The Cantata Singers will present excerpts from Samson, the Messiah and Oratorios by Handel in a programme at the Kollupitiya Methodist Church on Friday, August 15 at 7 p.m.
Jaliya Senanayake, Laknath Seneviratne and Asanka Perera are the soloists in this programme with Navin Fernando (trumpet), Ayesha Casie Chetty (piano) and Neranjan de Silva (organ) as accompanists.
Jaliya made his debut as a tenor in the Cantata Singers presentation of Cantate Domino in July 2006. He was the solo tenor in Purcell’s Ode to St Cecilia’s Day. He recently attended the Eton Choral Summer Course in the United Kingdom and sang at King’s College Cambridge with the workshop choir and also in a programme with the BBC.
A pupil of Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu, Jaliya has distinctions in the Performers Certificate (Trinity College London) and in Grade 8 (Royal School of Music). He was also a member of the chorus of the opera “Pearl Fishers”, by Bizet, staged in Sri Lanka in January 2008, by the Neemrana Music Foundation.
Laknath was leader of the Royal College Choir in 2003 and trained the choir in 2004. A student of Mary Anne David from 1996 to 2002, he continues his singing as a pupil of Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu and joined the Cantata Singers in 2004. He has a Performer’s Certificate (Trinity College London) in singing and was a prize winner in 2007. He was also a member of the chorus of the opera “Pearl Fishers” and in the Indian production of the opera “Carmen” staged in April 2008 in New Delhi, India. He has achieved a pinnacle in his studies - Law, and will be leaving for his Masters in Law later this year at the University College London.
Asanka Perera started his musical career in the Thomian choir as a young boy of seven and was leader of the choir from 2001 to 2004 and is grateful to Russel Bartholomeusz who trained him for that position. Asanka trained with Ruwani Seimon – and sings both as a bass and when required as a tenor. He is an Associate of Trinity College London. He is also a member of The Revelations male voice choral group. He is now the Associate Director of the Cantata Singers.
Jaliya, Laknath and Asanka join the chorus of Cantata Singers in excerpts from Samson and Messiah. It is a special performance to thank these young singers for their association with the Cantata Singers. The performance is also to thank Premila Perimpanayagam, now Rajendra, for her contribution as accompanist over the years to the Cantata Singers as she migrates to Canada.
Entrance is by programme (Rs.200) which will be available at the entrance of the Kollupitiya Methodist Church. | 
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