Uplifting overture
View(s):Two small farming communities of Mullaitivu and Kurunegala are abuzz with activity as they prepare for the Music Project’s 6th residential UNITE programme.The programme amplifies the universal language of music as a platform for transforming the lives of children in a post conflict situation and more importantly as a bridge connecting the different communities of the North and South. The hosts are the community of Mallavi of Mullaitivu who will welcome their peers from Kurunegala. Over 250 children will gather to hone their skills as an orchestra and to perform in Kilinochchi and Jaffna in end August.
The Music Project has over the last four years helped to build orchestral communities between the children of the north and south, using music as the link language. The children of the programme have grown through the project to understand their own cultural identity, to recognize the global language of music and to seek alternative aspirations through the opportunities of music.
In addition to their performance opportunities, the children who learn orchestral instruments such as violin, cello, flute, clarinet and percussion, also learn recorder which was their core instrument at the onset of the programme which was in line with western music teaching of the Ministry of Education.
Most recently, the Music Project brought home an amazing affirmation of its work and impact when it swept the All Island Western Music Competition 2015 -in the Recorder Category. Mallavi Central College, Mullaitivu won 1st place in the Recorder Category (Senior level) and the second place too for Yohapuram Maha Vidyalaya Mullaitivu in the Recorder Category. It was the first time ever that a school from Mullaitivu contested, leave alone topped the league. The same thing played out in Kurunagala where the big schools were outperformed by an obscure village school Yatiwela Gunananda Maha Vidyalaya Kurunegala -winning the Recorder Category 1st place (Junior level) .
These children, who took part in this competition, come from rural farming communities, where their families experience poverty and daily hardships and exposing their children to extra-curricular activities, such as Music, is the last on their list. Providing the opportunity of creative educational programmes at these schools have empowered these children’s lives – giving them confidence, opportunities to experience the satisfaction of achieving a goal and proof that with hard work and perseverance one can achieve success in life and escape a life of poverty.
Here, the Music Project incorporates and leverages on a very successful and acclaimed programme of music education and access. The El Sistema project on which the Music Project is modelled has had many successes internationally.Gustavo Dudamel, current musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, had his beginnings in El Sistema. According to Dudamel, “Music saved my life and has saved the lives of thousands of at risk children in Venezuela…like food, like health care, like education, music has to be a right for every citizen”.
| Worldship Orchestra joins Music Project The children and team of teachers of the Music Project will be joined by Worldship Orchestra of Japan whose aim is to take music to less privileged children for a series of concerts this August.Worldship Orchestra will join the Music Project children to conduct a series of workshops and free public performances on August 26 at the Corporate Hall Killinochchi at 4.30 p.m. and on August 27 at Jaffna University Auditorium at 4.30 p.m.They conclude their tour in Colombo with a partner performance with the National Youth Orchestra of Sri Lanka at the Navarangahala Hall free and open to the public on August 28 at 6.30 p.m. Members of the public who wish to donate or find out more about this uplifting programme can visit | |