Inspiring others with her passion
Young musician Nilupul Silva opens her own music school
“Whatever I did with my career, music was always a huge part of me,” says Nilupul Silva, 23, a young musician who’s seeing her dream of pursuing her music and inspiring others coming true with the opening of her very own music school.
Nilupul Silva. Pic by Hasitha Kulasekera
Music is the driving force behind her success. It’s clearly what defines this young woman who is unassumingly humble in her accomplishments as a talented young musician. Playing the piano, violin and Descant and Treble Recorder, Nilupul has had success in many competitions. On the academic front too, she’s done herself proud- she holds a double major in Marketing and Management and is now a part of Unilever Brand Management.
‘Musicalite’, her newly opened school offers piano, violin, recorder, voice training and theory of music lessons. Her hope is to provide inspiration and an opportunity for other youngsters to explore their musical talents. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she says.
The school located on Fife Road, Thimbirigasyaya has Thiwanthi Perera who specialises in vocal training and Sulara Nanayakkara who is a violin teacher alongside Nilupul to teach students.
Nilupul began learning to play the piano aged just three under the guidance of Shirani Weerakkody, who has been her mentor all these years. Aged six, she began studying the violin with Ananda Dabare. She fell in love with the violin, she confesses, and excelling in her exams at the Trinity College of London, Nilupul was awarded a Special Exhibition for her efforts. She became a member of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka in 2002 and talks of the opportunity to perform at the Pearl Fishers opera in 2008.
Her musical talents were also showcased when she represented Sri Lanka at the Asia Orchestra Week in Tokyo Japan 2007. “It was certainly an experience as we got to learn so much and their approach to music is very different and professional,” she said.
If the school seems an ambitious undertaking, there’s more. Nilupul has plans to start a string quartet with young musicians Amal Abeysekara, Sachiththa Fernando and Rochana Ramanayake. This group will perform music ranging from classical to pop.
Nilupul’s idea is to introduce a new style to the performance of classical music as she mixes it with contemporary, jazz and pop music. Her passion for music drives her to change the attitudes held towards classical music.
Ananda Dabare has encouraged Nilupul branching out to find her own music and has remained a tower of strength, she says.
She is thankful to all those who had encouraged her in following her heart. “My ambition was to get here. This is me following my dream,” she says.
If all these instruments aren’t enough, the cello, for which she says she has had a fascination from a young age, is next. Nilupul plans on learning to play this instrument soon.
For her, with music “every day you learn something new. Even if you are teaching beginners, it’s an experience.”
‘Musicalite’, her newly opened school offers piano, violin, recorder, voice training and theory of music lessons. Her hope is to provide inspiration and an opportunity for other youngsters to explore their musical talents.
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