Oakton hosts an evening of Javanese music Feb. 23

Enjoy an evening of Javanese music 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, when Oakton Community CollegeOakton Community College hosts a performance by the Friends of the Gamelan at the college’s Studio One Theater, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines.

Friends of the Gamelan has been part of Chicago's music scene since 1980, and its percussion orchestra is composed of tuned bronze or iron gongs and metal xylophones. Members of the audience will be treated to a rich repertoire of centuries-old traditional Javanese music as well as contemporary compositions of sounds that are rhythmic, shimmering, melodic and mesmerizing.

“I'm excited about growing the gamelan scene in Chicago and introducing more people to Javanese music because the group has so much to offer this city,” says Artistic Director Alex Yoffe on chicagogamelan.org, the organization’s website.

Friends of the Gamelan is a not-for-profit Illinois corporation dedicated to the instruction and performance of gamelan music. The organization traces its roots to the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago.

The concert is sponsored by the Performing Arts at Oakton and the Performing Arts Society. For more information call 847-635-1897.