Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Winning sounds
It is rumoured that at one time a conductor actually fainted after learning his choir had won… that is how significant the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is.

This July as Llangollen once again played hosts to the world during its International Musical Eisteddfod, singers, dancers and musicians from across the world gathered at the small Welsh town to form a unique spectacle of colour, harmony and song.

The Senior Choir of Holy Family Convent (HFC) Bambalapitiya, under the musical direction of Soundarie David having won high acclaim from local audiences over the years have earned itself the reputation of being one of the best school choirs in the country. Selected to perform at the prestigious 58th Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, UK, at the Royal International Pavilion, in July 2004, they are the first Sri Lankan choir in history, to be selected to perform at this world-famous event.

Great news! Chosen for the finals in the Youth Choir Category, the choir of Holy Family Convent beat the teams from US, Britain, Australia and several others to make it to second place, an achievement some people compare to winning a silver at the Olympics. Their elation was further heightened when Dinuksha Jayawickreme came in second at the under 16 Vocal Solo category.

The remarkable feature of the Eisteddfod is that each evening the best and most colourful competitors share the stage with professional artistes in renowned concerts. Many of these professional artistes started their careers in Llangollen. Placido Domingo acknowledges that his first professional experience in the United Kingdom was at the 1968 International Eisteddfod, and in 1955 Luciano Pavarotti competed with his father in the male voice choir competition with others from their hometown of Modena.

The choir won their section, and Pavarotti returned for a spectacular concert in 1995. Kiri Te Kanawa, Shirley Bassey, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and the Harlem Gospel Choir, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Lesley Garrett, Bryn Terfel, Dennis O’Neil, James Galway and Montserrat Caballe are among the musical stars that have appeared in the final Gala Concert. This year the best of the festival will sing alongside professional artistes Aled Jones, the Opera Babes and Tiempo De Tango.

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