments were made around 1964 for the World's Fair. Its pelog instruments are in use at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. [3]
	New Haven	Gamelan Suprabanggo (Yale University Javanese Gamelan Ensemble)	Central Javanese, Slendro and Pelog (from Surakarta)	Traditional and contemporary pieces, wayang kulit performances	Yale University ensemble [40]
Delaware	Newark	Kyai Tlogo Beruang Perak (Venerable Lake of the Silver Bear)			This American made gamelan was built by and directed by Professor Michael Zinn of University of Delaware. When Dr. Zinn retired, the gamelan went with him. There is currently no active gamelan at the university. [3]
District of Columbia	Washington, D.C.	Javanese Ensemble of the Indonesian Embassy	Javanese, acquired c. 1954	Traditional	Community group established c. 1979; includes both Indonesians and Americans [3]
Florida	Tallahassee	Gamelan Hanuman Agung	Balinese gong kebyar, beleganjur	Traditional, new music by American and Canadian composers	Florida State University ensemble [3]
Georgia	Atlanta	The Emory Gamelan	Javanese, slendro and pelog; and Balinese beleganjur	Traditional and modern	Emory University ensemble [3]
	Athens	Gamelan Chandra Natha	Balinese Gong Kebyar	Traditional	University of Georgia ensemble [41]
Hawaii	Honolulu	Kyai Gandrung (Javanese) and Segara Madu (Balinese)	Javanese and Balinese gong kebyar	Traditional	University of Hawaiʻi Gamelan Ensemble. The ensemble has also begun performing kecak [3]
Illinois	Chicago	Chicago Balinese Gamelan (CBG)	Balinese gong kebyar	Traditional music and dance	Community ensemble, founded 2017.
		Friends of the Gamelan (FROG)	Sri Sedånå, Central Javanese bronze; Nyai Panjang Sari, Central Javanese iron	Traditional Central Javanese	Community ensemble, founded 1979.
		Gamelan at the Consulate General of Indonesia	Javanese bronze	Traditional	A new [ vague ] and large set of instruments. [3]
	DeKalb	Asian Music Ensemble	Balinese angklung; Javanese, iron (Suhirjan)	Traditional and new music	Northern Illinois University ensemble [3]
	Urbana-Champaign	University of Illinois Gamelan	Javanese bronze, Balinese gamelan kebyar, beleganjur, and angklung	Traditional music and dance and new compositions	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign student performance ensemble [3] plus a community ensemble
Indiana	Richmond	Earlham College Javanese Gamelan Ensemble	Javanese, bronze slendro/pelog	Mostly traditional Solonese	Earlham College ensemble also open to community members [42]
Iowa	Grinnell	Kyai Biwara (Venerable Messenger)	Javanese, iron	Traditional Javanese music and dance	Grinnell College student ensemble [3]
Maine	Lewiston	Mawar Mekar (Blossom of Inspiration)	Central Javanese, iron with brass, built by Mulyadi in Solo, Java, 1997	Traditional and new	Bates College ensemble (acquired in 2001) [3]
Maryland	Baltimore	The Robert Macht Gamelan Ensemble (disbanded)	Central Javanese, bronze, slendro and pelog	Traditional and contemporary American	The ensemble also performs with the Kimberly Mackin dance company. [3]
		Gamelan Saraswati	Balinese angklung (acquired in 2001)		University of Maryland, Baltimore County ensemble [3] [43]
	Boyds	Gamelan Wrhatnala of Boyds	Gong kebyar, gender wayang, joged bumbung, gong suling, tektekan, genggong, and godogan	Balinese traditional and new music and dance compositions	Gamelan Wrhatnala of Boyds is the sister of Gamelan Sanggar Wrhatnala Pusat Abiantuwung in Bali. Both are directed by I. G. A. Ngurah Supartha, who is also a prominent choreographer, composer and puppeteer. [3] [44]
