Spreading their sound

Listening to Soul Sounds always does good things to me – the fine hair on the back of my neck literally stands on end; sometimes I get goose bumps, at other times I catch myself grinning in delight, often my feet tap involuntarily and always, always I am swept away by the pure, jubilant wonder of the music they make.

I'm with the group at their rehearsals for their upcoming concert in Wellawatte, and they sound better than ever – which is fortunate because the Choir Olympics are at hand, and after a final flurry of fund raising they plan on being in Graz, Austria for the 5th World Choir Games. The competition is going to be tough, seeing as the event is already being billed as possibly the largest competition in the history of choral music. Already, 400 ensembles from 90 nations are said to have registered.

The girls, however, are obviously in top form. Having tasted victory once – they won two silver medals in the last Olympics in China, beating out nearly 60 competing choirs – they're now aiming higher. And you can't help cheering them on, not because they're the underdogs but simply because their passion is infectious. They've managed to stay fresh and interesting since their 2004 debut, not least because they've heard, seen and done enough in that time to have made the transition from girls singing together for their school, to professional singers capable of impressing even the most discerning of international audiences. Two CDs under their collective belts and several local and international concerts, including a tour of Australia, a trip to India's renowned Bhakti Utsav festival, and another to Kuwait, have taught them a thing or two about the value of commitment, say the girls, adding that their unity as a choir has only grown.

In fact, this choir seems to be more like a family than anything else. At this rehearsal they tease each other unmercifully, finish each other's sentences, cover for each other on stage, nag, laugh, comfort, cheer on, and simply appear to provide the kind of unquestioning support you would expect from only the closest of friends. Of course, all the camaraderie can be strained sometimes – rehearsing every day of the week (except on Mondays) can take its toll on their cheerful outlook, but the girls believe that what doesn't break them, is not only going to make them stronger, it's going to bring them closer together.

Ranging in age from 13 to 27 years, almost all the girls are or were students at Holy Family Convent in Bambalapitiya. In more recent times, the choir has recruited members from outside the school alumni. In keeping with this expansion, they've also collaborated with several other artists over the last few years. The one they seem to have enjoyed most may have been their week with Prof. Mark Wilson from U.C Berkeley. As an aficionado of Gospel music, Prof. Wilson taught them the importance of "really feeling" what they were singing, instead of relying entirely on technical expertise, say the choir, adding that it's been a lesson they've put to good use every day since.

Soundarie David directs, drives and inspires her choir. She can be unrelenting, they say, in her quest for perfection, and she tends to set her standards high and keep them up there.

Her faith in their potential has helped them polish their performances to a high gloss. Jerome de Silva plays artistic director to the group, and it's obvious that they love him, though he has been known to ask the impossible of them. Neranjan de Silva (sound engineer and keyboardist) and Christopher Prins (drums and percussion) complete a very talented team.

You can look forward to sampling a slice of Soul Sounds current repertoire at The Glorious Quest, which will feature Soul Sounds in concert, singing an invigorating selection from gospel, pop, jazz, classical and Sinhala music genres. Funds raised from ticket sales will help finance the choir's participation in the World Choir Games later next month. The Glorious Quest is on at the Lionel Wendt on June 9, from 7.30 pm onwards. Tickets available at the Lional Wendt from June 2. Suntel is the corporate sponsor for the event.

Catch the Soul Sounds Junior and Intermediate Choirs in We Are One on June 7, at the British School. Ranging in age from five to 18 years, the choirs will dazzle with selections from Broadway and hit Disney musicals. Tickets are available from June 2, at the British School.