Arts
Musical mission
Metho Cantanti
Methodist College is a name well known to most Colombo folk, and rightly so considering the school has been around for 150 years! The GREF Society of MethodistCollege however may not ring a bell. Made upof loyal old girls who banded together in the name of amuch loved principal of yesteryear Grace Robins ( GREF stands for Grace Robins Endowment Fund), the GREF Society works dedicatedly for the school,for a cause close to their hearts – to help needy current students.
It is to raise funds for this worthy cause that the GREF Society of Methodist College will present ‘Musical Mosaic’ an evening of melodic songs and instrumental delights on Saturday, June 10 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre at 7 p.m.Taking the stage is quite a dazzling line-up, many of them old girls who are more than delighted to do their bit for the school.
They don’t fall into the old girl category but The De Lanerolle Brothers,Rohanand Ishan have a strong connection to the school, Rohan’s wifeNeyomibeing an old girl.The duohavingreturned late-May after an exciting tour of Italy where they performed in Venicewith a48-piece orchestra, and having just completed a concert with virtuoso Rohan de Silva are sure to thrill the audience with their renditions of pop songs from the 60s,70sand 80s.
De Lanerolle brothers
Dr. Prashanthi Mendis brings her own particular magic to the stage in the form of Caribbean steel drums, which she describes as ‘a unique instrument in that it is not arranged in any scale sequence’. She is the only exponent of this art in Sri Lanka which requires much agility and emotion. Dr. Prashanthi plays ‘with a lot of feeling in my heart’ and though not an old girl of Methodist, was happy to contribute when roped in by her friend Indrani Wijesundera, director of Friends in Harmony who will accompany her on the piano, along with saxophonist Roshan Weerasekera.
Prashanthi Mendis
Delighted to perform for such a worthy cause, Dr. Priyeshni P. Perera, thewell known pianist will be joined by cellist Saranga Ashen Cooray and the classically trained tenor Vasantha Kumara Geekiyanage. Priyeshni, a past student of Methodist College, is the only Sri Lankan to hold a doctorate in music education and has presented recitals in the US, Australia, Singapore and South Korea. Currently heading the Prestantia Music School, she has selections from the musicals for the evening as well as some solo piano transcriptions from an old Broadway musical ‘Girl Crazy’.
Priyeshni P. Perera
Asteria directed by Prashalini Peiris have made their name as the choir of past students and graced many local stages since their inception in 2010 underMahen Peiris, Prashalini’s husband. After his untimely death last September, Prashalini took over the choir made up of old girls some of whom trained underMahen when he was the school’s Choir Director. “The school gave us so much, what better way for us to give back,” says Prashalini. They will perform two medleys –from Whitney Houston and the other which she calls ‘Idolmania’ – a collection of love songs drawn from different seasons of the American Idol show.
Metho Cantanti, is the official past pupils choir of Methodist College and its founder Anagi Perera tells us that the name simply means Metho Singers (Cantanti translated from Italian). Along with fellow director Manique Abeyratne, Anagi trains the choir in a wide repertoire from the pops to classical. Metho Cantanti have a busy schedule of performances but are looking forward to singing for their alma mater and will present a Broadway medley as well as a pop medley drawn from Katy Perry favourites.
Mayanthi De Silva. Pic by Yemindri Perera
Also a past student of Metho, Mayanthi de Silva says it is a ‘big deal’ for her to be performing for such a cause and contributing in whatever way she can. A member of Asteria, Mayanthi has embracedtheatre in many forms, from plays to musicals and has been in recent productions by The Workshop Players. Looking to leave the audience with a positive message of empowerment, the young singer will perform what she describes as powerhouse songs fromartistes such as Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Andra Day.
And looking to the future the programme also includes the bright young stars of tomorrow – the Junior Choir of MC.
With such a varied cast of performers, Musical Mosaic promises a heartwarming evening of music and more importantly, a chance for everyone to contribute to uplifting a deserving young student.
Tickets priced at Rs. 3,500, 3,000, 2,500, 2,000 and 1,500 (all reserved) are available at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.
| Helping students fulfill their potentialMano Perera, the President of GREF Society of Methodist College and her committee are on a mission with Musical Mosaic. Deeply appreciative of the great impact their school had on their lives, these past students are dedicated to ensuring that young students of Methodist College today will have the opportunities they had to fulfil their potential in school and in later life.The GREF is used to help students who are unable to meet their financial commitments adequately. Financial assistance is provided to deserving students recommended by the Principal and staff by way of scholarships and bursaries.” It is also our vision to help students develop to their fullest potential intellectually, socially and emotionally by assisting the school in conducting workshops. It is our hope to help the school in developing an ethics-based enviroment in school where students support one another, and are accepting of cultural, racial, religious and economic backgrounds that may be different from their own,” a statement from the GREF Society said. |