	Landover	Art & Cultural Center of Indonesia (ACCI)		Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese	Since its operation in 1976, ACCI has three main departments: Indonesian Traditional Art of Music and Dance, Indonesian Authentic Shadow Puppet Theater, and Gallery of the Community Arts & Crafts. [3]
	Ellicott City	Seka Genta Semara (disbanded)	Balinese 5 or 7 tone —- a unique tuning by Wayan Beratha, 1983	Traditional semar pegulingan and angklung repertoire	Genta Pinara Pitu has 11-key gangsa and a 14-kettle terompong. It permits 4-tone slendro, 5-tone slendro, 5-tone pelog, 6-tone pelog and 7-tone pelog. [3]
	Mount Rainier	Gamelan Mitra Kusuma (Flowering Friendship)	Balinese gamelan gong kebyar, gamelan angklung, and gender wayang	Traditional	Community group, founded in 1997 [3] [45]
Massachusetts	Amherst	Ensemble at Amherst College (disbanded)	Javanese	Traditional	Amherst College ensemble [3]
		Sundanese Gamelan	Sundanese	Traditional	Leveritt Craft Center
	Boston / Medford	Boston Village Gamelan and Tufts Gamelan Ensemble / Rinengga Sih Tentrem (Well-Made by Tentrem's Feeling of Friendship; Enhanced by Serenity)	Javanese, Rinengga Sih Tentrem (Solo, by Tentrem Sarwanto)	Traditional Solonese court traditions	The Boston Village Gamelan is now in residence at Tufts University, and rehearses together with the Tufts ensemble. It performs also occasionally on a 19th-century Solonese set owned by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Kyai Jati Mulya. [3] [46]
	Cambridge	Gamelan Galak Tika (Intense Togetherness)	Balinese pelegongan, kebyar, gender wayang, angklung Banyuwangi	Traditional Balinese and American kreasi (contemporary works)	Massachusetts Institute of Technology ensemble; founded and directed by Evan Ziporyn [3] [10] [47] [ self-published source? ] [48] [49] [50] [51]
		Gamelan Si Betty (Named to honor arts patron Betty Freeman)	Javanese style/American, extended range, aluminum (built by Lou Harrison and William Colvig in 1979)	Traditional and contemporary in various styles; new works by group members and interested composers.	Harvard University music department and community ensemble, directed by Jody Diamond since 2007. [52] [ self-published source? ][ failed verification ] [53] [54] [55]
	Northampton	Kyai Muntjar Basuki (Venerable Sparkling Fountain)	Javanese pelog (other half of set on loan from Wesleyan University)	Traditional	Smith College ensemble [3] [56]
	Worcester	Gita Sari (Essence of Song)	Balinese gong kebyar	Traditional and contemporary	College of the Holy Cross ensemble [3] [57]
Michigan	Ann Arbor	Kyai Telega Madu (Venerable Lake of Honey)	Central Javanese	Traditional	University of Michigan ensemble [3] [58]
Minnesota	St. Cloud	St. Cloud State University Gamelan	Central Javanese	No longer active. The Schubert Club instruments are now housed in the Landmark Center, St. Paul [3]
	Minneapolis/St. Paul	Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble	Central Javanese	Javanese traditional (Solonese), also contemporary.	"Kyai Medharing Madu" (Venerable Flowering Honey); made by Tentrem Sarwanto of Solo, owned by The Schubert Club. An iron pelog set made by Pak Mulyadi of Solo, owned by The Schubert Club, used for school residencies. [3]
	Moorhead	Concordia College Gamelan Ensemble	Central Javanese	Javanese traditional (Solonese)	Led by Dr. Jeffrey Meyer.
	Northfield	St. Olaf College Gamelan Ensemble	Central Javanese	Javanese traditional (Solonese)	Kyai Kembul, on loan from a private sponsor in Minneapolis/St. Paul since 2019.
