Just had inspiring session with Indonesian pianist virtuoso, Ananda Sukarlan during our HSBC Senior Leadership Offsite.

Such an inspiration. As an individual with Asperger Syndrome, he used his limitation as his strength, focused in learning and playing piano since age of 5. 

He got scholarship to Netherland when he was 17 and graduated with summa cum laude in 1993 from the Royal Conservatory of Den Haag. When he had financial difficulties in 1992, as result of temporary halt of his scholarship fund, he looked for money by joining a piano competition in Bordeaux, which he won, and paved his way to be a professional pianist career in Europe until now. 

His works at classical piano is now world renown. He is the only Indonesian listed in the book “2000 outstanding musicians of the 20th century” and “The International Who’s Who in Music” published by Cambridge.

He showcased in front of us his amazing talent in grand piano (who says ‘talent is overated’??), and played some of his composition mixing Indonesian folk songs and classical music. When he started playing his take on “O Ina Ni Keke” (Rapsodia Nusantara No. 8), I was about to cry. When he finished playing the song, the audience was on their feet. Magical.

It’s an honor for us to hear his experience (he is a good speaker too, btw) and got inspiration from this humble and amazingly talented man. Thank you, Mr Ananda. I am a fan.

​Go check the video clip of his play at our session in YouTube