Sri Lanka’s only concert wind band, the Colombo Wind Orchestra, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a special concert on September 9, at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, under the baton of Keiko Kobayashi.

Ms. Kobayashi who is currently the principal conductor of the Japan Wind Ensemble, has conducted many celebrated wind orchestras including the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. She is also known to Sri Lankan audiences as a guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of
Sri Lanka.

The audience on the 9th will be able to savour the rich sounds of a modern wind orchestra representing the entire range of wind instruments from the piccolo flute through oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba and saxophone, in addition to percussion and double bass.

The programme for the concert at the Wendt consists of a mix of major works for wind orchestra such as Alfred Reed’s ‘Armenian Dances’ and the delightful ‘English Folksong Suite’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with lighter works such as the sparkling ‘Merry-go-Round’ by Philip Sparke and the lilting ‘Caribbean Dance’ by Alfred Reed. One of the highlights will be a ‘Sri Lankan Dance Medley’ arranged for the orchestra by leading French horn player Saman Kularatne.

The audience can be assured of an enthralling musical experience with Keiko Kobayashi at this anniversary concert. Tickets are available at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

 

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