	Winona	Winona Gamelan Ensemble at Winona State University (disbanded)	Javanese. Bronze pelog / slendro made in Solo by Pak Raharjo, "Sumber Gongso"	Traditional	Winona State University ensemble in partnership with the Schubert Club of Saint Paul (loan of instruments made by John and Ferry Banks). A community/university ensemble. [3]
Missouri	Kansas City	Gamelan Genta Kasturi (Ensemble of Blossoming Sound)	Balinese semaradhana (7-tone modern-style Balinese gamelan)	Traditional Balinese and new compositions	Located at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. A course in the conservatory and an active community group. [3] [59]
Montana	Bozeman	Gamelan Sekar Gunung (Mountain Flower)	Balinese gamelan angklung	Traditional Balinese and new compositions	Located at Montana State University, instruments commissioned for MSU in 1999. A university/community ensemble.
	Missoula	UM Jaya Budaya Balinese Gamelan (Victory Culture)	Balinese Gamelan	Traditional Balinese and dance pieces Bala Ganjur	Located at the University of Montana, performed every other year at the World Rhythms Concert by the School of Music's Percussion Studio. [60]
		Gamelan Manik Harum			Missoula Community Gamelan [61] established in 2007
Nebraska	Omaha	Son of the Good Earth	Javanese, iron (Suhirjan) and Balinese gender wayang	Traditional Javanese and contemporary Western	Located at Creighton University. A community ensemble. [3] [62]
New Hampshire	Hanover	Gamelan Lipur Sih (Comforting Your Loved Ones)	Javanese bronze gadhon with kenong and extended range saron (by Tentrem Sarwanto)	Traditional and contemporary	Located at Dartmouth College [3]
	Lebanon	Gamelan Sleeping Fox	Balinese gamelan angklung	Traditional	Location: private home, community group [3] [63]
		Gamelan Diamond Bridge	Javanese style, aluminum and stained particle board (by Daniel Schmidt)	Traditional and contemporary	Location: used for residencies at various schools in the area, lasting from one week to four months
New Mexico	Albuquerque	Gamelan Encantada	American - Javanese (Barbara Benary), iron Balinese selonding	Traditional Javanese music and American new music	Iron-keyed gamelan selonding instruments are from the village of Tenganan, Bali. Gamelan Encantada is rolled steel, slendro and pelog, with gongs, drums, and suling from Java. [3] [64]
	Santa Fe	Gamelan Ensemble	Ni Giwang: Cirebonese slendro, bronze (iron gong agung)	Central Javanese and Sundanese	Santa Fe University of Art and Design student ensemble and community classes and lecture workshops. [3]
New York	Annandale-on-Hudson	Hudson Valley Gamelan Ensemble comprising Gamelan Giri Mekar, Gamelan Chandra Kanchana, and the Bard Gender Consort	Balinese gong kebyar, gender wayang	Primarily traditional	Gamelan Giri Mekar, a community ensemble originally of Woodstock, NY, is now in residence across the river at Bard College. Gamelan Chandra Kanchana is primarily composed of Bard students but also has some faculty and Giri Mekar members. [3]
	Bronxville	Gamelan Chandra Buana	Balinese gamelan angklung	Traditional	Sarah Lawrence College student and community ensemble. [3]
	Buffalo	Nusantara Arts Sari Raras Irama	Central Javanese, bronze and painted iron; Balinese semar pengulingan and Balinese gender wayang	Primarily traditional	Founded Autumn 2015, bronze instruments acquired 2021, Balinese 2022.
	Ithaca	Cornell Gamelan Ensemble	Javanese, Balinese	Traditional, Cirebon and Sundanese, traditional angklung	Cornell University ensemble [3] [65]
	Kingston	Catskill Mountain Gamelan, comprising Sekar Mawar and Sekar Ligar	Sundanese degung , kacapi suling	Classical and popular	Catskill Mountain Gamelan consists of two community ensembles directed by Dr. Dorcinda Knauth. Sekar Mawar (the Rose Blossom gamelan) is a degung gamelan built in 2012 by the Bandung builder, Asep Ahum. It is named after the rose, the state flower of New York, and for its red and gold coloring. Sekar Mawar musicians perform both classical and popular Sundanese music styles. Sekar Ligar (Falling Rose Petals) is a kacapi suling ensemble that performs both traditional Tembang Sunda repertoire from the West Javanese highlands, as well as a lighter style of music called Pop sunda.
