Still learning as a teacher
Haunting strains of the Adiemus Chorus is what greeted us at Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu’s gate.
Menaka: Marking a career of 30 years. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
The group of students vocalizing, she tells us, are from the University of Visual and Performing Arts. “I want them to perform at the concert as well.”
A Lecturer at the Applied Music Department of the university, all of Menaka’s pupils are busy, learning parts and polishing their act for a celebratory event marking her 30 years of teaching.
‘Celebrating 30’, a concert featuring her students will be presented by the Zonta Club 1 in aid of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children today (Sunday, January 4).
For Menaka, whose name is not new in the music scene, singing was a later addition. “It was my first piano teacher, Mrs. Hunter who saw some potential in my voice.” It was customary for all Irene Hunter’s students to go carolling and this is where young Menaka’s aptitude for singing was picked up by her teacher.
As a child of about 10 or 12, she recalls the carolling being more about fellowship and fun than meticulous singing.
Not entirely sure of her musical potential as a child, she says that today’s young ones are at an advantage. They have things like YouTube to be introduced to different types of music. For her, it was not until she was sent to “Aunty Mary” (Mary Billimoria) as she calls her first employer, that her knack for teaching was discovered. It was when she was under the tutelage of Ms. Billimoria for her higher musical education that Menaka was asked to teach at the Pestonjee Studio in which she too was a student.
In her late teens, she says, the watchful eye of Ms. Billimoria left no room for error. “She was a perfectionist,” recalls Menaka, adding that “before I could teach I had to sit through her classes and observe.”
Enjoying being inspired by her students, the results they showed was all the drive she needed to continue teaching music. Teaching itself is a learning process and even today most of her students are free to come up with their own suggestions.
Happy that many of her former students have gone on to specialise in music, she points out that they too would be performing at the concert.
Hitting the right note is only part of the skill for Menaka. Particular that her pupils develop aptitudes not just for music, but also work together, she says it all comes down to “how well you work with others”. Music is a link among people, whatever their differences and team spirit is a priority in her lessons.
Participating in musicals, performing abroad and being a violinist in the Symphony Orchestra, Menaka’s career option has brought with it a world of opportunities. Be it connecting with people who do not speak the same language or even performing on stage, it has also been a learning process that she shares with her students.
‘Celebrating 30’, while being a re-union of sorts of her present and past pupils, would also be about uniting through music.
The Menaka Singers and the Menaka Singers Opera Ensemble will bring to life some Broadway tunes, music from well-known operas such as Carmen and even a few Sri Lankan specials at the concert.
The evening of song today will be directed by Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu and hosted by Kumar De Silva.
Tickets priced at Rs. 3,000 including refreshments may be purchased at Vision House, No. 52, Galle Road, Bambalapitiya.