From tinkering with tunes at 2 years to centre stage
“My parents are not very musical people,” smiles Sachiththa Fernando but that didn’t stop them from identifying and encouraging their son’s passion for music from an early age. Having made his debut as a soloist at the Junior Symphony Orchestra Concert earlier in October, this multi-talented musician is beginning to make his way in the competitive world of classical music.
Sachiththa: Lead violinist of the Junior Symphony Orchestra
It was when he was about two that he picked up a toy keyboard and thumped out songs he had heard. Having exchanged his toy keyboard for the real deal, Sachiththa took up piano lessons at the age of eight at the Yamaha School of Music and fortunately came under the tutelage of Ruvini Hapugalle. While the piano was always Sachiththa’s main focus, he also started playing the violin and guitar.
A student of Ananda College, Sachiththa has just completed his A/L examination, surprisingly, in the field of science. “I enjoyed studying science,” he explained, but music has always been his first love. He also trains as a classical singer under Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu and Neomi Gunawardane. “It was Miss Menaka who encouraged me to study violin properly,” he says, thankful that he has come under the wing of renowned conductor and violinist Ananda Dabare.
It was Mr. Dabare who gave him the invaluable opportunity of joining the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka (SOSL) in 2009. Performing never really overwhelmed Sachiththa, who made his public debut at the age of 15, playing at the Cinnamon Grand Lobby. He has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra since 2007 and says his experience as a member of the SOSL is nothing short of amazing. The opportunity to work with others who are as driven and as crazy about music as he is has always been a constant joy. “Even though we are all so different music, keeps us all close knit,” says Sachiththa.
His debut as a soloist at the Junior Symphony Orchestra Concert on October 15 was different though. “I was nervous, at first,” he admits. But anyone who would have watched the young violinist take on Beriot’s Violin Concerto No. 9 Op. 104 would never have guessed so.
Sachiththa also leads the violin section of the Junior Symphony Orchestra. “I practise for about five hours a day,” he says, but while that may seem strenuous for most, for this young musician, practising is in itself a form of recreation. “I love classical music,” he says simply – it is what he listens to in his free time and it also helps him with studying.
Even though Sachiththa is a violinist in the orchestra, the piano remains his favourite instrument. Having completed his diploma in piano in 2011, he scored the highest marks islandwide that same year. Although taking a small break after his A/Ls Sachiththa is already preparing for his diploma exams in violin and singing.
A lover of the works of Ashkenazy and Horowitz, Sachiththa borrows inspiration from their expressive and dynamic styles of performing.
There’s another side to him.
“I’m not much of a film buff,” he sheepishly admits, but finds the story and action of the movie in a music instead. “When you think of movies like Superman and Harry Potter it is the theme music that sticks in your mind,” he explains, describing his fascination with soundtracks. Not surprising then that he dreams of composing film scores and working with movies. “I’ve always known I wanted to be around music,” he says. So we can look forward to hearing much more from his young musical wiz.