Naveen Danushka Kulasinghe was just
10 years old when he sat for the final Visharadha Part II examination in Violin
(eastern music) and got through with a 1st Division pass. He has been following violin lessons since he was five and a half years old.
He studied at Thathsara Sangeeth Vidyalaya in Depanama Pannipitiya which is a local exam
centre affiliated to Bhatkande
Sangeeth Vidya Peet In this five year long Visharada examination, Naveen has successfully completed all four stages; Praveshika, Prathama, Diploma, Visharadha Part I and Visharada Part II.
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| Naveen Danushka Kulasinghe |
This rare achievement,
according to Naveen’s music guru, has made Naveen the youngest Visharadha in the island.
It took a lot of practice and hard work for him to accomplish Visharada Part II, says Naveen in an interview with the Funday Times.
“At the beginning, the practices were held once a week but closer it got to the exam, I had to make it at least four times a week. But
education was my first priority, so I was careful to maintain a balance between my academic life and music. To have got through the Visharadha examination was a big relief and I was proud of myself when I
realized I had come a long way,” he says.
According to Naveen, playing classical Raga is his favourite and for Visharadha finals he had to memorize 12 Ragas. “In music, you have to do something extraordinary. That is why I enjoy Raga because it is not playing just simple notes,” Naveen explains.
The comments he received from the judges were encouraging, he adds. “They said I am a talented boy and that I was using my talents wisely. They also advised me on some areas that I have to further improve on,” Naveen says while saying a big thank you to his music master Visharadha Maestro
Sisira Kumara Marasingha and his parents without whose support this
achievement would not have beenpossible.
It was his parents who first tapped their son’s talents in music during Naveen’s childhood, when he showed a great liking to drumming on the kitchen utensils. They encouraged him to take up violin at the age of five and a half.
He studies both eastern and western music, but the former is what he is good at says a proud Naveen.
A Year Six student at British School in Colombo, Naveen is the junior school head boy. He is also attached to the school choir. Music apart, he is fond of playing football, cricket and tennis, he informs.
Naveen will hold a
public performance in July; mainly for children where his talents in playing
classical Raga music will be displayed. |
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