Nilupul determined to share her artistry

by Mahes Perera

It is a common belief that music is communication, creativity and co-operation and according to Bill Clinton "by studying music in schools, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich their lives and experience the world from a new perspective." Having acquired these skills with accolades Nilupul de Silva opened her school of music Musicalite recently to enrich the lives of her students to spread her knowledge and experience to them and thereby give them the opportunity of living their dreams.

A violinist with the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, Nilupul is also a pianist and versatile in playing the Dessant and Treble Recorder which she acquired under the tutelage of Sonali de Silva and Surekha Amerasinghe.

Question: With so many music schools around us do you find a need for more schools of classical music?

Answer: Of course. We have so many young and talented musicians who need instruction and guidance and need to interact with others to gain maximum benefit in the study of classical music.

Q: How different is your method of teaching? Generally we are accustomed to hearing tutors giving lessons on a one to one basis, which you will agree could sometimes upset the emotional balance of the pupil or the teacher. What is the method in this school? Do you have groups of students? What about teachers and are your classes on a daily basis?

A: As for the method it is important first to understand the child's ability to play by ear, able to read notation. Some are good at improvising. Each one has a different identity and it is important that as a teacher you have to recognise the students' abilities and work on them. I do most of the teaching. For vocal I have Thivanthi Perera to handle this area and also piano and violin and Shulara Nanayakkara who handles the violin instructions.

Q: Which composer's music do you enjoy playing the most and why?

A: The music of Mozart specially on piano. I understand the music better. In fact when I was studying for my A Levels I had the music of Mozart in the background. To me it is melodious and inspiring.

Q: As a performer are you concentrating only on the violin, what about the piano? Have you performed as a solo pianist with the Sri Lanka Symphony Orchestra? If not, do you hope to have a performance in the near future?

A: I'm more towards the violin. If I get the chance to perform, yes, I would like to do that.

Q: In 2007, you were selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Asia Orchestra Week in Tokyo. What was it all about?

A: It was an annual event in Tokyo and there was a concert with the Tokyo orchestra with musicians from Sri Lanka and India. We were a joint orchestra conducted by a Japanese conductor. The repertoire was classical music.

Q: You say that music is your passion. You also say that you are attached to Uni Lever in the field of Brand Management, how are you able to give of your time to both?

A: Currently, I'm on a career break, so I decided to go on this line. Ever since I was 14 years I wanted to do this, start a school and share my artistry with the others.

In her music career Nilupul de Silva has escalated since the tender age of three when she learnt the piano under the tutelage of Shanika de Mel and later under Shirani Weerakkody. A silver medallist of the Trinity College London examinations, she now holds an Associate Diploma in violin. Alongside her piano studies, Nilupul studied the violin under the expert guidance of Ananda Dabare and now holds an Associate Diploma in violin from the Trinity College of Music in London.

Now a member of the Sri Lanka Symphony Orchestra which she joined in 2002, she plays first violin and has performed at all the many significant performances of the Orchestra.

She is also a member of the Krasna Music Ensemble under the baton of Ananda Dabare and participates in his String Quartet. Nilupul is in the throes of initiating her own string quartet which will perform music ranging from classical to pop music.

She will have with her Amal Abeysekera, Sachiththa Fernando and Rochana Ramanayake.

The string quartet will become a reality soon.