Visakha Vidyalaya choir bags awards in Macau
The senior choir of Visakha Vidyalaya Girls’ School Colombo shone on the international stage when they bagged Silver awards in the Sacred, Open and Forklore music categories at the 4th International Macau Choir Festival and Competition held in China last month. The competition held from recently saw the Visakhian choir trained and directed by musician, Rohan De Lanerolle.
Members of the senior choir of Visakha Vidyalaya
“This experience improved our choir by leaps and bounds given the fact that all the other choirs we competed had much more experienced and senior members. Taking part in competitions like this was routine for them whereas it was a new experience for us, being schoolgirls. We had three months to prepare and we even ended up practising on the street outside our hotel at 12 midnight the day before the open category, which led to a ‘noise complaint’ from a hotel guest! I think all of this added to the experience and truly contributed to our growth as a choir and as a team,” said Lihini Samarasinghe, Choir Leader of the school.
“We originally planned to have a concert earlier this year in June but with the tragic events in April, it had to be cancelled. Then we decided to take part in this competition in August so we submitted our application, sent in an audition video and were selected to compete,” added Lihini.
For Rohan who stepped in to train the choir, it was his first time in being involved locally with a school choir. “What has impressed me most about the girls is their attitude and application and the adaptation to what I need from them; not forgetting that they respect each other no matter what. This was the criteria for their success and it is my belief that if we can continue this, we will achieve better things,” he says.
The senior choir of Visakha Vidyalaya comprises 17 singers and two accompanists.
The choristers include Lihini Samarasinghe(Leader), Sayuni Joseph, Lihini Amarasinghe(Vice Leader), Rushini Thanthiriwatta (Vice Leader), Sanali Berugoda, Ama Jayasinghe, Mandini Jayawardana, Theruni Indrapala, Ushira Jayaweera, Sarisha Senanayake, Danuki Perera, Seneja Pathirana, Ranudi Pilapitiya, Malki Doranegoda, Senithi Dissanayake, Ruwangi Jayasuriya, Kushali Athukorala, with accompanists Vihangana Kandage and Chanuthi Karunatilake.
“Without our choir director, none of this would have been a possibility including Miss Kalani Nimeja, Mrs. Ruchira Perera and Mrs. Wasanthika Samarasena, our teachers-in-charge gave us unwavering support and guidance and our Principal, Mrs. Sandamali Aviruppola was our pillar of strength. Dharshi Perera helped us out with our music and most importantly, Neranjan de Silva, arranged all our music,” a grateful Lihini said.