Sundari Soekotjo

Biography

Sundari Untinasih Soekotjo (born 14 April 1965) is an Indonesian keroncong singer, widely recognized as one of the prominent performers of the traditional genre in Indonesia. She began her involvement in music at a young age and later became known for her dedication to preserving and popularizing keroncong music both nationally and internationally. Her interest in keroncong was strongly influenced by her father, Soekotjo Ronodihardjo, who introduced her to the genre and often encouraged her to sing keroncong songs during her childhood. She started focusing seriously on keroncong around 1977 and gained early recognition after participating in music festivals and competitions. Soekotjo rose to wider prominence in the 1980s after winning a major Bintang Radio dan Televisi competition, which helped establish her reputation as a leading keroncong vocalist. Throughout her career she has recorded numerous keroncong songs, including well-known interpretations of classics such as “Bengawan Solo” and “Di Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama.” In 2002, she released her first keroncong album titled “Ingkar Janji.” The album earned her the Keroncong Award 2002 and a special recognition at the AMI Sharp Awards, further solidifying her influence in the genre. Aside from performing, Soekotjo has also worked as an arts teacher at SMA 38 Jakarta and pursued higher education in music and management, earning degrees from Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Universitas Gadjah Mada, and later a doctoral degree in human resources. Her contributions have played a significant role in maintaining the legacy of keroncong music in Indonesia.