Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

True champs
By Smriti Daniel
These girls are the real thing. They have been recognised as real winners by the international music community, and have in the process put Sri Lanka on the world music map. As if that weren’t enough cause for jubilation, they’re planning to celebrate and you and I are invited.

Sri Lanka made its presence felt last year at the renowned Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, when the choir from Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya was placed second in the Youth Choir category. They competed with 11 other countries for that honour, and trounced choirs from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Israel, the United States of America and Sweden, coming second only to a Welsh choir.

Under the music direction of Soundarie David, this choir has established a reputation for being one of the best in Sri Lanka, and with the win in Wales, can easily lay claim to being among the best Youth Choirs in the world. Sharing the glory are musicians Neranjan De Silva on keyboard, and Christopher Prins on drums. The manager of the group is director Jerome De Silva.

To the outsider the fact that the girls would soon be sitting their A/levels, and then leaving school spelt the end of the HFC choir. Fortunately, the choir chose not to fade away into obscurity, and has instead transformed itself into an ‘all female’ voice ensemble appropriately called Soul Sounds. Since then, they have released a track together with famous artists such as Sir Cliff Richards, Boy George, the Bee Gees and several others in aid of tsunami victims, under the Universal Studio label. The CD titled ‘One World Project’ came right up to No. 4 in the UK charts earlier this year. They have also been invited to sing at many prestigious events, and their repertoire includes Broadway, jazz and semi classics to sacred and secular choral music.

Fans of Soul Sounds will get the chance to join the famous choir for their show, Celebrating Wales, to be held from August 20 to 25 of at the Bishop’s Auditorium. St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa choir will make a guest appearance at the show that promises to feature Soul Sounds’ all new repertoire. Songs from Irwin Berlin, ABBA, the famous Mamma Mia musical as well as a popular Tamil song will feature alongside a medley from the musical Joseph. The choir will also give a rendition of one of their winning songs from Wales, “Mangala Mohotha” by Mignonne Fernando.

Of particular note will be the choir’s first attempt at a cappella – voices without any accompaniment – under the coaching of Shanti Faiia, who has herself had the experience of singing with an a cappella group in the States. The show is packed with entertainment for all. The group’s leader for this season is Andrea Melder, ably backed by Nilanga Jayawickrema. The group was very much in demand during the festive season, and is now busy rehearsing for many performances, including training for another international competition in 2006, which they hope will be a reality. The show is directed by Soundarie David, and produced by the manager of the group, Jerome de Silva.

Top