From Mozart to Metallica

The newly established Benedictine Choral outfit is set to enthrall audiences reports Salma Yusuf

“Voice.Print”– the newly established past Benedictine Choral outfit is all set to produce Up Where We belong – a choral concert that will include a variety of music encompassing the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s right through to contemporary styles.

The concert will include live performances by a select few of the top notch choral outfits in the country with “Voice.Print” being the main act.

“We will be backed by a full-fledged Chamber Orchestra conductor Manilal Weerakoon of the Colombo Symphony Orchestra .

The rock band that will back the choir will comprise musicians from recognised pop bands in the country.

The highlight of the show, however, will be the fusion drum artistes to add spice and variety to the singing,” Michael Sathasivam, Director of the Choral Outfit explains.

Who's behind the show?
“Voice. Print” is a culmination of a longstanding desire by the past choristers of St. Benedict's College to continue the great tradition of the college, and form a group of singers and musicians whose common interest was singing.

The choir now comprises about 40 members from all walks of life–bankers, IT professionals, designers, advertising executives and school leavers.

Having sung with various other choirs such as the Sri Lanka Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Cantata Singers, Camerata Singers, Colombo Catholic Youth Choir and Merry-An-Singers, they have now come together as one group, meeting weekly at the college hall to gather around the same piano they're all so familiar with, to make music.

“The technical definition of a “Voice Print ” is a graphical impression of a persons voice on paper (like a footprint). We aim to create a lasting impression on the people who listen to our music,” Michael elaborates. The image of the choir under the leadership of several young generations of musicians has morphed musically from a choir that performed mostly classical music to a choir that performs all types of music ranging from Barbershop, Plantation, Folk, Swing, Be-Bop, R&B, Jazz, Rock & Roll and Ethnic music.

They now perform everything from Mozart to Metallica!

All music for the show is arranged by Dilan Irugalbandara–Music Director, and will be conducted by Krishan Rodrigo.

St. Benedict’s College Choir, founded in the early 1900s, is today one of the top choirs in the country and has won much acclaim with lovers of classical choral singing.

For this concert, they will perform a brilliant renditions of Meatloaf's “I Would Do Anything for Love” and also KC & Jojo’s all-time hit “All My Life” along with some other great 70’s music.

CharlesMark - award winning duo Rukshan Mark and Bertram Charles who have put Sri Lankan music on the world stage with their original music compositions, will undoubtedly be one of the attractions of the evening.

Having won many international awards and gained recognition for their debut Album “Surangana,” their music is heard on all radio and TV stations and was on the Sri Lankan music charts for a long time.

They will perform “I Wanna Hold You” one of their original compositions, backed by Voice.Print and also “Make a Wish”, another original which will be performed live for the first time.

The Festival Orchestra consists of 25 selected members of the Colombo Symphony Orchestra who are conducted by Manilal Weerakon.

They have performed with the Benedictine Choir on many occasions and will be accompanying them in most of the items at the show.

All the music is arranged and directed by Manilal Weerakoon and Navin Fernando.

The orchestra will also feature the Sri Lanka Army Bagpipers, who will perform the Bee Gees hit “Alone.”

The back-up band for the guest choirs will comprise both past and present Benedictines, who have come together to form a beat band for the show. The band consists of Pathum Fernando from ‘Sound Journey’ on Lead guitar, Shivantha Fernando on Bass, Shane John on Acoustic drums and Sandeep John on keyboards.

Also featured on percussion will be a drum artiste troupe on traditional Sri Lankan drums adding an ethnic flavour to a number of folk songs to be performed.

The show is set to go on board at the Lionel Wendt on September 23 and 24. The show billed to be a hit, it’s got something in it for one and all!