Music makes you rich from within : Harsha Abeyratne 

Music is a universal language in all forms. The different genres and culture-specific music styles have made it a rich form of art to express emotions and feelings in not one but many ways. Veterans in the family of pianists in Sri Lanka have done wonders by performing at international platforms and out of them Harsha Abeyratne is no exception. Having performed for fundraisers and other charity projects, veteran pianist Harsha Abeyratne will perform the ‘Liszt’s Connection’ in aid of ‘Project Joy’ an initiative focused on starting an epilepsy diagnosis center at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital. Speaking to the Daily Mirror Life, Harsha spoke about his career as a pianist and his concert.

A brief about your career as a pianist?

I just finished my twelfth year as full time music professor at Muskingum University in New Concord, Ohio. My work involves teaching piano students and music theory. I also perform regularly with my colleagues. In addition to that I play solo concerts on a regular basis. I am generally expected to play a new solo program every year. Trying to expose our department is vital for recruiting music students, so I make an effort to play at other universities and venues as well. Prior to this position, I taught at Marshall University in West Virginia and Manchester College in Indiana. I got my Doctorate of Arts in Music with respect to primary and secondary concentrations in piano performance and music theory from Ball State University in Indiana. I call myself a 'late bloomer', as I decided to take a chance with music only after I came to the US to do an undergraduate degree in the sciences. However, the piano studies I had done when I was young in Sri Lanka have been immensely helpful in my getting back on track. Yet, the journey has been tough but fully worthwhile.

What are your preferred genres?

In solo recitals, I like to perform music from all periods. That would mean the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Contemporary periods. I have to say, though, that I have a soft spot for the music of romantic composers, especially that of Franz Liszt. As a collaborative pianist (i.e., performing with singers and instrumentalists), I get the opportunity, again, to play music from different periods, especially those of contemporary times. I also enjoy playing chamber music too.

Events you have performed in?

Most of my performing have been at events at colleges and universities. I am often invited to play as a guest soloist. Again, this helps me to expose my department and me. Having opportunities like this to play in is always a good driving force to practice on a daily basis and to try and keep getting better. Challenges like this are always good for the mind and soul. Obviously, a performance that I will always cherish is my Carnegie Hall debut recital in December of 2012. It was good for my university, me and Sri Lanka as well.

If one wants to proceed as a pianist in Sri Lanka, how is the scope like? Will he/she have a future here or not?

I don't think I have the knowledge to speak about creating careers at home. Yet, artists like Ramya Perera, Ananda Dabare, and Eshantha Pieris, among others, have managed to do so. So, there must be a way. I believe however, that the problem has to do with opportunities for performing. Without that, the drive to practice gets lost. Yet, home does present lots of opportunities for teaching. So, that is always a plus sign. For me, the difference is that I am immersed in a "culture" of music. Music courses are taught during the day, the ensembles rehearse in the afternoons and evening, and concerts take place over the weekends. If we can create an atmosphere similar to this at home, it will be a lot easier for musicians to pursue careers at home.

Also, I think students should look to continue performing once they finish their final piano exams like the LRSM, ATCL, etc., which by the way, is a wonderful accomplishment. It is a shame to have to stop performing once you finish these highly respected exams. Students should look to make a good recording of his or her playing and then try to see if they can send it to nearby places like Singapore, Australia, and Thailand, or even Europe, not to mention the US, to see if they can get opportunities to perform. Sometimes, you just have to take a chance and see. You never know when luck can set in. Sri Lankans are talented musicians and they need to be heard elsewhere.

A brief about your concert.

My concert is titled "Liszt's Connection". So, I am playing the music of Liszt and other composers that in some way had a connection with Liszt, either directly or indirectly. Consequently, the recital will feature the music of Liszt, Mozart, Brahms, Schumann, Chopin, Albeniz, and Rachmaninoff. The bigger works would be Mozart's Sonata K. 330, Schumann's Sonata Op. 22, Chopin's Scherzo No. 1, and Liszt's Mephisto Waltz. It is an ambitious program and will be 80 minutes in length. Also, my performance is a benefit concert and all proceeds will go to starting an epilepsy diagnosis center at the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital. I am very excited to be playing for this wonderful cause.

Your message to all music lovers.

I think music is vital for ourselves and the society we live in.  We need to pursue this passion and never let it die down. Also, research has shown that studying music helps in understanding and mastering other intellectual skills in several domains such as cognitive psychology, linguistics, speech, vocabulary, and memory skills. Being involved with music also boosts social skills. So, especially for kids, it is vital that they be immersed in music. Unfortunately, the arts are not given too much importance all around the world and the first courses to be shut down when schools have financial issues are the arts. Yet, John Medina, in his book "Brain Rules" argues that given the intellectual growth one gets by studying music, it should be one of the last courses standing in schools. By continuing to keep music and other arts alive, all I know is that we will produce healthy and smart citizens. So hats off to those, especially in Sri Lanka, who continue to see such great value in the arts. Regardless of how much money we make, we will always be 'rich' inside!

By Kamanthi Wickramasinghe