Friends of the Gamelan, Chicago, Illinois (profile)

Friends of the Gamelan (F.R.O.G.), founded in 1980 in Chicago, emerged as a unique, community-based ensemble of older professionals from various fields. This profile traces the group’s origins from the rediscovery of the 1893 Columbian Exposition gamelan to its establishment as an independent nonprofit. It discusses their acquisition of a new iron gamelan, partnerships with local institutions, involvement in education and performance, and dedication to both traditional Javanese styles and new compositions by American composers.