Tri-Nation concert for Peace this evening

A Tri-Nation concert for Peace presented by The Voice by Ishan De Lanerolle with the Ao Naga Choir, India and the Fricilia mixed choir, Indonesia along with the senior choir of Visakha Vidyalaya will be held this evening, Thursday, October 31 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from 7.30 p.m.

Rohan De Lanerolle is the artistic director of the two foreign choirs and the director of the senior choir of Visakha Vidyalaya. He conducts the concert along with well-known pianist Sureka Amerasinghe and orchestral expert Neranjan De Silva collaborating.

“We are performing different genres of music from a vast span. Some are going down to the 16th century and also modern music. It is a collection of so many genres. All speak of peace. It is all about love, peace and harmony," said Rohan

"Further if you look at Asia, we have gone through a lot in terms of terrorism and violence. Thereby this idea came to me with the thought of uniting for peace, love and harmony through music. I urge the governments of these countries to give maximum support they could, specially in term of finance as it has not been easy, ” said Rohan.

“This is the first time we will be performing in Sri Lanka and it is one of the countries I love the most. We feel blessed to come here to perform in aid of spreading peace. This is the third performance we will be doing internationally. We will be singing the national anthems of Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia, together, thereby the unity of these three countries we are exhibiting on stage is very special," said Fricilia Rumajar, Founder and coach and Leonardo Kumayas, Chorister of the Indonesian, the Fricilia Mixed Choir from Monado, North Sulawesi Indonesia.

"The fact that the three cultures and languages of the three countries are very different to each other, it’s been a challenge to adapt ourselves to it. We sincerely wish the audience will enjoy, along with their family and friends. We are singing together, bringing nations together!" 

"The Ao Naga Choir will be celebrating 10 years this November and it is very special for the 20 of us to communicate peace through the talent of music, we are gifted to cherish,” added Lanutemsu Yaden, Founder and Manager of the Ao Naga Choir from Northeast India based in New Delhi.

(Reporting by Meleeza Rathnayake)