People and events
View(s):The Little Sopranos do the Christmas Samba
Everybody is a singer. Everybody sings. Everybody wants to sing. This is ‘a modern singing school’ – the thought of which excites many. Sonali De Soysa started her school five years ago and ‘The Little Sopranos’ will be having their sixth concert this month when they present, ‘The Christmas Samba’ on December 18 at the Ladies’ College Hall at 6 p.m.
What’s special about Sonali’s music school is that she encourages the children to sing all types of songs. Not just singing, the school also conducts music workshops, voice training, choreography and dancing classes. The school consists of three groups ranging between children aged two to 14; Baby Sopranos, Juniors B and C and Senior Sopranos. Plans to expand by enrolling teenagers are on the cards: ‘The Young Sopranos’ will be introduced soon.
Keiran Perera is Sonali’s assistant. Sonali, the pianist says her assistant and she make a great combination which is the reason behind their success. Sonali and Keiran’s wish is to build the children’s confidence. Unlike many other music schools, The Little Sopranos have no exams to pressure their students because their sole intention is to provide enjoyment and satisfaction. The artists have not forgotten the hard side of life. The students and their parents have proved it through “Bring a smile to the child”, a programme by The Little Sopranos that provides gifts to children in need.
Music for a special cause
Using technology to recreate a Broadway atmosphere, Ashanthi’s School of Music hopes to bring the West End to life in ‘Pop Musical 2013’ on December 20
‘Pop Musical 2013’ – a Broadway inspired show that will raise funds for the Gamini Dissanayake Institute of Technology & Vocational Studies (GDITVS), goes on the boards on December 20, at the Musaeus College Auditorium.
Pop singing sensation, Ashanthi De Alwis says that the audience will be captivated by specialised graphics, on large digitised LED walls displaying images of each West End theatre that will be showcased at the concert together with specialised lighting and effects to bring the drama of Broadway onto the live stage.
It had always been at the back of Ashanthi’s mind to recreate the Broadway atmosphere in a Sri Lankan production, and this is her time to shine along with the capable students of Ashanthi’s School of Music. “We will also feature a special segment with the school collaborating with Bathiya & Santhush, Umaria, Randhir & Voice Print on stage and this year we have decided to support a worthy cause that speaks volumes of the youth potential of the country,” Ashanthi says.
GDITVS, situated in Nuwara Eliya has a state-of-the-art computer laboratory, with two separate electronic labs that help budding students learn new skills through Vocational Studies. Although the institute initially started with the teaching of English and a Diploma Course in Computer Science, it has now expanded to offer diplomas in Information Technology, Pre-school education, certificate courses in business English, basic courses in computer studies, electronics, hospitality training and personality development. Since its inception in 1995 there have been over 1500 graduates produced out of which 95 per cent have found jobs in leading government and private sector organisations.
Audiences will enjoy hits from Whitney Houston’s ‘The Bodyguard’, The Lion King, and Thriller Live, interspersed with the classics.”We are dedicated to driving forward original Sri Lankan talent, and to taking Sri Lankan performing arts onto the global platform, in terms of choral and performing groups as well as individual talent,” says Ashanthi, adding that she believes that there’s a star hidden within each of the young performers.
‘Pop Musical 2013’ will be held on Friday, December 20 from 7 p.m. onwards at the Musaeus College Auditorium. Tickets are priced Rs. 2,500, 2,000, 1,500 and 750, with the box plan at the Commons, Park Street Mews, the Colombo Fort Cafe and Bayleaf.
Sri Lankan ranks among world’s ‘20 Best Digital Marketing Professionals’
Niranka T. Perera was the only Sri Lankan to be honoured with a Golden Globe Tigers Award as one of the ‘20 Best Digital Marketing Professionals’ at the World Marketing Summit Malaysia 2013 held in October. The summit, the brainchild of marketing guru Prof. Philip Kotler saw more than 2300 delegates representing 68 countries participating.
The grand finale of the Summit was The Golden Globe Tigers Award, held for the first time in Malaysia, in collaboration with CMO Asia and World CSR Day. Selection of nominees for this prestigious award were managed by a Global Research Cell, vetted by a Research Head/Chairman and then submitted to a Jury who made the final decision.
“It was truly a great honour as well as a memorable moment for me, to stand among distinguished peers from across the world. The Digital Advertising industry is steadily growing in Sri Lanka and I have been fortunate to specialise in this field. I am proud to be the only Sri Lankan recognised with a Golden Globe Tigers Award in this category,” Niranka said.
Niranka specialises in Digital marketing with 11 years’ experience in ecommerce, digital strategy and business development. From conception to implementation, Niranka has handled the digital marketing efforts of award winning brands spanning multiple industries, both locally and internationally. He is a ‘Google AdWords Qualified Individual’, with an MBA, and currently lectures on “online marketing”. Niranka is Manager – Digital Advertising at Dialogue Axiata PLC.
