“Music is powerful, it can bring people together as well as transform them,” says Professor Andre De Quadros of the Boston University who was in Sri Lanka with the Choir of the Manado State University Indonesia for a series of concerts recently. “Music is something that appeals to people in different ways. A good musician should be able to harness the power of music,” he says.
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| Prof. Andre De Quadros |
Professor De Quadros first met the Manado State University choir 16 years ago, on a visit to Indonesia. Ever since, he has been closely affiliated with the choir and dedicates himself as their trainer and motivator. “The Manado Choir houses an array of different characters and we sing all genres of music; each one of the choristers is inspired and capable of creating soothing music,” he says.
Chairman of the board of ALEA III Contemporary Music Ensemble and the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, also advisor to the Board of the International Federation for Choral Music, Prof. De Quadros is eminently qualified, yet is still humble and approachable and a treat to watch as he conducts the choir .
“Sri Lanka is indeed a unique place, you can’t quite compare the amount of multiculturalism in Sri Lanka with any other country,” he says, explaining that he was invited to visit by the De Lanerolle brothers. Ishan De Lanerolle tells us that it was their pleasure to work with them. The Choir performed at the Galadari Hotel for a sit-in dinner music night, and sang at the School for the Blind to spread their message of peace through music.
“Whenever we are on a tour, we aspire to reach out to people who do not always have the opportunity to listen to music,” the Professor adds. Indeed, the Choir has always made it a point to sing for the soul, and sing for change and touring the United States, they will be singing to inmates at a State Prison.
“The choir does not wear uniforms. It would only suppress individuality. Like I said before, music appeals to different people in different ways and each one of us is different to one another. A musician should always be enjoying himself, for music without self satisfaction it is not music at all,” Professor De Quadros said.
The choir performed in Kandy and Galle as well. |
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