Described as a ‘brilliant professional’, Ashan Pillai, a Sri Lankan- born critically acclaimed British Violist will perform along with Sri Lankan pianist Eshantha Peiris on Friday, September 9 at 7.30 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt. The programme ‘Intimate Conversations for Viola and Piano’ will include work for viola and piano by Rebecca Clarke, Ludvig van Beethoven, Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Antonio Vivaldi.
The duets by the two - no frills, no gimmicks - will demand nothing less than your full attention!
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Eshantha |
Ashan Pillai, made his first ever appearance in Sri Lanka in 1998 in the presence of Prince Charles to mark the 50th Anniversary of Independence as soloist with the English Chamber Orchestra.
Winner of many international prizes at various competitions which includes Tertis International Competition (1994), Rome International Competition (1995), the Royal Overseas League Competition (1995), he made his London recital debut as a winner of the Park Lañe Group Series in 1997 and his New York debut at Carnegie Hall, Weill Hall, as a winner of the Artists International Series in the same year. In 2009 he performed for the British Council to celebrate its 60th Anniversary in Sri Lanka.
Having grown up in Colombo, Eshantha Peiris owes his musical foundations to his teachers Ramya de Livera Perera (piano) and Ananda Dabare (violin), and to his involvement with the St. Cecilia’s choir of St. Joseph’s College, his alma mater. After completing a diploma in Piano Performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, a generous talent-development sponsorship from Prima Ceylon Ltd. enabled him to attend New York University’s Steinhardt School from 2003-2008, where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Performance and Composition, studying with Eduardus Halim (classical piano), Marc Consoli, Mark Adamo (classical composition), Ira Newborn (composition for film) and Jim McNeely (jazz). While at NYU, he also served as assistant conductor of the NYU Orchestra, and as an adjunct instructor in the piano department.
Eshantha is currently a conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, co-director of the Old Joes Choir, and director of Contempo Choir. He plays keyboards in the fusion band Thriloka (and the trio The Compound Eye), and is co-founder of the newly established music school Musicmatters where he also curates the fortnightly Big Ears Music Series.
The concert is jointly organised by the British Council and the Sunshine Charity and is presented in partnership with Cinnamon Lakeside, GPR Communications Consultancy, Wijeya Newspapers and YES FM.
The event is organised in support of the Sunshine Charity Day Care Centre in Sambalthivu, Trincomalee.
Tickets are priced at Rs.2000, 1250, 1000, 750 and 250 (balcony) and are on sale at the Lionel Wendt. For more information call Lakmaal on 0114521542 or Ranmali on 0114521538. |
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