Visakhians rejoice with their voice!
by Nilma Dole
For the first time in history,
Sri Lanka took great pride in proving to the world that they can sing
their hearts out just as their musical counterparts around the world.
And the choir singers were not major professionals who made music their
career but students who were actually sitting for their OL and AL
examinations whilst singing.
The singers came in the form of the junior and senior girls of
Visakha Vidyalaya who, armed with only practice sessions every Wednesday
evening, went on to win the Gold Diploma award at the 8th Malaysian
Choral Eisteddfod 2010 international choir competition held recently.
 The choral director Sanjeev Jayaratnam and head of music at Visakha
Vidyalaya Vajira Nanayakkara were the pillars of strength for the girls
to make sure they took the limelight with their singing! Nanayakkara
said, “It’s not all about the studying and pressuring your children to
pass with flying colours in their studies - music actually makes a
child, a well-balanced individual.” Despite the obstacles in gaining
approval for students from a government school to attend such a
prestigious and international competition, they managed to make it in
time to sing eloquently.
“Even though we had a fund-raising concert to collect money for this
competition, as of now, there is a dearth of sponsorships that hamper
the potential for us to go one level higher” she said. She added, “The
choir started in 1990 and managed to keep their momentum with great
coaching by the late Lylie Godridge, Eshantha De Andrado and Willie
Godridge. I thank them very much for laying the foundation for choir
singing at Visakha Vidyalaya”.
The pavilion of 8th Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod 2010 is focused on
the international choir competition that has four categories, oone for
Children, two for Youth and one for folklore.
About the competition itself, choral director Jayaratnam, who is part
of our Sri Lankan all-male choir the Revelations ranked the 4th best
choir group in the world, said, “By coming from a school where you study
full-time and sing part-time, where competition is tight with many
international choir groups having full-time singers and with an
international judging panel at the Choral Eisteddfod, these girls
certainly proved that they could overcome all odds to take home a Gold
Diploma!”
Menaka Sahabandu, an old girl gave her support by accompanying the
girls on the vocal journey too.
Speaking to the Sunday Observer magazine was one of the choir
singers, Surincilli Fernando, who said, “Even though I will be sitting
for the AL this August and even though the competition was held in the
midst of my study leave, it was a refreshing break that made me feel
motivated to sing and take studying as it came along without any
pressure.” She added, “ It’s difficult that most girls are pushed into
performing academically, shunning all creative aspirations aside all
because their parents want them to outperform others.”
Also adding her comments was Roshana Cooray who managed to sit for
her London AL exam by participating with the choir just days before her
exam. She said, “It wasn’t easy for all of us to see the talent on
display from the other choirs but we managed to discipline ourselves,
hold our head high and hit the right notes. Luckily, we won a Gold
Diploma for a school that doesn’t even have a tradition of choir
singing!”
By taking an example from these energetic and motivated girls, the
smile on their faces when they sing and the wonderful harmony exuding
from them, parents should realise that its not all about the books and
academia that turns a child into a well-balanced individual. It’s about
creativity and talent to make a child relax and enjoy going to school by
humming a tune!
Pic: Kavindra Perera
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