Charlotte Panggabean passes away at 90

Indonesian pianist and painter Charlotte Catarina Ter Veer Panggabean passed away in her sleep on Friday (30 July) at the age of 90 in Jakarta. Being one of the most active Indonesian classical pianists in old age, she left a myriad of works as well as several projects she did not get to finish.

Charlotte was born in Amsterdam on 20 August 1930 and moved to Indonesia with her family in the 1960s. She did not only create music, but also paint. Some of her works are displayed in Cemara 6 Gallery which is built by Toeti Heraty Noerhadi, an Indonesian poet who passed away last June. 

Charlotte is also known to partner with Latifah Kodijat Marzoeki, a fellow musician, in her performance. They both broke the record for The Oldest Pianist Duo Who Actively Performs Live by World’s Record Museum Indonesia (MURI) in 2008 when she was 77.

Her passing left another open wound in the Indonesian music and art community. Indonesian pianist Ananda Sukarlan is the first to announce the grave news via Twitter.