Canadian born Sri Lankan pianist Deepani de Alwis was the winner of the Canadian Licenciate National Gold Medal for Piano for 2015 from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She began her study in music at the tender age of four under the guidance of her mother Ranjani de Alwis, who is also a piano teacher. She received her education at Ladies' College and the Colombo International School in Sri Lanka and later at St. George’s English School in Italy. 

She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Musical Study from the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Scotland and has performed numerous times in many recitals and concerts. 

Deepani, currently in Sri Lanka, will be hosting a piano concert this September in aid of the children of The Music Project. 

What inspired you to become a pianist? 
I think I was always one. I got a toy piano ever since I could sit up and my mother was a piano player so I heard music before I was even born. I can’t really put my finger as to when my career as a pianist began. I had formal piano lessons at 4 and when I realised I wasn’t really interested in anything else other than piano. I had a bit of an ‘aha!’ moment when I was doing my diploma in Italy and I got to do some work on my own. 

You received the Canadian National Gold Medal for Licenciate Piano in 2015. What did that signify to you?
Winning that award elevated my morale. I mean I had no idea I could do that. I was ill at that time so my morale was down and when this happened it really boosted my morale. It also gave me more recognition and opportunity in the music industry because it is such a prestigious award. 

The difficult part is that I now have to keep it up! 

What inspires you?
I am inspired for no reason at all. It all depends on the mood I am in. 

You are doing a show in aid of The Music Project. What made you decide you wanted to help the cause?
I didn’t hear about the Music Project until a friend of mine sent me a message and asked if I could help her out. I was confused about how I could help at first and then thought ‘oh maybe I could do a show’ and raise funds. 

The Music Project is about using music as a communication link. What are your thoughts on it?
No one can live without music in any form. Music therapy, which I studied in Scotland, is extremely therapeutic.  For children coming from rural areas where they may have witnessed violence, music is a great medium and I think it's lovely that it brings communities together. 

What can one expect from the show?
It’s a piano concert in which I will play a piece from the Baraque era, the Classical era, the Romantic era and some Modern pieces. So it’s a concert that’s covering the full spectrum. 

The concert will take place on 18 September at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from 7pm onwards. Tickets are priced at Rs. 500, Rs. 1000, Rs. 1500 and Rs. 2500. 

Pics by Indraratna Balasuriya