	New York City	Gamelan Son of Lion	American - Javanese, iron	American and other new music	Gamelan Son of Lion presents new music concerts in New York City and downstate New York counties. A subsidiary group, Rockland Angklung Society, plays Balinese and American pieces for gamelan angklung and is based in Rockland County, 30 min. NW of the city. [3] [10]
		Gamelan Yowana Sari	Semara Dana (7-toned gong kebyar ) and arrangements	Balinese and American New Music; Traditional Balinese	In residence at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Composed of students, professors, and alumn, YS performs regularly in New York City and has performed on festivals throughout the U.S. In 2018 and 2020, the group studied and performed in Pengosekan, Bali, at the home of preeminent composer I Dewa Ketut Alit.
		Dharmaswara	Balinese gong kebyar, semara dana	Traditional and New	Located at the Indonesian Consulate [3] [66]
		Gamelan Kusuma Laras	Javanese	Traditional	Gamelan Kusuma Laras was founded in 1983. The group consists of American and Indonesian players and rehearses on instruments owned by the New York Indonesian Consulate. [3] [67]
	Gamelan Giri Kusuma (Flower Mountain)	Balinese angklung, bronze	Traditional and contemporary	City University of New York/Borough of Manhattan Community College ensemble [3]
	Northport	Tamara and the Shadow Theatre of Java / Srikandi Gamelan Orchestra	Javanese, iron	Javanese wayang kulit with traditional style theatre music	[3] [68]
	Rochester	Gamelan Lila Muni (Heavenly Sound)	Balinese angklung	Traditional and contemporary	University of Rochester Eastman School of Music ensemble [3] [69]
	Stony Point	Rockland Angklung Society	American - Balinese angklung, iron and bamboo	Traditional and American	[3]
North Carolina	Chapel Hill	Gamelan Nyai Saraswati	Javanese slendro and pelog (bronze)	Traditional and not-so-traditional	Located at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A group specializing in Central Javanese repertoire whose members come from both the university and the community at large. [3] [70]
	Cullowhee	Gamelan Kyai Tatit Ratri	Javanese slendro (iron); Sundanese degung (iron), Sundanese degung (bronze) and Balinese angklung (bronze)	Traditional and some experimental	Western Carolina University ensemble [3]
	Winston-Salem	Gamelan Giri Murti	Balinese kembang kirang (5-tone slendro with extended range) and beleganjur	Traditional and contemporary	Wake Forest University ensemble. Balinese music and dance ensemble whose members come from Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the broader community [71]
Ohio	Bowling Green	Sekaha Gong Kusuma Sari (Floral Essence Gamelan Club)	Balinese gong kebyar	Traditional, with some modern pieces such as those composed by David Harnish and student composers	Bowling Green State University ensemble, directed by Kurt Doles; the director emeritus is David Harnish. The ensemble was founded 1990, replacing an earlier gamelan with a different name that had been established in 1980. [3]
	Oberlin	Kyai Barleyan (Venerable Diamond)	Javanese pelog and slendro	Traditional	The Oberlin College gamelan was a slendro set from Malang, East Java, purchased in 1970. In 1984 a pelog set was custom built to match by a Yogyakarta maker. [3] [72]
	Granville	Dwara Udyani (Doorway to the Mountain)	Balinese gamelan angklung	Traditional	Denison University ensemble
Oregon	Ashland	Gamelan Degung Leuwi Asih	Iron degung from Bandung	Sundanese classical degung, and contemporary American	This iron degung set was purchased by Southern Oregon University in 1999 from Bandung and is housed at SOU. [3] [73]
	Eugene	Gamelan Sari Pandhawa	Javanese slendro and pelog (Solo, Pak Tentrem)	Traditional and contemporary (Javanese and American) music	A non-profit organization providing opportunities for learning about Indonesian music and art. Performances also include wayang kulit, the shadow puppet theater. [3] [74]
