Kicking off the season’s celebrations in style, Neluka Seneviratne and her students will present ‘Christmas Fantasia’ next Sunday, December 8. Expect some beautifully smooth jazz numbers, rousing piano solos, string quartets and ensemble together with some trusty acapella as young singers and instrumentalists aged 5-28 take to the British School Auditorium stage.

Neluka Seneviratne

Neluka is no stranger to local music circles, having performed and taught for almost two decades. A Fellow of the Trinity College of Music, London in Piano and a Licentiate of the Royal School of Music in London in both Piano and Music as well as a Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music in Piano, she has performed extensively in both Sri Lanka and the UK. She moved to the UK in 1999, returning to Sri Lanka in 2001. Having taught for a while, she went back to the UK again in 2003 which was when she met her husband and decided to settle down in London for a while. The pair returned in 2009 with their son, now aged 5, and have lived and worked in Colombo since.

While she travels to the UK every summer to conduct music camps for school kids, Neluka’s career is now based in Colombo-something that she laughs she’s pretty much got no control over! “As soon as I came back to Sri Lanka my old students signed themselves up, and more new kids started showing up,” she grins. “How could I up and move back to London after that?”

This year’s concert is all about the festive season, with Christmassy spirit being the order of the day. Christmas Fantasia’s cast of over 40 will sing, play and dance their way through the show-“Some of them are very nervous,” says Neluka. But the fun is in drawing them out of their shell and seeing them blossom into confident performers, she smiles. Perhaps the biggest challenge has been in the dancing department-but thankfully good friend and choreographer Nishani Maurice has stepped in to banish all fears and teach the kids some smooth moves to accompany the lively music.

It’s all a bit of a family affair as Neluka’s brother and well known baritone Laknath Seneviratne will take to the stage for a solo number while also performing alongside his fellows from TORQ (The Old Royalists Choir). Laknath is a lawyer by profession but has been thrust into the spotlight since his performance on Jehan Aloysius’ Rag last year-by now he’s a regular in the circuit.

Performing alongside Laknath and TORQ is Ravipathi Paranage on Piano and Katie Renker on the flute. For the students, who have been rehearsing since October, it’s the culmination of two months of hard work. “Taking part in this Christmas concert has been a rewarding experience,” says Sushanthi Dissanayake. “Not all of us are performers, and I personally am terrified of the stage. But Ms. Neluka and her vision has challenged each of us in all the right ways to achieve, what I think, will be a successful concert and charity effort.” 11-year old Mahen Perera agrees-“It’s an indescribable feeling…the concert wouldn’t have been a reality if not for the untiring efforts of my teacher.”

The proceeds from the show will go towards The Music Project, which brings together communities particularly in the North and East through music, and the Singithi Sarana Project. Neluka likes the symmetry of the idea of proceeds from a musical show going into two very much musical projects doing some amazing work within the community. Having seen for herself the impact these two initiatives have had on their beneficiaries, she’s hoping the concert raises enough funds to make a real impact.

“I’ve seen the kids these projects work with and it’s beautiful,” she says. “The absolute commitment and passion they have for their instrument is heartwarming and we want to contribute to that in whatever way we can.” And so can you. Tickets for Christmas Fantasia on December 8 at the British School Auditorium at 6 p.m. priced at Rs. 500, 750 and 1000 are available at the Commons Café.