Dr. Meghan Hynson and Asian Studies Program at University of San Diego Receive ASIANetwork Grant for Balinese Performing Arts Residency

The University of San Diego is proud to announce that ethnomusicologist and Teaching Professor of Music Meghan Hynson, PhD, has been awarded a $16,000 Embodied Learning About Asia grant from ASIANetwork to support the project, "Sound, Spirit, and Community: Embodied Learning in Balinese Performing Arts." This funding from the ASIANetwork will bring celebrated Balinese American artist Ade Wijaya to campus in spring 2027 for a full semester-long residency, offering students an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the performing arts of Bali through direct, hands-on practice and cultural dialogue.

Ade Wijaya brings a wealth of experience to this residency. Born into one of the most influential Balinese artistic families in the United States, he has directed numerous gamelan programs at universities and community centers, earning accolades such as the Denver Mayor's Global Award for Excellence in Arts and Culture. "Ade's unique position as a Balinese American artist allows him to bridge cultural worlds with fluency and insight," says Hynson. "This project will transform how our students understand Asia, not just as a subject of study, but as a living tradition they can actively participate in."

Under the direction of Professor of Music Chris Adler, PhD, the Asian Studies program at USD is a member of ASIANetwork, a consortium of over 150 North American colleges dedicated to strengthening the role of Asian Studies within the framework of liberal arts education. Institutional membership in ASIANetwork made USD eligible to apply for this competitive Embodied Learning about Asia Program grant, which supports immersive residencies that bring students into direct contact with individuals who embody expertise from an Asian cultural context.

The residency, a collaboration between the Department of Music and the Asian Studies program, is spearheaded by Hynson. It is designed to immerse students in the core functions of Balinese music and dance, moving beyond theoretical study to explore how these art forms are deeply interwoven with spiritual life and communal values. Through direct mentorship of the Balinese Gamelan Ensemble (MUSC 157/357) and the course Religion and the Performing Arts in Bali (MUSC 341), participants will learn not only the techniques of gamelan, kecak chant and dance, but also their ritual significance. Additionally, Wijaya will lead a hands-on workshop through the Asian Studies program, extending the residency's impact across the curriculum and into the wider campus community.

Central to the project's theme is the Indonesian principle of gotong royong, a philosophy of mutual aid and collective responsibility. Under the guidance of Wijaya and Hynson, students will experience how individual parts in a gamelan and kecak interlock to create a cohesive whole, serving as a microcosm of Balinese community life. The residency will culminate in a public concert titled "Sound, Spirit, and Community: A Night of Balinese Performing Arts," where students will share their embodied learning with the wider San Diego community.