Mirror

Creating a generation of music lovers

The awards were not just proof of the versatility of the students of the Bhagya Rangakala Institute (BRI), but a testimony to their bright future. Begun just two years ago this music and dance academy has progressed in quality and quantity over a very short span of time. From 60 pupils the institute now has over 200 from age four to 60 years.

While preparing students upto the diploma level for the Trinity Guildhall Examination, the BRI choir won the Best Choir in 2007 and 2008 at the Sri Lanka Festival for the Performing Arts affiliated to the British and International Federation of Festival for Music, Dance and Speech UK Annual Competition Festival. Its dancing troop too has made its mark as one of the leading institutes in the country. The BRI Senior dancing troop won a gold medal at the Sri Lanka Festival of Music, Dance and Speech in 2007 while the junior team won the same in 2008.

The co-founders Ian Anuradha Jayasinghe and Vasana Prasangika Thalgahagoda, who are also teachers and trainers of BRI say that their aim is to develop a generation which has a love for good music and dancing. With this aim, the academy is training choirs with harmony singing and to play piano, organ and guitar while in dancing it trains a variety of styles including Kandyan, Bharatha, free-styles and social dancing. The BRI choir sings in churches and at other functions while its dancing troop is popular for their performance in popular television shows.

Ian, a musician and a singer himself was trained under Rev. Fr. Clever Perera and Mr. Francis de Almeida and he is also the Choir Trainer at Gateway International School, Negombo. His music direction and theme song done for the Sinhala version of the 'Scoobydoo' cartoon telecast on Sirasa was an instant hit among children and adults. Ian also did the theme song for 'Andamanda Doopatha' a TV programme in the same channel.

Becoming a dancer and a dancing teacher was a childhood dream for Vasana. Having learnt upcountry, low-country and Bharatha, she turned to music as a pianist under Ms. Virginia Fernando and Ms. Qurera. She had done choreography for a number of TV shows including 'Rangadhara' on TNL and 'Manohari' in Rupavahini which were produced by internationally acclaimed TV programmer and producer, Ravindra Munasinghe. Vasana has now turned to film choreography. "I always wanted to share whatever I have learnt with a younger generation and BRI is one of the dreams that I have realised," says Vasana.

Behind the success story of BRI is also Ms. Bhashini Herath, talented dancing teacher who trains the dancing groups.

BRI Talent show

A dancing, music and theatre concert, the much awaited annual talent show by the pupils of Bhagya Rangakala Institute will be held on December 21 at 6.30 pm at the Town Hall auditorium, Negombo. With nearly 15 items of dance, music, harmony singing and playing, the colourful event will have the participation of over 150 pupils.

The show will be repeated in Kandy at Trinity College Hall at 6.30 pm on December 28.

 
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