2027 GARY WATSON Cudamani Summer Institute Scholarship

Gamelan Cudamani honours the memory of Gary Watson with the

2027 GARY WATSON Balinese Gamelan Study Scholarship.

Please read about his extraordinary life below.

FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP TO THE 2027 CUDAMANI SUMMER INSTITUTE, JULY 11-26, 2027. 

Scholarship I: to a student, emerging artist, or young professional (preference below age 25)

Scholarship II: to a full-time teaching professional. 

Refer to program details on www.cudamani.org.  

Eligibility: Australian citizen or permanent resident; currently active in the field of music; musicians who envision application of this study in their future work; musicians who have some history with Balinese Gamelan;  must be able to attend the entire program.  Preference will be given to individuals who have never or infrequently come to Bali.

Scholarship details: Full tuition for the 2027 Cudamani Summer Institute includes private room (15 nights), instruction, all activities and performances such as field trips, attending Balinese ceremonies, daily breakfast and lunches on days of instruction, airport pick up and return on days adjacent to program. Airfare and other personal meal expenses not included. Pre-CSI program is highly recommended but is not included in this scholarship.

Application process: please fill out the application that we provide on our website, deadline April 1, 2027. Application includes references who may be contacted in the final review. Selection by Dewa Putu Berata (Director of Gamelan Cudamani),  and Judy Mitoma (President, Foundation for World Arts). Awards announced May 15, 2026. Application after April 1st will not be considered.

For more information and application submissions, please contact Judy Mitoma jmitoma@arts.ucla.edu  Subject heading: Gary Watson Scholarship.

Please help us spread the word and thank you for taking a moment to remember Gary Watson with us.  JM

Gary Watson was one of the first Australian musicians to deeply engage with Balinese music.  His passion found expression throughout his career as a Sydney based musician and educator. After his BMus at the University of Sydney, he went to Japan on scholarship to study Noh Theatre in Tokyo. However, once in Japan, he discovered Balinese music and from 1988 onward, Gary travelled annually to Bali. His first teacher was the renowned I Wayan Gandra (Cudamani’s former teacher). After Gandra’s passing, Gary began studying with Cudamani’s own Dewa Putu Berata and Dewa Putu Rai. In 1992, Gary formed Sekaa Gong Tirta Sinar, following the Australian Museum’s purchase of a Gong Kebyar set. By the mid-90s Gary’s passion for teaching Balinese gamelan attracted the attention of the Sydney Conservatorium.  Gary taught Sydney Conservatorium students on the Australian Museum’s gamelan until the Conservatorium purchased its own Gong Semaradana set in 2001. Gary’s relationship with Cudamani Director, Dewa Putu Berata deepened during his MA research on the Balinese practice of compositional borrowing.  Over the years Gary organized several student group tours to the Cudamani Summer Institute. Until his passing in 2022, he passionately taught Balinese music to generations of musicians in Sydney and was held in high esteem by his Balinese friends and teachers.