 Voice Print wins medals in China
by Mahes Perera
Choral singing is now in vogue in Sri Lanka.
Voice Print a ten-member choral outfit comprising past students of
St. Benedict’s College, Colombo triumphantly returned home after winning
two medals at the World Choir Games held in Shaoxing, China. Voice Print
won the Silver medal in the Pop music category and the Bronze medal in
the Sacred Music category.
 The choir that specialises in nine part acapella, sang songs by
Frankee Lymon, Queen, Michael Jackson and also Lahiru Perera’s popular
Rambari, in the Pop music category. Competing in the Sacred music
category, Voice Print sang excerpts from Mozart, Bach, James Stevens and
Fr. Marcelline Jayakoddy’s Namo Mariyani. Consequent to the competition
the choir was invited to perform at three Gala concerts at which the
popular choirs who participated in the competition were featured.
The choir according to the leader “was accompanied by a four-piece
band comprising highly talented Sri Lankan musician who had the crowd on
their feet every time they performed.”
Voice Print’s progressive baila version of Rambari was so popular at
the Choir Games village that they had to perform in “at every nook and
corner canteen and concert”.
An invitation to tour Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and Russia
is on the cards for Voice Print and they will be leaving for this tour
after their concert in Colombo in September which the choir is looking
forward to.
The leader of the group Michael Sathasivam said that at this concert
Voice Print will perform the same repertoire they sang at the World
Choir Games. Also this will be their way to say ‘thank you’ to the Sri
Lankans who had confidence in Voice Print and backed them to win the
competition. The concert will be held in the second week of September
and will include local artistes who are friends and have been supporters
of the group since its inception.
Voice Print have been singing since 2006 and they perform many
different types of music from Folk, Swing, Be-Bop, R+B, Jazz, Rock and
Roll, Gospel to Ethnic Music. They’ve had their fair share of popularity
here in Sri Lanka and now they are gearing themselves to hit high spots
globally. |
