To sing and sing and teach others to sing

By Roshan Peiris

Mary Ann David is one of the most il- lustrious singers and teachers Sri Lanka has produced. But thankfully she does not indulge in histrionics as most artistes are wont to do. Nature has equipped her with an ingenuous charm, and a pair of mischievous laughing grey green, eyes.

"My husband insists my eyes are brown brown and brown," she says, smiling. Yet, there's an astonishing intensity when she talks of singing and teaching singing.

Lorraine Abeysekera (nee Forbes) was Mary Ann's first singing teacher at the age of 15. With rare humility and the freshness and directness of a child she says, "I am what I am today because of her."

Singing, Mary Ann said, was in her genes. "Both my father and mother were good singers. My father had the most beautiful baritone but wasted it singing only in the bath. Mummy was a great singer and sang with the original Oriana Singers conducted by Raymond Adlen. She was also a member of the Catholic Choral Society."

Both her parents, she recalled, never pushed her though her singing talents were discernible whenever she took part in school concerts at Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya.

"I was always fascinated by singing. What was most fascinating were the vocal exercises and I must say Lorraine was one of the most beautiful singers that Sri Lanka has produced."

In school she was fortunate in that she had wonderful teachers such as Estelle De Niese and Iralla Wilson. "They encouraged me and thought that I might be another Maria Callas. Callas, as you know was a superb soprano and I sing soprano too."

At school, though Mary Ann was an outstanding singer and took part in concerts and competitions she never had a lead role as a soloist. "It may have been because I had polio as a baby of 11 months and one leg is shorter than the other." She harboured no bitterness because of it, which is typical of her sunny character.

Her first big public performance was the farewell concert to her teacher Lorraine Abeysekera before her departure to Australia. Mary Ann was 18 and sang Cao nome cheil mio cor from Rigoletto - Man of my dreams. She had a dream debut, receiving ovation after ovation.

This built up her confidence and she next sang with Rathlee Brown, Father Claver Perera and Lylie Godridge, as a soloist in Handel's Messiah with the Cantata Singers. From then on Mary Ann never looked back and her exceptional singing career was assured.

"I did a lot of solo singing with the Philharmonic Choir. I also sang with the Jaran Choir singing Abigail from Nabucco".

At 19 Mary Ann also started teaching singing, taking over Lorraine's eight pupils. She recalls that she was reluctant but Lorraine insisted saying she was the only one who could succeed her as a singing teacher.

Her singing classes, she said, are small since "I am selective about the type of student I take". She teaches pupils singing from the age of five. Her oldest pupil is Srimanthaka Senanayake, (Son of operatic singer Nimal Senanayake) who is also Deputy Conductor of the Merry -Ann singers.

Mary Ann accompanies her pupils on the piano. "I have no paper qualification in piano as such. I did no piano exams, I hate theory but I love playing the piano."

"Singing is an affair of the soul, not of circumstance. I get immense satisfaction in teaching my pupils. It is like watching a twig planted, growing and sprouting leaves and flowers. It is a thrill to watch them winning competitions and above all, enjoying their singing lessons.

"For my choice of a career, even if I were reborn a hundred times, I would want to be a singer and a singing teacher. It is, I believe, a calling."

Mary Ann was emphatic that she was against destructive criticism but believed firmly in constructive criticism.

"Even with my students I indulge only in constructive criticism and a touch of humour. Only the other day I asked a pupil why she was singing like a lady whose dentures are about to come out.

"I laughingly imitated her so there was much bon homie between us.

"This helps to give them confidence and builds up their morale rather than intimidating and destructive criticism."

She will continue teaching singing so long as "God gives me good health and strength."

Mary Ann's lovable disposition and her indestructible dedication makes her special. Her exuberance in teaching singing is most infectious.

She is married to veteran actor Andrew David, who was also a Director at John Keells until retirement.

She has two sons and the second son is both a good singer and an excellent actor, she said.

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