		Kyai Tunjung Mulya (Noble Lotus Blossom)	Central Javanese and Cirebon—slendro/pelog extended range—iron/brass/bronze by Suhirdjan in Yogyakarta (1999).	Traditional Central Javanese	The University of Oregon School of Music [3] [75]
		Pacific Rim Gamelan / Suranadi Sari Indra Putra	Balinese kebyar (from Lombok)	Traditional	Also at the University of Oregon School of Music. [3]
	Portland	Portland Gamelan Ensemble / Kyai Guntur Sari (gong name) / Kagok Laras (Venerable Showers of Beauty / A Different Song)	Javanese	Traditional, some American	At Lewis and Clark College; founded by Vincent McDermott in 1980 [3]
		Gamelan Wahyu Dari Langit (Revelation from the Sky)	Balinese beleganjur	Traditional and modern Balinese music	Community group, founded in 2016
Pennsylvania	Lehigh Valley	Gamelan Mekar Sari	Balinese	Traditional
	Gettysburg	Gamelan Gita Semara	Balinese	Traditional Angklung and contemporary	At Gettysburg College. The ensemble was founded by Dr. Brent C. Talbot in 2010. They perform throughout Central Pennsylvania, and artist-in-residence programs bring the instruments to local elementary schools. [76]
	Lewisburg	The Bucknell Gamelan Ensemble	Balinese and Javanese	Traditional	At Bucknell University. The ensemble was directed initially by Jackson Hill, until his retirement in 2007. The group was led by Bethany Collier for some time, but is currently being led by Tyler Yamin. [3] [77] [78]
	Philadelphia	Gamelan Gita Santi	Balinese angklung	Traditional	Community ensemble founded through the Philadelphia Folklore Project, 2019
	Pittsburgh	Iron City Gamelan		Traditional	University of Pittsburgh ensembles. The university formerly owned a set of Balinese angklung. Members of the ensemble also perform tembang Sunda . The Sundanese Gamelan Ensemble is run by the University of Pittsburgh music department during the regular school year, and directed by Andrew Weintraub. The university also owns a set of calung (bamboo tube xylophone). In summers the Balinese angklung gamelan is taught aboard a cruise ship as part of the Semester At Sea. [3] [79] [80]
		Kyai Tirta Rukmi (Venerable Rivers of Gold)	Javanese, iron, by Suhirdjan, 1995
		Ligar Pasundan (The Spreading Fragrance of Pasundan)	Sundanese degung
Swarthmore	Gamelan Semara Santi (in honor of Semar, the god of love, and Santi, the Sanskrit word for peace, to commemorate the peace-loving Quaker traditions of Swarthmore College)	Gong kebyar with gender, by Pak Beratha, 1997	Balinese kebyar and pelegongan	Swarthmore College ensemble. [3] [81] [82]
Rhode Island	Providence	Brown University Gamelan Ensemble	Balinese angklung, Javanese slendro/pelog (Tentrem Sarwanto)	Traditional	[3]
Tennessee	Knoxville	University of Tennessee Balinese Gamelan	Balinese gamelan semar pegulingan	Traditional and New	Established in 2015. Operated by the University of Tennessee and open to the Knoxville community [83]
Texas	Austin	Kyahi Rosowibowo	Slendro and pelog, built in Yogyakarta		Established in 1998; University of Texas School of Music ensemble: (The Majestic One) [84]
	Denton	Percussion Department Gamelan	American-Javanese slendro, aluminum (Daniel Schmidt)	American	North Texas State University School of Music ensemble [3]
	Houston	Gamelan of the New Moon	Custom made set from the workshop of Midiyanto in Java	Modern and contemporary gamelan music	Established in 2018 in Houston, TX. https://www.facebook.com/GamelanoftheNewMoon/
	Houston	Space City Gamelan / Gamelan Swara Dewa	Javanese, bronze	Traditional central Javanese and contemporary compositions for gamelan	[3] [85] [86]
Utah	Provo	Gamelan Bintang Wahyu	Balinese from the shop of I Wayan Beratha	traditional and contemporary music of Bali	Brigham Young University ensemble [87]
Vermont	Cabot	Gamelan Singing Brook	Javanese iron, brass, and bronze (80-year-old set supplemented with new instruments by Suhirdjan 2005)	Javanese, experimental, American	The Cabot School is a preK-12 public school. Students in all grades use the instruments in a residency setting and/or a semester-long class. [3]