Paralysed man seeks help
He has been paralysed for the past two decades, unable to move his limbs from the waist downwards-and forced to depend on hand outs from sympathetic neighbours. Solangaarachchi Samarapala, 66, a resident of Havana of the Mahawewa Pradeshiya Sabha is a bachelor with no known relatives and is desperately in need of money to purchase medicines and his basic food requirements. He appeals to the generous public for whatever assistance that is possible be it cash, food, medicines etc. He has no telephone but could be reached through his neighbour, Sarath- 0724175549
British Pub Quiz at Barefoot Café
The British Scholars Association of Sri Lanka presents ‘The British Pub Quiz’ at the Barefoot Café on December 17 at 7.30 p.m. The event includes free food, exciting prizes, and stimulating questions! Each team must have a minimum of two members who have studied in the United Kingdom and can have up to five members. A fee of just Rs. 250 will be charged per person at the entrance. To register, call Kamakshi on 0773601678 or email bsasl.event@gmail.com. Further information is available on Facebook.
“Handmade Holiday Sale 2013” drives local talent to the next level
Handmade Holiday Sale 2013, a seasonal sale organised by ‘Handmade with love by Chaste’ showcasing local emerging talent will be held on December 16 (Poya Day) from 2-6 p.m. at the Girls’ Friendly Society, Greenpath, Colombo 3.
The sale will have more than 25 stalls of contemporary creations including handcrafted jewellery, ladies/gents/toddlers and baby clothing, pottery, herbal spa products, paper crafts, quilts and patchwork, crochet items, mouthwatering homemade and home baked food and sweets.
Achini Somachandra, Founder, Handmade with Love by Chaste and owner of Chaste Fashion and Design said that they hope to connect talented and creative small and medium scale businesses directly to consumers, and to foster a stronger, more sustainable local economy through the event.
Exclusive designer clothing, accessories, cosmetics and spa products will be available from ContiNew, Zigzag.lk, Ethnicity, Shalini’s Clothes, Waver Finch, Simple Elegance, Agora Boutique, Firefly, Helinta, and Umi’s Corner. Homeware décor and paper crafts will be available from Savosel Creations, Ceramore, Chaste Fashion and Design, designed by Yash, Bloom Wall Art, Crochet Lanka and The Craft Connection. Delightful home baked food from Scrumptious and Sugar Love and local food favourites like Achcharu Kade, Dunhinda – traditional Sri Lankan sweets, Helarasa Osu homemade chutneys and pickles will be serving local flavours. Adding festive joy, Mifla’s Mehendi, AYDU Entertainment and Alidon Fireworks will be participating at the sale.
WNPS lecture: ‘The Lunacy of Environmentalism’
A lecture on ‘The Lunacy of Environmentalism’ by Rohan Pethiyagoda will be held on Thursday, December 19, at 6 p.m. at the Meteorological Department auditorium, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 (opposite the Cathedral).
This is part of the monthly lecture series of the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society (WNPS).
Mr. Pethiyagoda is a name synonymous with the biodiversity exploration, discovery and publication of books and papers on the Natural History of Sri Lanka, particularly of its highland regions, and of their species of amphibians and fresh water fishes. He established the Wildlife Heritage Trust which has been responsible for the discovery and / or description of almost 100 new species of vertebrates to the world of natural science from Sri Lanka, mainly amphibian but also fishes and lizards as well.
Mr. Pethiyagoda served as Advisor on Environment and Natural Resources to the Government of Sri Lanka from 2002 – 2004 and was in 2005 elected Deputy Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. In 2008, he was elected to the Board of Trustees of the International Trust for Zoological Nomenclature.
“Tracing the Shadow behind the Christmas Story”
Rev. Fr. Don Anton Saman Hettiarachchi, Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Aquinas University College will conduct a lecture on ‘Christmas with the Hebrew Scriptures’, on Monday, December 16 from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., at the Peter Pillai Auditorium of Aquinas University College, Borella.
Participants are requested to bring a Recommendation Letter from their parish priest and the Holy Bible.
Hilton Colombo Residences announces New Year Dinner Dance
Hilton Colombo Residences announced its New Year celebrations this year under the theme of ‘The Party’.
The Party, New Year Dinner Dance 2013, will feature Colombo’s renowned local band ‘Doctor’, headed by Lanthra Perera with their unique repertoire of the 70s, 80s and the latest music, not forgetting the well-loved Sinhala songs.
All tables of ten receive two bottles of international spirits and one bottle of wine on the house. Guests will be treated to a sinful gastronomical range of appetisers, soups, salads, carver’s station, pasta action station, and sumptuous mains with a Sri Lankan section; a decadent menu of fresh oysters, blue water prawn cocktail in green tea, black forest ham with honey mustard sauce, roast duck consommé, roasted Tom turkey with chestnut stuffing and cranberry jelly and slow-roasted Australian lamb with red wine mint jous specially crafted by executive chef Priyal Wijesuriya. A traditional breakfast of milk rice, featuring the favourite fish ambul thiyal and chicken curry would be served in the morning.
“Our aim is to provide the very best in entertainment for the most anticipated celebration of the year; the band Doctor will keep everyone on their toes until morning; the elaborate menu contains the finest food prepared by our master chefs, in short, all the elements to make this new year’s eve very memorable,” said Stephane Roubin, Director of Operations.
The hotel will also be giving away pairs of tickets to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Maldives. Tickets priced at Rs 10,000 nett per person are now available at the hotel. For more information please call the hotel’s event desk on 5344644 extension 648 or visit the facebook/hiltoncr for more information.