Happenings / People

Leading lights at Peace Concert

by Mahes Perera

A 'Peace Concert' featuring Annesley with the Super Chimes and leading stars of the Sri Lankan music scene will be presented by the Past Pupils Association of St. Thomas' College, Kotte.

The concert will be staged at the Elphinstone Theatre on Sunday July 16 commencing 6.30 p.m. It's going to be a grand musical show that should not be missed.

The leading lights are Indrani Perera, Keerthi Pasquel, Sohan Weerasinghe, Rajiv Sebastian, Ronnie Leitch and Corinne Almeida. The singers will be performing many of their original songs and they will be backed by Annesley and the Super Chimes.

The Past Pupils have also invited three great names in the oriental music industry to participate _ Malkanthi Nandasiri, Nirmala Ranatunge and Niranjala Sarogini, themselves past students of the College. Their contribution to the music scene has earned them a great deal of popularity.

Annesley Malawana's Super Chimes, the most sought after band in town comprises Amal Silva - on bass and vocals, Dimantha Seneviratne - keyboards, Channa Athlage - lead guitar, Jagath Kulasinghe - drums and vocals, and keyboardist of repute Mahesh Silva. The show will be compered by Faizal Bongso.

The Peace Concert is a fund raiser in aid of the Cultural Sports fund of the College, and the concert at Elphinstone Theatre is sponsored by the Sunday Observer, Suntel, Westerns Air Express and Derana. Tickets are available at Clancy's, Rhythm & Blues, H2O and at the College.

A much awaited second concert

At their premiere concert last year The Cantando Cello Ensemble's performance was a delight to the audience, and the group makes a welcome second appearance with a program that covers a wide range of styles and periods.

The concert is on Tuesday July 11 at the Lionel Wendt, and to the classical music lover the Eansemble's program will include Bach's 'Air on a G String', Dvoralis 'Slavonic Dances', Rachmninovs 'Vocalise; The composition by Villa Lobos the 'Bachianas Brasileiras No 5' for soprano and an orchestra of Celli, receives its Sri Lankan premiere at this concert and will feature Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu Soprano.

The Cello Ensembler directed by Dushy Perera comprises besides Dushy, Rashika Perera, Tamara Holsing, Amila Abeysekara, Namali Fernando, Kamani Perera, Oshan Gunawardana, Joy Butscher, Sasini Chandrasinghe and Savini Chandrasinghe, all of whom are members of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka. Included in the program will be a quartet performance at 'Gallop' by the jazz composer Bolling and played by Kamini Perera - Cello, Dushy Perera - bass, Soundarie David - Piano and Christopher Pris.

The Cantando Cello Ensemble has chosen the music of Leonard Beinstein's 'West Side Story' to end their concert with, in particular the haunting ballad 'Tonight'. The guest spot at the concert will feature Ramya de Livera Perera - Piano.

The Box plan is at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.

M. P.

Wheel Chair Dancers' Federation to be launched

Ballroom dancing now reaches out to the 'differently abled' persons, promoted by the Ballroom Dancers' Federation International - Sri Lanka. In keeping with their slogan 'Look beyond yourself through dancing' the BDFI launches the Wheel Chair Dancers' Federation on Saturday July 22.

The Chairman of BDFI, Christopher Quyn expressed the view that this will not only serve the 'differently abled' persons, but will also be a recreational activity for the elderly dance lovers who cannot be on their feet for a long time."

At the Annual General Meeting of the BDFI International held recently, in conjunction with the spectacular Blackpool Dance Festival where twenty four member countries participated, it is reported that BDFI Sri Lanka received praise and recognition, for their commitment in promoting teachers, students and dance lovers in Sri Lanka.

BDFI intends creating an opportunity to all its members to witness the next Blackpool Dance Festival in May 2007 for a week of spectacular dancing.

In mid July, BDFI will stage the 'Dance Better' project with a view of promoting correct techniques and good dancing in Latin and Standard, as well as in the Viennese Waltz. The techniques in the Waltz dance has been changed, in that the dance is a combination of German and Austrian style.