	Plainfield	Plainfield Village Gamelan / Venerable Voice of Thoom	American (Javanese style) iron (Dennis Murphy)	American and traditional	This ensemble was the first American gamelan, which began at Goddard College in 1967 and became a community group in 1980. It is now located at Dennis Murphy's farm. It also uses a second iron set built by Dennis Murphy, Venerable Small Tiger. [3] [10] [88]
		Gamelan Sulukala	Javanese iron, brass and bronze (Suhirjan)	Javanese, Balinese, American, etc.	Goddard College ensemble. [3] [88]
Virginia	Charlottesville	Charlottesville Gamelan	Javanese	Traditional	This is a community-university joint ensemble associated with the University of Virginia. [3]
	Christiansburg	Sweet River of Understanding	Javanese, iron	Traditional	Played by students from Radford University, Virginia Tech, the Montgomery County Orff Ensemble, and community groups. [3] [89]
	Richmond	Gamelan Raga Kusuma	Balinese semara dana (by Pande Sukerta)	Traditional and New	A community group affiliated with University of Richmond. [3]
	Winchester	Angklung gamelan group	Balinese angklung (by Pak Berata)	Traditional	A community group affiliated with Shenandoah University. [3]
	Williamsburg	Gamelan Tunjung Baskara (Sun Lotus) The College of William and Mary Gamelan	Full slendro	Central Javanese and American	The College of William and Mary gamelan ensemble started in 1999. The present set of slendro instruments were purchased by the college in 2004. [3]
Washington	Olympia	Gamelan Degung Girijaya	Sundanese gamelan degung	Traditional degung	Evergreen State College ensemble [3]
	Seattle	Gamelan Pacifica	Javanese iron and bronze in pelog and slendro (Suhirjan and Tentrem); Cirebonese slendro bronze (Tentrem)	Traditional, with a focus on Central Javanese style; also modern and contemporary compositions from the international gamelan repertoire	Cornish College of the Arts ensemble in residence; a community group; formed in 1980. [3] [10] [90]
		Cornish Gamelan Ensemble			Student group at Cornish College of the Arts that plays on the same instruments as Gamelan Pacifica above.
		Gamelan Larasati	Javanese gamelan gadhon (Solonese, Tentrem Sarwanto)	Traditional
Wisconsin	Appleton	Gamelan Cahya Asri (Harmonious Light)	Balinese gong kebyar (on loan from the Robert E. Brown Center for World Music at UIUC)	Traditional gong kebyar, lelambatan	Lawrence University Balinese Gamelan Ensemble
	Madison	University of Wisconsin–Madison Javanese Gamelan Ensemble / Kyai Telaga Rukmi (Venerable Lake of Gold)	Javanese	Traditional, some new, experimental music	University of Wisconsin–Madison ensemble [3]
West Virginia	Morgantown	Gamelan at West Virginia University	Balinese and Javanese	West Virginia University ensemble [3]
	Shepherdstown	Gamelan Wrhatnala Gunung Blue Ridge	Balinese gamelan gong kebyar	Traditional, Puri Buluh Kenana Region, IGA Ngurah Supartha's compositions and SMKI/Kokar	Shepherd University student and community ensemble, founded in 2002 [3] [91]
Wyoming	Laramie	Chandra Wyoga ("Chandra" refers to the beauty of the full moon, and "Wyoga" has a double meaning indicating both "Wyoming Gamelan" and "meditation on the beauty of the full moon.")	Balinese Semar Pegulingan, acquired in 1996	Traditional	The University of Wyoming Gamelan, Chandra Wyoga, is a community gamelan with many UW students and community members. [3] [92]

See also

• Gamelan outside Indonesia

References

1. Jody Diamond. "Review: Out of Indonesia: Global Gamelan." Ethnomusicology 42/1 (Winter 1998), pages 174-183.
2. Indonesian gamelan finds home at ASU 21 October 2003. ASU press release.
3. Benary, Barbara; Jody Diamond; Richard North; Marc Hoffman. "Gamelan Groups in the USA". American Gamelan Institute. Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
4. Interview With The Fine Stream Gamelan Archived 2010-12-12 at the Wayback Machine . Many Mouths One Stomach. September 2008.
