Cadet competition and camaraderie
View(s):ORCBA to hold all island student band contest honouring former Cadet Band Company Sergeant Major
By Shehani Alwis
Lt. Col. M. A. C. Perera, one of Royal College’s beloved sons made the ultimate sacrifice on November 8, 1996 in Jaffna for his country.
Honouring his noble sacrifice, the Old Royalists’ Cadet Band Association (ORCBA) announced that the All Island Eastern and Western Band Competition hosted by the ORCBA on May 4, will see the participating bands competing for the Lt. Col. M. A. C. Perera Memorial Trophy.
The band competition will have bands competing in four categories. Western band (boys), Western band (girls), Eastern band (boys), eastern band (girls). This competition is fully endorsed by the Ministry of Education and the panel of judges would comprise nine members representing the Ministry of Education, the Forces, The Police and the University of Visual and Performing Arts. There will also be an award for the most disciplined band.
The ORCBA believes that it is their duty to promote camaraderie among the students all over the country. The Royal College Cadet Band was formed in 1981 and it is that cadet movement which has since developed the school band today.
The organisers anticipate the participation of approximately 100 schools from all parts of the country and an audience of around 7000 to witness the event.
Affectionately called “MAC” by all the men he knew, former Cadet Band Company Sergeant Major, Lt. Col. M. A. C. Perera, was a versatile musician. During his six years with the band he played many instruments including the side drum, cornet, trumpet, tenor horn, bass drum, euphonium and the cymbals. Each year he mastered an instrument.
He became the Company Sergeant Major of the 3rd battalion of the National Cadet Corps in 1986 which is not a position offered by the College but by the National Cadet Corps.
He joined the Army in 1987, after his initial training; and was assigned to the Engineering Corps. After a brief term of service there, he joined the Special Forces where he displayed his natural leadership qualities, winning the respect of the troops he commanded. He was decorated with ‘Gallantry Medals’ on a couple of occasions. After his attachment to the Special Forces he returned to his mother unit and at the time of his untimely demise due a mortar attack, he was serving in unit 21C.
Sharing memories, one of his fellow Cadets at the Royal College, Bimsara Gamage recalled playing in the band with him.” I came to know M. A. C. Perera in 1980 through the College Band. M. A. C. was the most senior of us. We organised many shows including Fiesta ’84, Fiesta ’86 under his leadership. We were also able to win the Major General T.I. Weerathunga Challenge Trophy. After a Cadet Band Show we organised in 1985 under the leadership of M. A. C. Perera we were able to afford a costume of Rs. 3500 for each band member which was a real Royal class Uniform,” Mr Gamage recalls.
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