Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Mixing law and music
Soundarie David has a rare career combination - music and law. Having received a post graduate degree from the Royal College of Music, London, she is also a Fellow of the Trinity College of Music. Meanwhile, she has also completed her law degree at the University of Colombo and now is happily at work at the International Centre for Ethnic Studies. Here she tells Marisa de Silva about her passions.

Music: Definitely a passion, something that's grown in her from a young age as she's always been surrounded by music and musicians. Her grandfather was a brilliant organist and her mother who teaches music plays the violin with Soundarie in the Sri Lanka Symphony Orchestra. Her father too although not playing any particular instrument, has perfect pitch she says, whilst her brother is a pro on the flute. So, need we even ask where she gets her talent from?

Playing the piano would rate first on her preference list, with listening to music and training students, in close pursuit. Listening to music of varied types is a favourite pastime, she says. Given her background, classical music would be her obvious choice, especially works of passion from maestros like Chopin and Rachmaninov. Gospel music too, is something she enjoys very much.

Training choirs and small groups is something Soundarie loves. Starting off with the Holy Family Convent Choir (her alma mater), which she has successfully seen through many a performance, Soundarie now has her own little group Soul Sounds which consists of about 10 talented youth who sing at selected weddings and functions.

Academic writing and pursuing her studies: She enjoys her current line of work because it gives her an opportunity to put all the principles she's learnt into practice. "Since law is totally in contrast to music, there's no chance of my dying of boredom. I believe they compliment each other," she laughs. So after a gruelling day at work, she can just go for a rehearsal and forget about work altogether and vice versa.

Setting high goals and standards for herself and striving to achieve them, is what makes her tick.

Besides her relatively serious side, she enjoys playing practical jokes and pranks on her friends and colleagues (this is reaffirmed by her many of her friends and colleagues). From changing the language from English to Chinese or Arabic in friends' mobile phones, diverting numbers to different people's phones, to giving crank calls and bugging the life out of a couple, at the first hint of a romance!

Travelling: Something she loves doing in her very scarce leisure time. More than for the sightseeing and food, she finds meeting and interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures an enriching experience. Also, getting away from her hectic yet enjoyable work schedule is quite a relief sometimes, she adds.

Relationships: She feels strongly about friendships and relationships that she holds most dear to her. "Sometimes even to the extent of being quite possessive," she adds matter of factly.

Frankness: Honesty and frankness matter a lot to her, especially from her friends. She'd rather have it all laid out, than have people talk behind her back, which is something she loathes. "I abide by this principle and insist on all those close to me being as open with me," she says emphatically. She's a devout Catholic who says she owes everything she has to God. She also holds in high esteem, all those who have contributed to making her what she is today.

Teaching: Soundarie also currently teaches at the Asian International School, whilst also undertaking to do musical direction for other schools and drama groups, alongside directors like Indu Dharmasena and Jerome de Silva. "I take great pleasure in bringing out the hidden talents of my students and building up a good rapport with the different casts or choirs I work with," she adds enthusiastically. She also enjoys seeing a production come together - the music, dance and acting joining up and falling into place, she says.

Arranging her own music is something she takes great pride in, especially as she seems to hate following any given arrangement. Given her interest in diverse types of music, from pop to even Tamil music, experimenting is a song.

Back to Mirror Magazine