5. Indian, Indonesian music adapts well to the desert. Tucson Citizen. October 29, 2008.
6. Buckley: Gamelan drumming dreams turn 20. Tucson Citizen. May 13, 2009.
7. "The Sound of Surakarta" (PDF). Cultural Times -- HSU Multicultural Center. Fall 2008. p. 20. Retrieved October 22, 2010.
8. Spiller, Henry, Henry. "A Gathering of Gamelans and a (Balinese) Tempest. Presented by ShadowLight Productions, Cowell Theater, San Francisco. 13–23 October 2005". Asian Theatre Journal. 23 (2): 401–407. doi:10.1353/atj.2006.0030. S2CID   162477120.
9. Koskoff, Ellen (2005). Music Cultures in the United States. New York: Routledge. p. 124. ISBN   0-415-96588-8.
10. Diamond, Jody; Benary, Barbara (2001). ""Indonesian music," In The United States and Canada.". In Koskoff, Ellen (ed.). The Garland Encyclopedia Of World Music and Dance. Vol. 3. pp. 1011–1033.
11. Gamelan Kyai Udan Mas instruments Archived 2008-09-26 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 28 April 2008.
12. UCB Gamelan Archived 2008-09-26 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 28 April 2009.
13. Dolinar, Sarah (Winter 2001). "Pomona's Flower Mountain". Pomona College Magazine. Vol. 38, no. 2. Pomona College. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
14. Harvey Mudd American Gamelan Archived 2006-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
15. Graham, Stephanie (Summer 2005). "Here Today, Gong Tomorrow". Harvey Mudd College Bulletin. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
16. UC Davis Gamelan Ensemble
17. The Museum School Accessed 30 April 2009.
18. "College of Communications and Fine Arts Ensembles". Loyola Marymount University. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
19. Bali and Beyond Programs
20. Bali & Beyond
21. Miller, Leta E. (1998). "Lou Harrison: Selected Keyboard and Chamber Music, 1937–1994". MUSA - Music of the United States of America. 8.
22. radiOM.org - New Music America 1981: A Concert of New Gamelan Music
23. Gamelan-X Archived 2009-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
24. "Home". gamelanencinal.com.
25. "Gamelan Gadung Kasturi". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
26. "A Festival of World Music". UCR Newsroom. March 2, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2009.
27. Djoko Walujo Archived 2008-07-08 at the Wayback Machine
28. "Ensembles". Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2009. SDSU School of Music Ensembles
29. The Museum School
30. Center for World Music
31. "ShadowLight Productions". Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
32. Pusaka Sunda
33. Gamelan Sinar Surya
34. Monkey C
35. Gamelan Swarasanti Archived 2008-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
36. Gamelan Anak Swarasanti
37. "Merdu Kumala's Facebook". www.facebook.com.
38. "Gamelan Merdu Kumala (@gamelanmerdukumala) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com.
39. Gamelan Tunas Mekar
40. "Yale Gamelan History". Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
41. "Home". www.chandranatha.org. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
42. http://www.earlham.edu/publicaffairs/content/pressroom/archive/2004/april/040414s-javanese.php Earlham College press release from April 2004
43. ^[ dead link ]
44. Gamelan Wrhatnala of Boyds
45. Gamelan Mitra Kusuma ^{[ usurped ]}
46. "Gamelan Laras Tentrem".
47. Gamelan Galak Tika Archived 2006-11-26 at the Wayback Machine
48. "A flair for the unusual at Carnegie's Zankel". The Newark Star-Ledger. November 15, 2004.
