The concert featured internationally celebrated violinist Stefan Milenkovich and renowned pianist Rohan de Silva on Wednesday, 28th May 2014 at the Lionel Wendt Theatre.  A different programme was scheduled for Thursday, 29th May 2014 also featuring the same artistes.

Stefan began studying the violin with his father at the tender age of three and made his professional debut at age six.  He became the youngest graduate of the University of Belgrade and was invited to study at the Juillard  School in New York City and was named a faculty member of the Perlman Music Program.

Rohan de Silva began his piano studies with his mother.  He later studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London for six years under the tutelage of Hamish Miline, Sydney Griller and Wilfred Parry.  He received the Chappell Gold Medal for best overall performance at the Royal Academy of Music. The proceeds of the concert would go to the “Sunera Foundation” which is a Government approved charity organization working predominantly with differently-abled young persons in Sri Lanka.  The Foundation was set up with the intention of providing space and opportunity for these young people to develop their creative energies.  The process of learning to creatively express their talents builds self-confidence, self-esteem and enhances their lives.  The “Sunera Foundation” strongly believes that this would be a key factor in facilitating the young people’s integration into society.

“Our work is based on the belief that everyone deserves equal respect. We don’t believe in discrimination. We celebrate difference. Through our work, we demonstrate how much those who are marginalized and stigmatized  can actually contribute to society.”is the philosophy of the “Sunera Foundation”.

Comments from the audience

Gabriella De St. Denis: “I enjoyed the concert.  It was nice to see the co-operation of the Sri Lankan pianist. I was also pleased with the variety of composers.”

Chathuri Kolamunne: “It was a brilliant show after a long long time.  It was really relaxing for the mind.  A masterpiece.”

Dian Gomes: “It was a fantastic show.”

Meshaun De Silva: “It was good to see Rohan de Silva playing as a Sri Lankan.”

Isuri Kaviratne: “The show was excellent.  I work for the Sunera Foundation.  Although it was classical music, we could enjoy it.  The concert was also a fund-raiser for the differently-abled, helping them to stand up on their own.”

Savitri de Silva: “It was a brilliant show.”

Anne Saturninus: “The show was breathtaking. I was blown away by the magnificence of the two instruments.”

Dr. Priyeshni Peiris: “The show was beyond what I expected.  I have a doctorate in Music so I am very critical.  The show was excellent musically and stylistically.”

Dushani Karunanayake: “The concert was excellent, beyond words.”

Rajitha Rupasinghe: “I am a musician myself and the show was quite spectacular.”

Anne Shih: “I preferred the first part as it was pure classical with Beethoven.”