49. "Gamelan groups find the beat on U.S. campuses". The Jakarta Post. July 11, 2004
50. Dance - Gongsville - Gamelan Galak Tika at MIT The Boston Phoenix. November 28 - December 5, 2002
51. Here Today, Gong Tomorrow Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today . Harvey Mudd College Bulletin. Summer 2005.
52. Gamelan Si Betty
53. Gewertz, Ken (February 7, 2008). "Gamalanaton!". Harvard University Gazette.
54. Composing a world: Lou Harrison, musical wayfarer. Leta E. Miller, Fredric Lieberman. 2004.
55. Gamelanathon!. Harvard Gazette Online. February 7, 2008.
56. "Smith College: Music". Archived from the original on January 9, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009. Smith College Music Department Performing Groups
57. Phyllis Hanlon, Phyllis Hanlon (Spring 2000). "Do you know the way to Sanata Dharma?". Holy Cross Magazine. 34 (2). Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
58. "Residential College | U-M LSA Residential College".
59. "Gamelan Genta Kasturi at la Esquina". KCUR. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
60. "UM School of Music". www.umt.edu. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
61. "Missoula Community Gamelan". Missoula Community Gamelan. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
62. Swanson, Sheila L. "Gamelan: The Sound of Moonlight" (PDF). Creighton University Magazine (Winter 1999).
63. Gamelan Sleeping Fox
64. Gamelan Encantada
65. "Cornell University Department of Music - Gamelan" . Retrieved June 11, 2023.
66. Dharmaswara
67. Gamelan Kusuma Laras
68. Tamara and the Shadow Theatre of Java / Srikandi Gamelan Orchestra
69. Gamelan Lila Muni - University of Rochester
70. "Exotic new instrument comes to Chapel Hill". The Chapel Hill News . January 28, 2001.
71. "Wake Forest home to new Indonesian gamelan". Wake Forest News. October 23, 2015.
72. "Javanese Gamelan". www2.oberlin.edu. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
73. "Gamelan Degung Leuwi Asih". Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
74. Gamelan Sari Pandhawa
75. Kyai Tunjung Mulya Archived 2006-02-10 at the Wayback Machine
76. World Music at the Sunderman Conservatory
77. Gamelan Ensemble Bucknell University Archived 2009-05-24 at the Wayback Machine
78. "Gamelan Ensemble". Bucknell University. Archived from the original on March 18, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
79. Iron City Gamelan
80. Kyai Tirta Rukmi
81. Gamelan Semara Santi
82. Tommasini, Anthony (October 9, 2003). "The Philadelphia's New Conductor In a Risky Debut". New York Times. pp. E–3. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
83. "UT Balinese Gamelan | School of Music". music.utk.edu. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
84. Kyahi Rosowibowo
85. Space City Gamelan
86. DeRogatis, Jim (March 17, 2008). "Five great nights at South by Southwest". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
87. "BYU Website". Archived from the original on 9 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
88. Blader, Bonnie (Spring 2009). "Let the Music Play" (PDF). Clockworks (Goddard College Alumni Journal). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 27, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
89. Sweet River of Understanding Archived 2005-09-21 at the Wayback Machine
90. Gamelan Pacifica Archived 2008-08-27 at the Wayback Machine
91. Shepherd University Department of Music: Gamelan Archived 2008-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
92. Chandra Wyoga

Notes and bibliography

• This list is based on a directory designed and first compiled by Barbara Benary in 1983, and published in a special issue of EAR magazine. A version of that list, still maintained by Benary, is at International Gamelan Directory Archived July 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine , hosted by the American Gamelan Institute. That site also contains lists of groups in other countries as well, particularly Japan.
• "Gamelan Groups in the USA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 9, 2008. (301 KB) from the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia
• Diamond, Jody & Benary, Barbara (2001). "Indonesian Music in the United States and Canada." The Garland Encyclopedia Of World Music and Dance , Vol. 3, ed. Ellen Koskoff, pp. 1011–1033.